Assessment of the influence of labour epidural analgesia on the experience of childbirth in pregnant women

Abstract

Background:The state of the newborn, the environment of care from the family and the hospital, antenatal and intranatal problems, and maternal happiness with childbirth are some of the complicated elements that affect this complex metric. The present study was conducted to assess the influence of labour epidural analgesia (LEA) on the experience of childbirth in pregnant women. Materials & Methods:68 singleton pregnancy were divided into 2 groups of 34 each. Group I opted for labour epidural analgesia (LEA) and group II did not opt for labour epidural analgesia (LEA). Maternal expectations for delivery and their views of the actual experience were measured using the WIJMA Delivery Expectation and Experience (W-DEQ) questionnaire. Results: In group I and group II, mean education of woman (years) was 5.4 and 4.1, year of marriage was 3.7 and 4.8, nulliparous was 75% and 47%, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy were 7.9% and 6.3%, gestational diabetes was 18% and 12.5%, bad obstetric history was 1.4% and 2.6%, fetal growth restriction was 0.84% and 2.1%, assisted vaginal delivery was 21% and 3.7% and cesarean section was seen in 18.2% and 17.5% respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Pre-test score and post-test score, how labour and delivery turned out was 5.2 and 4.8 in group I and group II was 5.1 and 4.8, General feelings in group I was 40.6 and 40.4 and in group II was 40.3 and 40.5,
feelings during labour in group I was 15.5 and 15.4 and in group II was 14.8 and 15.2, intensity of labour in group I was 7.7 and 7.01 and in group II was 7.01 and 7.3, feelings during moment of childbirth in group I was 9.8 and 10.7 and in group II was 9.6 and 10.6, fantasies of injury to child in group I was 5.2 and 5.7and in group II was 5.4 and 5.2. Total score in group I was 84.0 and 84.01 and
in group II was 82.2 and 83.6 respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: The substantial pain reduction that LEA offers is only one aspect of the complex dynamic that determines how satisfied mothers are with the delivery process.