Nonpharmacological Techniques of Labor Analgesia

Abstract

Labor pain has two components: uterine contractions resulting in visceral pain which occurs during the early first stage and the second stage of childbirth, and somatic pain which occurs during the late first stage and the second stage. Referred pain from uterus is transmitted to a skin area over the vertebrae L3-S2 in the area known as the Michaeli’s rhomboid. During the second stage of labor, there is severe somatic pain in the perineum which is continuous and distressing. The nonpharmacologic techniques of labor analgesia are nothing but traditional methods that have been employed for centuries by various cultures. These can be divided into mind–body interventions, alternative systems of medical practice, manual healing, bioelectromagnetic and physical methods. The mind- body interventions consist of psychoprophylactic methods such as lamaze method, yoga, sophrology, Leboyer’s method, music therapy, biofeedback, hypnosis etc. There are also techniques which activate peripheral sensory perception such as warm water baths, superficial applications of alternate hot and cold packs on the back, back massage, sterile water injections, acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. These techniques are cost effective and specially important in areas where there is shortage of staff and nonavailability of personnel to give specialized care.