Effect of heat therapy on pain severity and the end of labor in primigravida women

Pain is a common phenomenon and is an inevitable part of process of childbirth. Continuous labor pain is effective of respiratory system; blood circularly; endocrine glands and other activity of body. Heat as a non pharmacological method of pain relief helps reduce the pain severity. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of heat therapy on labor pain and the end of labor in prime gravid women who referred to the hospitals of Babol University of medical sciences in Babol in 2006-2007. In this clinical trial study, 64 low risk nullparous women were randomly divided into two groups (heat therapy and routine care groups). The control group got routine cares in obstetrics ward and heat therapy group in addition to these cares used warm bag for the low back from cervix dilatation of 3-4 cm to the end of first stage of labor and for perinea at the second stage. The intensity of pain was determined in dilatation of 3-4, 6-7 and 9-10 cm and at the end of second stage of labor by Mc Gill pain scale. Data was analyzed with t-test and chi square and ManWitney tests by using SPSS Software statistical. Comparing two groups showed a significant decrease in the intensity of pain in heat therapy group in the first stage, in the second stage of labor (p<0.001). Also, in heat therapy group duration of the first and third stage of labor with p<0.001 decreased but duration of second stage of labor showed no significant difference between two groups. The mean of APGAR score of neonates type of delivery and perineum tear, height of fundus an hour after delivery showed no significant difference between two groups. According to the results of this study, it seems that heat affects on the pain severity in first and second stages of labor and duration of first and third stages of labor without any negative effect after delivery on neonate and mother.