Intrapartum pain management at the Royal Hospital for Women.

AIMS

To explore use of, and women's satisfaction with, intrapartum pain management at Royal Hospital for Women (RHW), Sydney, Australia.

METHODS

From October 2002 to January 2003 women aged over 16 who had been in labour at RHW were given a questionnaire to complete in the first week post-partum regarding their intrapartum pain management. Supplementary information was obtained from patient records.

RESULTS

A total of 496 women participated (69% response rate), including 95 birth centre clients. The mean age was 32 years and 73% percent had a normal vaginal delivery. At least one form of pain management ('natural', nitrous oxide, pethidine, epidural, local infiltration of the perineum) was used by 463 (93%) women, with 74% using two or more methods. Labour pain was 'worse' or 'much worse' than expected for 55%. Seventy-two percent were 'very' or 'quite' satisfied with overall pain management. Epidural analgesia had the highest utility scores (89%'very useful') and likelihood of use in subsequent labours (67%), and pethidine the lowest. Factors affecting analgesic use included cervical dilation on admission, labour length, English-speaking background, delivery suite versus birth centre care, parity, and syntocinon use.

CONCLUSIONS

Women at RHW use a variety of pain management methods in labour and most use multiple methods. Labour was rated more painful than expected by a majority; however, most were satisfied with their pain management. Labour length and cervical dilation on admission were most predictive of pain management use.