The Effect of Heat Therapy on Labor Pain Severity and Delivery Outcome in Parturient Women

Pain relief for labor, as an acute and severe pain, has been considered for many years. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of heat therapy on labor pain and the time of labor in primigravida women referring to the affiliated hospitals of Babol University of Medical Sciences during 2006-2007. In this study, 64 nulliparous women were randomly divided into two groups (heat therapy and routine care group). The control group received routine care in the obstetrics ward but the heat therapy group used warm bag for the low back since the cervix dilated about 3-4 cm to the end of the first stage of labor and for perinea at the second stage as well as the routine cares. The severity of pain was determined on dilatation of 3-4, 6-7 and 9-10 cm and at the end of the second stage of labor by Mc Gill pain questionnaire. Comparison of the two groups showed a significant decrease in the intensity (severity) of pain in the heat therapy group in the first stage, and on dilatation of 6-7 cm and 9-10 cm, and in the second stage of labor. Also, in the heat therapy group duration of the first and third stages of labor decreased but that of the second stage of labor showed no significant difference between the two groups. According to the results of this study, it seems that heat affects the intensity of pain in the first and second stages of labor and shortens the first and third stages of labor.