Abstract
BackgroundWomen have experienced labour pain over the years as various attempts have been made to effectively manage this pain. There is paucity of literature on the experiences and perceptions about labour pain management with the contemporary Ghanaian health system. This study explored the perspective of puerperal women on the use of non-pharmacological labour pain management at Adidome Government Hospital.MethodsThe study adopted an exploratory descriptive qualitative approach as data was collected through individual interviews. Informed consent was obtained from all participants who were purposely sampled until data saturation was reached on the 17th participant. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed immediately. Thematic analysis was engaged in three interrelated stages, namely data reduction, data display, and data conclusion to analyse the transcript and field notes. Results were presented with supporting quotes from the transcripts.ResultsThe women described labour pain as very severe, severe and moderate as the pain lasted more than 12 h. The various strategies adopted in managing labour pains included shouting and walking around, crying and screaming and staying calm and snapping the fingers. Other pain management strategies adopted during labour included women engaged in deep breathing exercises, chatting with other people and relatives, diversion therapy, reassurance, taking a shower, assuming side lying positions, and receiving intravenous therapy. The presence of the husband of a labouring woman during labour improved pain bearing ability.ConclusionIt is important that midwives institute pragmatic protocols in the labour ward that ensure a relaxing atmosphere for women in labour, respond to the sensitivity and specificity of labouring women needs and when possible significant others (e.g., husband) of the labouring women could be allowed to visit. Labour wards should be made sound proof to allow women the ability to express themselves satisfactorily during labour without fear of being heard outside.
Highlights
Labour is an inevitable physiological process that most women do not want to think of because of the bad experience they face largely due to the pains that accompany it [1]
Women have complained of severe pains as health personnel over the years keep looking for appropriate means to alleviate the pain
We suggested that midwives should be encouraging and supportive of women who are in labour and if possible, allow their spouses into the birth room to augment the pain adaptation ability
Summary
Labour is an inevitable physiological process that most women do not want to think of because of the bad experience they face largely due to the pains that accompany it [1]. The extent to which labour pain is experienced affects maternal psychology, labour progress and foetal well-being [4]. Physiological factors, such as uterine contractions and cervical dilatation, essential, form part of labour and are the major contributors to the pain experienced during labour. Psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, fear, sense of loss of control and sense of abandonment contribute to the level of severity of the pain experienced [1, 3].
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