Maternal, Child Health and Neonatal Nursing Commons^™

Comparison Of Primiparous Women's Expected And Experienced Pain In Labour, Shelagh Lawrence

Theses : Honours

Pain is a subjective phenomenon and is, in varying degrees, an inherent part of the childbirth experience. However, most Western societies view suffering as unacceptable and as such, regard analgesia as a necessity. Many women do not anticipate the intensity of pain experienced in childbirth and are, therefore, not ready to manage this amount of pain when it occurs. This prospective study compared the expected and experienced labour pain of 99 primiparous women, aged 17-40 years. The relationship between expected and experienced pain and acceptance of pregnancy; identification with the motherhood role; relationship with mother; relationship with husband/partner; preparation for …