Effects of Relative Preparing Program for Continuous Labor Support in Natural Childbirth on Parturients’ Labor Pain and Satisfaction and Nurses’ Satisfaction

Abstract

           This quasi-experimental research aimed to assess the effect of a relative preparing program on labor pain in first stage of labor, and satisfaction of parturients, and nurses on continuous labor support given by the relatives of pregnant women. The subjects consisted of 60 pregnant women, 30 experimental group and 30 control group and 14 nurses. The experimental group received relatives training in continuous labor support. The control group received routine ante natal care.  Parturients’ pain were measured by visual analog scale, while satisfaction of parturients and nurses were measured by satisfaction questions. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent t-test.

                Labor pain of both groups in first stage of labor was not different. The parturients in the experimental group had significantly higher satisfaction than the control group (t=2.214, p < .05). The nurses were more satisfied on the continuous support of relatives of the experimental group than the control group on: massage (t=3.167, p < .01), encourage movement (t=4.463, p < .001), and psycho-social support and providing comfort of the parturients (t=2.366, p < .05).

Relative training for continuous labor support in natural childbirth is a program that nurses and parturients were satisfied with continuous labor support by relative and should be applied in routine practice for effective caring of natural childbirth parturients during labor.