Active clinical trials for "Labor Pain"

Remifentanil may be an ideal drug for labor analgesia due to its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profile. As compared to epidural analgesia, it demonstrated satisfactory for pain relief at the beginning of labour with a gradual elevation of pain scores as labour progresses. However, fast onset and limited time efficacy may render it useful in multiparous with a faster labor progression, thus even making it an alternative to single-shot spinal analgesia.

The analgesic approach in labor can be done in different ways, among which the neuraxial approach has shown the best analgesic results and fetal outcomes. Currently, programmed epidural intermittent bolus has been included in the neuraxial approach for a better distribution of the solution into the epidural space as compared with the continuous infusion strategy. In this study, the investigators seek to compare both strategies in 132 laboring women.

Women during their first labor will be offered the assistance of a medical clown. Their experience will be compared after delivery with that of primiparae who were not helped by a medical clown.

This study is being done to better understand how patient positioning can affect pain relief after an epidural. In addition to pain, the investigators will assess how position affects epidural spread, and its effects on maternal blood pressure and fetal heart rate.

It is unclear the effect of a spouse's presence on the partureint's and the spouse's stress level during the performance of epidural analgesia during labor. Couples will be randomized to two groups: one group where the spouse is present during the performance of epidural analgesia and the second where the spouse is not present. Before and after epidural anlgesia, both the spouse and parturient will be have their blood pressure and pulse checked. In addition, both will have their salivary amylase measured. Salivary amylase is an enzyme whic has been foud to correlate directly with stress levels. To check this enzyme, a sample of saliva is given.

Stress and anxiety during childbirth have negative consequence on both mother and fetus. Previous studies have learned the effect of several intervention to reduce anxiety during labor- such as music and foot reflexology. Nevertheless, data for informative video before labor for reducing stress and anxiety are sparse. The present study aimed to review and determine the effect of informative video on anxiety, pain and outcomes of the labor in primigravida women.

Primary outcome: Compare the duration of analgesia. Secondary outcome: analgesic potency of bupivacaine and fentanyl versus levobupivacaine and fentanyl.

Aromatherapy is a form of complementary medicine that uses scented materials known as essential oils for the purpose of affecting a person's health or mood. Although aromatherapy has been used in childbirth for centuries, there are no high-quality studies examining whether the treatment works. Methodology We would like to see if aromatherapy affects a woman's experience of childbirth by lowering associated anxiety and pain. Consenting participants will be randomly allocated to one of these groups: Aromatherapy oils (e.g. clary sage, peppermint, lavender, frankincense) Non-essential oil (baby oil) Standard maternity care We will gather primary data, e.g. if she's been in labour before and her awareness of complementary medicine. We will also conduct the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory with her, and provide her with the oil and swab if she is in groups 1 or 2 with instructions to keep the swab with the oil on it near to her. She can also put more oil on the swab as she requires. Postnatally, data will be collected from her notes regarding pain relief used, duration of labour, augmentation of labour, and any other medical interventions of note. We will also complete the anxiety scale with her once more. Before her discharge we ask the mother for any comments regarding her experience of the labour. The results from all three cohorts will then be compared. There will also be opportunity for the midwife to make any comments regarding his/her perception of the participant's labour. Finally we will hold a focus group with midwives regarding the practicalities for implementation of aromatherapy in maternity care

The investigators are interested in determining the utility of ultrasound of the spine for labor epidurals or spinal anesthesia for women in labor or having a cesarean delivery. The investigators hypothesized that in women with poor spinal landmarks that the use of ultrasound of the spine will improve the process of placing labor epidurals or spinal anesthetics

The study aims to understand why labor is more painful for some women compared to others. The study will study whether a woman's baseline pain sensitivity, beta2 adrenergic receptor genotype is related to her pain in labor for the birth of a first child.