Relationship between Alteration of Sacral Pain and Cervical Progression in Latent Phase of Labor : Diagnostic Study

Abstract

Objective To study the relationship between alteration of sacral pain and cervical progression
in latent phase of labor.
Study design Desciptive study.
Materials and Methods Seventy-six nulliparous term pregnant women with labor pain in latent
phase were recruited. Intensity of sacral pain measured by verbal analogue score (VAS)
rating from 0-10, cervical dilatation and effacement were recorded at the time of study at 0
and 2 hours later.
Results Seventy-six pregnant women were recruited in the study. Among 65 women who had
increased at least 1 score of VAS, 64 had cervical progression (sensitivity 92.75%, specificity
85.71%, positive predictive value 98.46%, negative predictive value 54.55%). The others, 11
women who had stable VAS, 5 women showed progression. No one had decreased VAS.
Conclusion In the latent phase of labor pain, sacral pain was effective for prediction of the
cervical progression especially in the pregnant women who increased in sacral pain. Other
factor such as uterine contraction must be advocated if sacral pain was stable.