INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a lower dose subcutaneous sterile water injection technique versus subcutaneous saline injection, on the relief of low-back pain for women during childbirth, and to explore the lasting effects of pain relief after administration (followed at 15, 30, 45, 90 and 120 minutes). METHODS A prospective randomized controlled single-blinded study was conducted, with trial registration (NCT02813330). Women received one-time injections (sterile water or saline) and the effectiveness was observed at 15, 30, 45, 90 and 120 minutes after the intervention. RESULTS The intervention group had statistically significant pain reduction. Assessment of subsequent pain, followed at 30, 45, 90 and 120 minutes, reflected an increasing change with a statistically significant difference. The intervention group had more burning sensations than the control group with a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS The modified technique of double injections of subcutaneous 'water/ saline' resulted in significant relief of low-back pain during childbirth.

Background: Warm compress is believed to reduce perineal tear occurrence and decrease pain intensity during the second stage of childbirth.Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of warm compresses on perineal tear and pain intensity during the second stage of labor. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted between 28 September 2018 to 30 October 2018 in King Khaled Hospital (KKH), affiliated with the Ministry of National Guard Hospital Affairs, King Abdul-Aziz Medical City Western Region, Saudi Arabia. According to eligibility criteria, the sample randomly recruited through lottery included 100 primigravida pregnant women, with 50 in each intervention and control group. Data were presented in the form of frequency and percentages, standard deviation, and mean. Chi-square test was used for data analysis, with p-value significance at ˂ 0.05.Results: Sociodemographic data revealed no statistically significant difference in the age, education, occupation, and residence of both the control and experimental group. The perineum area’s pain intensity after birth showed a statistically significant difference between the intervention and the control groups (p = 0.001). The perineal tear was also significantly different between both groups (p = 0.001).  Conclusion: The applied warm compresses on the perineum area positively reduce second and third-degree perineal tear and pain intensity during the second stage of labor and after childbirth. Therefore, midwives and nurses are expected to actively provide effective planned in-service training programs regarding warm compresses' advantages in the second stage of labor and apply this procedure actively.

Introduction: Women's knowledge regarding childbirth progress can increase their comfort and satisfaction during labor. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the Simple Awareness for Women About (SAWA) labor stages program on their childbirth experience using the childbirth roadmap tool. Methods: A pretest and posttest technique was employed and conducted at the Labor Department, Woman Health Hospital, affiliated to the Assiut University Hospitals, Egypt. Based on the eligibility criteria, a convenient sampling method was used to recruit all parturient women admitted between June 2017 and August 2017. The sample consisted of 172 participants.  Results: A statistically significant difference was observed in the baseline information regarding the stages of childbirth subsequent to the SAWA program implementation. There was a significant relationship between the mode of delivery and the participant's satisfaction with the study tool. Conclusion: This study highlighted the benefits of using a simple, attractively illustrated instrument, the childbirth roadmap, for achieving the meaning of support through the SAWA program during labor stages.

Background: Helping the woman to adopt a comfortable position during childbirth significantly affects labor changes and pain management. However, there is a lack of consensus on the impacts of different childbirth positions on labor outcomes. In addition, a scarce of studies have assessed the effects of the upright and recumbent positions on delivery outcomes, especially in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Objective: This study aimed to examine and compare the influence of upright and recumbent childbirth positions on birth outcomes. Methods: The setting was the childbirth unit at East Jeddah Hospital from November 2020 to March 2021. The research design was quasi-experimental, including 300 women in labor under 18-45 years. The sample includes two equal groups of 150 women: upright (experiment) and recumbent (comparison) position groups. Three tools were used to collect data: a structured interviewing questionnaire, the modified WHO partograph, and the Wong-Baker FACES® pain rating scale. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, independent t-test, and paired t-test were used for data analysis. Results: Women in the recumbent position spent a longer duration in the first, second, and third stages of childbirth and had higher pain scores and less satisfaction with the assumed position than women in the upright position, with a highly significant difference (p <0.001). Conclusion: Laboring women in upright positions experienced faster progress of labor, shorter duration of childbirth, less pain, and higher satisfaction than those assumed recumbent positions. This study serves as an input for midwives and nurses to enable them to offer appropriate advice to improve intrapartum care. In addition, educational programs targeting pregnant women about the positive impacts of upright position on women’s birth experience are encouraged.