Background: Acupuncture involves puncturing the skin with thin sterile needles at defined acupuncture points. Previous studies are inconclusive regarding the effect of acupuncture on labour pain, but some studies have found a reduction in the use of pharmacological pain relief when acupuncture is administered. The appropriate dose of acupuncture treatment required to elicit a potential effect on labour pain has not been fully explored. The dose is determined by many different factors, including the number of needles used and the intensity of the stimulation. In Sweden, manual stimulation of the needles is common practice when acupuncture is used for labour pain, but electrical stimulation of the needles, which gives a higher dose, could possibly be more effective. The overall aim of this thesis was to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture with manual stimulation (MA) of the needles as well as acupuncture with a combination of manual and electrical stimulation (EA) in reducing labour pain, compared with standard care without any form of acupuncture (SC). Methods: The study was designed as a three-armed randomised controlled trial in which 303 nulliparous women with normal pregnancies were randomised to MA, EA, or SC. The primary outcome was labour pain, assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes were relaxation during labour, use of obstetric pain relief, and associations between maternal characteristics and labour pain and use of epidural analgesia respectively. Also, labour and infant outcomes, recollection of labour pain, and maternal experiences, such as birth experience and experience of the midwife, were investigated two months after the birth. The sample size calculation was based on the potential to discover a difference of 15 mm on the VAS. Data were collected during labour before the interventions, the day after birth, and two months later. Besides using the VAS, information was collected by means of study specific protocol, questionnaires and medical records. Results: The mean VAS scores were 66.4 in the MA group, 68.5 in the EA group, and 69.0 in the SC group (mean differences: MA vs. SC 2.6 95% CI -1.7 to 6.9, and EA vs. SC 0.6 95% CI -3.6 to 4.8). Other methods of pain relief were used less frequently in the EA group, including epidural analgesia, MA 61.4%, EA 46%, and SC 69.9%. (EA vs. SC OR 0.4 95% CI 0.2 to 0.7). No statistically significant differences were found in the recollection of labour pain between the three groups two months after birth (mean VAS score: MA 69.3, EA 68.7 and SC 70.1). A few maternal characteristics were associated with labour pain (age, dysmenorrhea, and cervix dilatation), but none of the investigated characteristics predicted the outcome of the acupuncture treatment in MA or EA. Women in the EA group experienced acupuncture as being effective for labour pain to a higher extent than women who received MA, MA 44.4%, EA 67.1% (EA vs. MA OR 2.4 95% CI 1.2 to 4.8). Women in the EA group also spent less time in labour (mean 500 min) than those who received MA (mean 619 min) and SC (mean 615 min) (EA vs. MA HR 1.4 95% CI 1.0 to1.9, EA vs. SC HR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.0), and had less blood loss than women receiving SC, (EA vs. SC OR 0.1 95% CI 0.3 to 0.7). The women’s assessment of the midwife as being supportive during labour (MA 77.2%, EA 83.5%, SC 80%), overall satisfaction with midwife care (MA 100%, EA 97.5%, SC 98.7%), and having an overall positive childbirth experience (MA 64.6%, EA 61.0%, SC 54.3%) did not differ statistically. No serious side effects of the acupuncture treatment were reported. Conclusion: Acupuncture, regardless of type of stimulation, did not differ from standard care without acupuncture in terms of reducing women’s experience of pain during labour, or their memory of pain and childbirth overall two months after the birth. However, other forms of obstetric pain relief were less frequent in women receiving a combination of manual and electrical stimulation, suggesting that this method could facilitate coping with labour pain.

This qualitative study was aimed at exploring midwives’ responses and attitudes towards women in labour, as well as their perception of the pain experienced during labour. A non-probability purposive sampling method was followed, and the data collection methods selected were in-depth individual interviews and focus-group interviews, with the aid of an interview guide for both methods, the researcher being the main data collecting instrument. More than one data collection method (triangulation) was used to ensure the trustworthiness of the study. Concerning the perception of midwives towards women experiencing labour pain, the study revealed that firstly, labour pain is unique to individual women, it is natural and bearable. Secondly, labour pain may be unbearable, and the women in labour need to be given medication for pain. Furthermore, certain behaviour was identified and viewed as unacceptable by participating midwives because it could put both the lives of the mother and the unborn baby at risk; these include: drinking herbal medicines during pregnancy and childbirth; extreme activities like jumping out of bed and rolling on the floor. These behaviours were sources of frustration to midwives. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

This qualitative study was aimed at exploring midwives’ responses and attitudes towards women in labour, as well as their perception of the pain experienced during labour. A non-probability purposive sampling method was followed, and the data collection methods selected were in-depth individual interviews and focus-group interviews, with the aid of an interview guide for both methods, the researcher being the main data collecting instrument. More than one data collection method (triangulation) was used to ensure the trustworthiness of the study. Concerning the perception of midwives towards women experiencing labour pain, the study revealed that firstly, labour pain is unique to individual women, it is natural and bearable. Secondly, labour pain may be unbearable, and the women in labour need to be given medication for pain. Furthermore, certain behaviour was identified and viewed as unacceptable by participating midwives because it could put both the lives of the mother and the unborn baby at risk; these include: drinking herbal medicines during pregnancy and childbirth; extreme activities like jumping out of bed and rolling on the floor. These behaviours were sources of frustration to midwives. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Abstract In four prospective clinical trials, 114 parturients used intravenous patient-controlled remifentanil analgesia during the 1st stage of labour. The median effective dose per bolus was ascertained to be 0.4 μg/kg and the pain scores were reduced with this by a median of 2 on a numerical scale (0–10). Compared with nitrous oxide, 15 parturients included in a cross-over study reported a larger reduction in pain scores during remifentanil analgesia (1.5 vs. 0.5, p =  0.001) and better pain relief scores (2.5 vs. 0.5 on a ranked five point scale 0–4, p  <  0.001). In a parallel study including 45 parturients, epidural analgesia (EDA, 20 ml bupivacaine 0.625 mg/ml and fentanyl 2 μg/ml) was associated with lower pain scores (5.2 vs. 7.3 with remifentanil, p =  0.004) but variables related to satisfaction with analgesia (pain relief score, proportion of mothers with desire to continue with the given medication and termination of the study due to inadequate pain relief) were similar. A comparison of two methods for timing the remifentanil bolus during the uterine contraction cycle suggested that delaying the bolus does not improve analgesia. A period effect was noted in the cross-over trial with higher pain scores and increased drug consumption during the second study period suggesting acute hyperalgesia. Side effects of remifentanil analgesia included respiratory depression warranting oxygen supplementation in 33% of parturients. Sedation was experienced by the parturients using remifentanil and this was scored as stronger than sedation during nitrous oxide and EDA. The number of parturients with nausea did not increase during remifentanil analgesia. Other maternal side effects included dizziness, a difficulty in visual focusing and itching. Foetal heart rate tracing abnormalities were noted. The incidence of abnormal tracings and decreased UapH were not different, however, from that observed during nitrous oxide or EDA. Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minute indicated no neonatal depression.

Bakgrund: Förlossningssmärta är ett begrepp som används inom barnmorskeutbildningen och hälso- och sjukvård där kvinnor vårdas under graviditet och på förlossningsavdelningar. Begreppet är odefinierat i litteraturen och hur och vad som innefattas av begreppet är brett. Förlossningssmärta har stor plats inom mödrahälsovården men just som begrepp finns lite information. Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva begreppet förlossningssmärta genom en begreppsanalys. Metod: En begreppsanalys med kvalitativ design. Först utfördes en litteratursökning, den teoretiska fasen, och sedan blev fem barnmorskor identifierade genom ett bekvämlighetsurval och intervjuades i fältstudiefasen. Resultatet från fältstudiefasen sammanställdes med resultatet från den teoretiska fasen. Resultat: Analysen av begreppet förlossningssmärta mynnade ut i ett resultat med flera dimensioner där den unika upplevelsen är konklusionen. De tre huvuddimensionerna är sensorisk, affektiv och kognitiv upplevelse av förlossningssmärta. Där det sensoriska står för fysiologin, det affektiva för det vi bär med oss in i smärtupplevelsen och det kognitiva för hur vi tänker kring smärtupplevelsen. Referens-ramen för begreppet bestäms av dess förutsättningar och konsekvenser. Förlossningssmärtan är en unik upplevelse och endast den födande kvinnan vet hur den känns. Förlossningssmärta är en upplevelse som tolkas olika och uttrycket är individuellt. Slutsats: Förlossningssmärta kan ses som ett komplext begrepp som anpassas till varje gravid utifrån de definierade dimensionerna. Klinisk tillämpbarhet: Begreppet förlossningssmärta är viktigt att klargöra för barnmorskestudenter under utbildning. / Background: Labor pain is a term used in education and healthcare, where women are cared for during pregnancy and in maternity wards. How the concept is defined is described in literature and how and what is covered by the concept is wide. Labor pain has great location within maternity care but as a concept it is relatively undefined. Aim: The aim was to describe the concept of labor pain through a concept analysis. Methods: A concept analysis with qualitative design. Five midwives were selected trough a convenience sampling and were interviewed; earlier a literature review was conducted. The result from the field study phase was brought together with the result from the theoretical phase. Results: After the analysis of the concept of labor pain the main results is that it is truly one unique experience of labour pain. Defined three dimensions sensory, affective and cognitive. The sensory dimension stands for physiology, the affective dimension for earlier experiences and the cognitive dimension for how a person thinks about pain and the experience of it. Pain in labour is a unique experience. Only the woman in labour knows how it feels like. Pain during labour is an individual experience and just like all other experience it has its unique and individual interpretation for the person involved. Conclusion: Labor pain can be identified as a complex concept adapted to each pregnancy based on the defined dimensions. Clinical applicability: Clarification of the concept is important in education of midwifery students.

The study sought to describe Mozambican women's experience of labour pain. The study sought to determine the manner in which labour pain is perceived and to determine the culturally acceptable behaviour of Mozambican women as they experience labour pain. The preferred pain relief measures and cultural practices and beliefs pertaining to labour pain by this cultural group were also studied. The major inferences drawn from this study are that during labour, Mozambican women mainly respond stoically to the experience of labour. They also exhibited different kinds of behaviour in response to labour pain, such as rubbing the painful site, tossing about in bed, and verbalisation. The implication of the study is that Swazi nurse-midwives should render culture congruent maternity care to the women during labour. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

The study sought to describe Mozambican women's experience of labour pain. The study sought to determine the manner in which labour pain is perceived and to determine the culturally acceptable behaviour of Mozambican women as they experience labour pain. The preferred pain relief measures and cultural practices and beliefs pertaining to labour pain by this cultural group were also studied. The major inferences drawn from this study are that during labour, Mozambican women mainly respond stoically to the experience of labour. They also exhibited different kinds of behaviour in response to labour pain, such as rubbing the painful site, tossing about in bed, and verbalisation. The implication of the study is that Swazi nurse-midwives should render culture congruent maternity care to the women during labour. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)