Effect of Lamaze childbirth preparation on maternal plasma beta-endorphin immunoreactivity in active labor.

Previous studies have documented a reduction in plasma beta-endorphin levels with the use of various analgesic techniques in labor, such as segmental epidural anesthesia or intrathecal morphine. The Lamaze method of childbirth preparation, which has been found to reduce the need for medication during childbirth and to decrease the subjective perception of pain during labor and delivery, has not been studied in this regard. In this study plasma beta-endorphin immunoreactivity levels were measured during the active phase of labor in 26 patients who had Lamaze classes and in 28 patients who did not have Lamaze classes. The Lamaze group had significantly lower plasma beta-endorphin immunoreactivity (37.2 vs. 68.5 pg/ml; P less than 0.001) and significantly shorter first stages of labor (8.28 hrs. vs. 9.86 hrs; P less than 0.02). It can be theorized that both lower beta-endorphin immunoreactivity and shorter labor in patients in the Lamaze group were related to the reduction of fear, tension, and the emotional stress of labor.