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Abstract
Labour pain is the result of many complex interactions, both physiological and psychological. The neural mechanism of labour has some features similar to other forms of acute pain; nociceptive information is relayed lo small A delta and C afferent fibres to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, mediated by neurotransmitters, from there it may be involved in the initiation of segmental spinal reflexes or pass through the spinothalamic tract to the brain. Many factors are activated during labour which may modify the nociceptive impulse at different stages of its passage. Some of these factors act synergistically to promote anti-nociception that peaks at delivery..
The severity of pain varies greatly among women in labour. Numerous studies demonstrate quite consistently that if women are asked during or very shortly after labour to score their labour pain most rate it as severe while few have little or no pain.(2)
Late antenatal care, unwanted pregnancy, anxiety and poor education were associated with an increase in the level of reported pain.
Pregnant women have a right to know the basic information about pain and its relief in labour, as well as other aspects of their care. It is therefore important that all those involved, whether general practitioner, midwife, obstetrician or anaesthetist, should be well informed about all types of pain relief that are available!’