oxytocin and Labor-Pain

Over the years the effect of the neuropeptide oxytocin and its possible utilization for pain management has been increasingly more investigated and discussed. Initial results emphasized the effects of oxytocin with respect to labor and breastfeeding. Diverse animals studies were also able to demonstrate the effectiveness of the peptide in attachment behavior and pain perception; however, it is still unclear how oxytocin affects pain perception in humans. The potential therapeutic effectiveness of oxytocin could be particularly important for primary and secondary treatment of pain patients because chronification of pain can occur more frequently in this area.. For this review the databases PubMed, Medline und PsycINFO were searched using the terms oxytocin, pain, human and analgesic. The search resulted in a total of 89 original articles after excluding articles regarding labor pain, breastfeeding and animal studies. Only those studies were included which were carried out between 1994 and 2015. A total of 17 articles remained for inclusion in this review and included 13 studies on the exogenous application of oxytocin and 4 on measurement of oxytocin levels in plasma.. This review article gives a summary of the current state of research on oxytocin and its direct and indirect association with human pain perception and emphasizes its relevance for the multimodal management of pain.

Topics: Affect; Animals; Brain; Breast Feeding; Chronic Pain; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Humans; Labor Pain; Mice; Nociceptors; Oxytocin; Pain Management; Pain Perception; Pain Threshold; Pregnancy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Rats; Receptors, Oxytocin

Drotaverine, a spasmolytic, has been found to have potential to achieve a reduction in the duration of labour and prevent prolonged labour.. To compare the effects of intravenous drotaverine hydrochloride with placebo for shortening the duration of active phase of labour in primigravidas.. A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial of 246 primigravidas in active phase of labour at term was conducted. They were randomly (1:1 ratio) administered intravenous 2 ml (40mg) of drotaverine hydrochloride or 2 ml of Vitamin B complex as placebo. The primary outcome measure was the duration of active phase of labour. The secondary outcome measures were cervical dilatation rate, oxytocin augmentation rate, incidence of prolonged labour, labour pain scores, mode of delivery, maternal and neonatal outcomes.. The mean duration of active phase of labour (hour) was significantly lower in the drotaverine group compared to the control (drotaverine; 6.22 ± 2.41 vs placebo; 8.33 ± 3.56; p <0.001). Also, the cervical dilatation rate (cm/hr) was significantly faster in the drotaverine arm (drotaverine; 1.68 ± 1.02 versus placebo; 1.06 ± 0.53, p <0.001). There was a significantly higher probability of faster delivery among women who were given drotaverine (log-rank test, p < 0.001). The oxytocin augmentation rate, incidence of prolonged labour, labour pain scores, mode of delivery, maternal and neonatal outcomes were not significantly different among the groups.. Drotaverine hydrochloride is effective in shortening the duration of active phase of labour without adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. However, more evidence is needed to explore its role in active phase of labour among primigravid women. Trial registration number: PACTR201810902005232.

Topics: Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Labor Pain; Labor, Obstetric; Oxytocin; Papaverine; Pregnancy

The aim of this study was to compare childbirth experiences and experience of labor pain in primiparous women who had received high- vs low-dose oxytocin for augmentation of delayed labor.. A multicenter, parallel, double-blind randomized controlled trial took place in six Swedish labor wards. Inclusion criteria were healthy primiparous women at term with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies, cephalic fetal presentation, spontaneous onset of labor, confirmed delayed labor progress and ruptured membranes. The randomized controlled trial compared high- vs low-dose oxytocin used for augmentation of a delayed labor progress. The Childbirth Experience Questionnaire version 2 (CEQ2) was sent to the women 1 month after birth. The CEQ2 consists of 22 items in four domains: Own capacity, Perceived safety, Professional support and Participation. In addition, labor pain was reported with a visual analog scale (VAS) 2 hours postpartum and 1 month after birth. The main outcome was the childbirth experience measured with the four domains of the CEQ2. The clinical trial number is NCT01587625.. The CEQ2 was sent to 1203 women, and a total of 1008 women (83.8%) answered the questionnaire. The four domains of childbirth experience were scored similarly in the high- and low-dose oxytocin groups of women: Own capacity (P = .36), Perceived safety (P = .44), Professional support (P = .84), Participation (P = .49). VAS scores of labor pain were reported as similar in both oxytocin dosage groups. Labor pain was scored higher 1 month after birth compared with 2 hours postpartum. There was an association between childbirth experiences and mode of birth in both the high- and low-dose oxytocin groups.. Different dosage of oxytocin for augmentation of delayed labor did not affect women's childbirth experiences assessed through CEQ2 1 month after birth, or pain assessment 2 hours or 1 month after birth.

Topics: Adult; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Labor Pain; Labor, Obstetric; Oxytocics; Oxytocin; Pain Measurement; Pain Perception; Parturition; Patient Participation; Patient Safety; Pregnancy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sweden

Labour pain is among the severest pains primigravidae may experience during pregnancy. Failure to address labour pain and anxiety may lead to abnormal labour. Despite the many complementary non-pharmacological approaches to coping with labour pain, the quality of evidence is low and best approaches are not established. This study protocol describes a proposed investigation of the effects of a combination of breathing exercises, foot reflexology and back massage (BRM) on the labour experiences of primigravidae.. This randomised controlled trial will involve an intervention group receiving BRM and standard labour care, and a control group receiving only standard labour care. Primigravidae of 26-34 weeks of gestation without chronic diseases or pregnancy-related complications will be recruited from antenatal clinics. Eligible and consenting patients will be randomly allocated to the intervention or the control group stratified by intramuscular pethidine use. The BRM intervention will be delivered by a trained massage therapist. The primary outcomes of labour pain and anxiety will be measured during and after uterine contractions at baseline (cervical dilatation 6 cm) and post BRM hourly for 2 hours. The secondary outcomes include maternal stress hormone (adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol and oxytocin) levels, maternal vital signs (V/S), fetal heart rate, labour duration, Apgar scores and maternal satisfaction. The sample size is estimated based on the between-group difference of 0.6 in anxiety scores, 95% power and 5% α error, which yields a required sample size of 154 (77 in each group) accounting for a 20% attrition rate. The between-group and within-group outcome measures will be examined with mixed-effect regression models, time series analyses and paired t-test or equivalent non-parametric tests, respectively.. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Committee for Research Involving Human Subjects of the Ministry of Health in the Saudi Arabia (H-02-K-076-0319-109) on 14 April 2019, and from the Ethics Committee for Research Involving Human Subjects (JKEUPM) Universiti Putra Malaysia on 23 October 2019, reference number: JKEUPM-2019-169. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Results from this trial will be presented at regional, national and international conferences and published in indexed journals.. ISRCTN87414969, registered 3 May 2019.

Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Anxiety; Breathing Exercises; Female; Gravidity; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Infant, Newborn; Labor Pain; Massage; Musculoskeletal Manipulations; Oxytocin; Patient Satisfaction; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Saudi Arabia; Trial of Labor

Pain control and the stress associated with labor and delivery are among the most important issues of health care system. Use of distraction techniques during childbirth is reported to reduce pain and stress of labor. However, there is a limited publication that looked on the effect of distraction techniques on labor pain and stress. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of distraction techniques on labor pain and stress (primary outcomes), fear of childbirth, length of delivery stages, first minute Apgar score and oxytocin consumption (secondary outcomes).. A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 68 pregnant women. Participants were allocated into two groups (intervention and control groups) by blocked randomization. Participants in the intervention group received distraction techniques in four sessions. Questionnaires of Fear of Childbirth (W-DEQ version A) and PSS once were completed before intervention and again at the 36th week for the W-DEQ and in the active phase for the PSS through interviews. The pain was assessed through VAS during active phase per hour. The length of delivery stages was recorded in the partograph chart. Data were analyzed by independent t-test and ANCOVA.. The mean of perceived stress during labor in the intervention group was significantly less than that of the control group (AMD: -3.2; 95% CI: - 0.8 to - 6.0; P = 0.01). The mean (SD) of pain intensity during labor was less than in the intervention and control groups compare to the control group (6.2 vs 7.5; P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of fear of childbirth score (AMD: 5.3; 95% CI: 13.0 to - 6.0; P = - 2.3). Moreover, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of the active phase of labor (P = 0.504), second stage of delivery (P = 0.928), total length of delivery (P = 0.520), Apgar score (P = 1.000) and frequency of oxytocin consumption (P = 0.622).. According to the results, distraction techniques can reduce the pain and stress of labor, but further studies by using the distraction techniques are needed to reach a decisive conclusion.. IRCT2017042910324N39; Name of registry: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials; Registered 11 September 2017. URL of registry: https://fa.irct.ir/user/trial/10814/view. Date of enrolment of the first participant to the trial: September 2017.

Topics: Adult; Fear; Female; Humans; Iran; Labor Pain; Labor, Obstetric; Oxytocin; Pain Management; Parturition; Pregnancy; Pregnant Women; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

To compare the pain scores and rates of complications in the labor analgesia process between the two groups.. There were 127 participants being recruited in this research, and randomly divided into 2 groups according to the anesthetic technique: CSEA with PCEA with EA group (group 1), CSEA with PCEA group (group 2). Group 1 was first operated CSEA and PCEA, then EA at Hegu (LI4), Neiguan (PC6), Zusanli (ST36) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) by HANS-200A device for 25 min. Group 2 was only treated by CSEA and PCEA. The main outcome was the VAS for labor pain. Meanwhile the complications, use of oxytocin, durations of three stages, delivery mode, cord blood pH and neonatus Apgar score in this study were considered as secondary outcomes.. After labor analgesia, the VAS scores of group 1 at the five point-in-times were all lower than that of group 2. The rates of fever and urinary retention of group 1 were lower compared with group 2. Group 1 had less usage of oxytocin and shorter durations of cervical dilation from 3 to 10 cm and third stage than group 2.. EA can help to reduce labor pain in CSEA with PCEA labor analgesia process, and may be able to reduce the complications.

Topics: Adult; Analgesia, Epidural; Analgesia, Obstetrical; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; Analgesics; Anesthesia, Epidural; Anesthetics; Apgar Score; Electroacupuncture; Female; Humans; Labor Pain; Labor, Obstetric; Oxytocin; Pain Measurement; Pregnancy; Treatment Outcome; Visual Analog Scale

  Management of the third stage of labor, the period following the birth of the infant until delivery of the placenta, is crucial. Active management using synthetic oxytocin has been advocated to decrease blood loss. It has been suggested, but not studied, that oxytocin may increase afterpains. The aim of this study was to compare women's experience of pain intensity when the third stage of labor was managed actively and expectantly and their experience of afterpains..   A single-blind, randomized, controlled trial was performed at two delivery units in Sweden in a population of healthy women with normal, singleton pregnancies, gestational age of 34 to 43 weeks, cephalic presentation, and expected vaginal delivery. Women (n=1,802) were randomly allocated to either active management or expectant management of the third stage of labor. Afterpains were assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Pain-o-Meter (POM-WDS) 2 hours after delivery of the placenta and the day after childbirth..   At 2 hours after childbirth, women in the actively managed group had lower VAS pain scores than expectantly managed women (p=0.014). Afterpains were scored as more intense the day after, compared with 2 hours after, childbirth in both groups. Multiparas scored more intense afterpains, compared with primiparas, irrespective of management (p<0.001)..   Active management of the third stage of labor does not provoke more intense afterpains than expectant management.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Delivery, Obstetric; Female; Humans; Labor Pain; Labor Stage, Third; Middle Aged; Oxytocics; Oxytocin; Pain Measurement; Pregnancy; Single-Blind Method; Young Adult

The objective of this study was to compare outcomes of induced labour with intravenous oxytocin with a start in the evening versus in the morning.. Randomised controlled trial.. Labour wards of three hospitals in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.. Women with an indication for induction of labour with intravenous oxytocin.. Included women were randomized to either the evening group with a start of induction of labour at 21:00 hours, or the morning group with a start at 07:00 hours.. Primary outcome was duration of labour. Secondary outcomes were instrumental delivery rate, adverse neonatal outcome defined as an Apgar score below 7 after 5 minutes, number and indications of paediatric consults and neonatal admissions, duration of second stage, number of intrapartum infections and necessity of pain relief.. We randomised 371 women. Mean duration of labour was not significantly different (primiparae: morning 12 hours and 8 minutes versus evening 11 hours and 22 minutes, P value 0.29; multiparae: morning 7 hours and 34 minutes versus evening 7 hours and 46 minutes, P value 0.70). There were no significant differences in instrumental deliveries rates, number of infections or patient satisfaction. Unexpectedly, neonatal outcome was better in women induced in the evening.. Induction of labour with intravenous oxytocin in the evening is equally effective as induction in the morning.

Topics: Adult; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Labor Pain; Labor, Induced; Obstetric Labor Complications; Oxytocics; Oxytocin; Parity; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Puerperal Disorders; Young Adult

Intrapartum professional midwifery support can improve the coping skills with the fear of childbirth and birth pain, increase the perception of the woman, and prevent negative experiences. However, there are relatively few studies supporting this postulation.. To investigate the effects of supportive care given during labor on birth pain, birth fear, perception of midwifery care, oxytocin use, and delivery time.. This is a quasi-experimental study. We collected the data between January and June 2019 in a province in Central Anatolia, Turkey. Primiparous 102 pregnant women were included in the study. However, we excluded five pregnant women from the intervention group and four pregnant women from the control group as emergency cesarean section developed. In total, 93 pregnant women, 46 in the continuous supportive care intervention group, and 47 in the usual intrapartum care control group were evaluated. The following tools were used to collect data: The Delivery Fear Scale, a Visual Analog Scale for perceived pain, the Scale of Women's Perception for Supportive Care Given During Labor, and labor outcomes information form.. The participants in the intervention group receiving continuous intrapartum supportive care had less fear of birth and lower birth pain in the active and transitional stages of labor, their midwifery care perception increased, and the duration of labor was shorter (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in oxytocin use between the two groups at 95% confidence interval (-0.265-0.091) (p > 0.05, Cohen's d = 0.2).. Pregnant women who received continuous intrapartum supportive care had less fear of birth and reduced labor pain in active and transitional stages of labor. In addition, with the continuous supportive care provided, the perception of midwifery care of the pregnant women increased and the duration of labor decreased. Therefore, midwifery care support should be provided to women throughout their labor and delivery process.

Topics: Cesarean Section; Delivery, Obstetric; Fear; Female; Humans; Labor Pain; Labor, Obstetric; Midwifery; Oxytocin; Perception; Pregnancy

Topics: Female; Humans; Labor Pain; Labor Stage, Third; Oxytocics; Oxytocin; Pregnancy; Terminology as Topic

A significant decrease in the expression of spinal microRNA‑29c (miR‑29c), which is responsible for the regulation of oxytocin receptor (OXTR) expression, was observed in nerve injury pain during childbirth. The present study investigates whether spinal miR‑29c could be a potential target for the treatment of pain, via the oxytocin (OT)‑γ‑aminobutyric acid (GABA) pathway. A spared nerve injury (SNI) rat model was established to induce neuropathic pain, simulating hyperalgesia. Spinal neurons were treated with OT to mimic the hormonal changes in the central nervous system after delivery. A change in the neuronal miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) was observed in neurons, following the silencing of miR‑29c or OT treatment with or without OXTR antagonist. The Von‑Frey apparatus was used to measure the animal behaviors. Molecular biological experiments and electrophysical recordings in vivo and in vitro were performed to reveal the potential analgesic mechanisms. miR‑29c was significantly downregulated (more than 8‑fold) in the spinal dorsal horn of delivery+SNI rats compared with the SNI rats. The silencing of miR‑29c resulted in increased pain threshold in SNI rats. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that OXTR was a potential target gene of miR‑29c. The delivery+SNI rats presented with higher levels of OT in the cerebrospinal fluid compared with SNI rats, which indicated that the OT signaling pathway may participate in pain relief response. The increased expression of OXTR and GABA in delivery+SNI rats were observed in the miR‑29c‑silenced SNI rat model, suggesting that the silencing of miR‑29c can mediate pain relief by enhancing the OT‑GABA pathway. In addition, an electrophysiology assay was performed to assess the mIPSCs in neurons. The silencing of miR‑29c in neurons increased the frequency and amplitude of mIPSCs but there was no influence on the decay time, which suggested that the spinal inhibitory neurons became more active, subsequently reducing the feeling of pain. The inhibition of OXTR reversed the enhanced inhibitory postsynaptic currents, indicating a crucial role for OXTR in the miR‑29c‑associated pain regulation. Taken together, the results of the present study suggested that spinal oxytocinergic inhibitory control plays an important role in pain relief in the neuropathic pain rat model undergoing vaginal delivery. Silencing spinal miR‑29c may be a potential target for pain relief through the OT‑GABA pathway.

Topics: Animals; Cells, Cultured; Disease Models, Animal; Down-Regulation; Female; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; Gene Silencing; Labor Pain; MicroRNAs; Oxytocin; Pregnancy; Primary Cell Culture; Rats; Receptors, Oxytocin; Signal Transduction; Spinal Nerves

DESIGN AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of music-therapy on labor pain and progress in parturient primipara. Music-therapy during labor increases tolerance to pain; decreasing anxiety, it increases paturition and uterus activity and shorten labor duration.. The subjects of this research were 30 women, selected voluntarily and they have been put in two experimental and control group. This research has been conducted in the form of pre-test and post-test design. The experimental group listened to a relaxing music for 30 minutes in each hour for a two-hour period a nd the control group was not exposed to music during this period. For the purpose of gathering data in both groups, the pain scales (verbal, numeric and visual) was used to measure pain. The independent variable in this research is relaxing music and the dependent variables are the pain level and delivery progress.. The independent t for sensations of pain in the experimental and control group before intervention has been (p = 0.875) 0.601 in numeric and visual pain and (p < 0.01) 2.92 in verbal pain, and one hour after intervention, it has been (p < 0.0001) 8.527 in visual and numeric pain and (p < 0.0001) 11.824 in verbal pain. Also, the equal value of independent t for the duration of delivery in control group before and after intervention shows that music has not had any effect on the rate of serotonin.. The results of statistical analysis show the effect of music on the decrease of sensation of pain in the experimental group as compared with the control group.

Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Labor Pain; Music Therapy; Nucleus Accumbens; Oxytocin; Pregnancy; Ventral Tegmental Area

The aim of the study was to check the influence of patient control epidural analgesia on labor progress and neonatal outcome.. 144 parturients were included into the clinical trial. In 73 cases patient control epidural analgesia was used and in 71 cases pethidine (meperidine) solution was given intravenously. Apgar score, umbilical artery pH, pain intensity the time of the first, second and third stage of labor the rate of episiotomy and uterine postpartum abrasions and the rate of caesarean sections and vaginal operative delivery were compared.. The time of the second stage of labor was significantly longer in the study group (40.99 vs 26.49 min, p- < 0.005), the neonatal outcome was comparable in both groups. There were no differences in the time of the first and the second stage of labor in primiparas and multiparas analyzed separately. Visual Analogue Score was lower in the study group (Ch(2)-12,48, p-0.25), especially in the subgroups of primiparas and multiparas.. Patient control epidural analgesia does not affect the time of the first and second stage of labor, oxytocin augmentation of labor may be the reason of that. This method is a more effective way of relieving labor pain. An increase of operative delivery is not observed after patient control epidural analgesia on condition that low doses and concentrations of analgesic drugs are used.

Topics: Adjuvants, Anesthesia; Adult; Analgesia, Obstetrical; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; Anesthetics, Local; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Labor Pain; Labor Stage, First; Labor Stage, Second; Oxytocin; Pain Measurement; Poland; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

In Bangladesh, the majority of women give birth at home. There is anecdotal evidence that unqualified allopathic practitioners (UAPs) administer oxytocin at home births to augment labour pain. The objective is to explore the use of oxytocin to augment labour pain during home births in an urban slum in Dhaka, Bangladesh.. Cross-sectional survey.. KamrangirChar slum, Dhaka, Bangladesh.. Married women with a home birth or who experienced labour at home in the 6 months prior to the survey (n = 463) were interviewed. Twenty-seven UAPs were interviewed to validate women's responses.. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify significant predictors of oxytocin use.. Reported use of oxytocin to augment labour pain.. Forty-six percent of women reported using medicine or other treatments to augment labour pain, 131 of whom reported using oxytocin (28% of total). Traditional birth attendants were the predominant decision-makers of when to use oxytocin. The medication was provided by a UAP who administered the drug via saline infusion or intramuscular injection. Higher education, lower parity, reported long labour (more than 12 hours), and knowledge of and positive attitudes towards oxytocin were significantly associated with oxytocin use after controlling for other factors. In the validation exercise, there was agreement about the use of oxytocin to augment labour in 22 of 27 cases (82%).. About one-third of women used oxytocin to augment labour pain. This practice has implications for health education as well as future research to assess the impact on adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Bangladesh; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Home Childbirth; Humans; Labor Pain; Labor, Induced; Middle Aged; Midwifery; Oxytocics; Oxytocin; Poverty Areas; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Urban Health; Young Adult

Labor pain is often described as the worst pain in a woman's life, but the experience is highly variable. Although many factors have been linked to labor pain, it has been difficult to assess the individual effects of these factors because labor is a dynamic process and pain intensity changes over the course of labor. Previous studies have used average pain scores. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a model that would allow for the statistical analysis of factors that affect pain throughout labor.. We conducted this study with a retrospective database drawn from the medical records of 200 consecutive nulliparous parturients who delivered at New York Presbyterian Hospital between October 2006 and January 2007. Numerical rating scale scores for pain with contractions (0-10 scale), cervical dilation, and oxytocin use before analgesia request were recorded. Nonlinear effects modeling with a sigmoid equation was used to describe the relationship between reported pain and cervical dilation. The modeling technique was developed with data from 91 parturients and validated with an independent set of 95 parturients (all parturients with pain scores more than zero). The resulting model was used to analyze the effect of a sample covariate, oxytocin administration, on reported pain in the entire data set.. The model derived from our training set was predictive of the data from our validation set (P < 0.001). Predicted pain scores were on average two numerical rating scale points above or below measured pain scores. Analyzing oxytocin as a covariant showed that women treated with oxytocin reported 48% more pain at the start of labor but did not have a significantly more rapid increase in pain or higher maximal pain when compared with women not treated with oxytocin. Women treated with oxytocin had slower early labor and more rapid late labor.. We have developed and validated a model for describing pain over the course of labor. Our model is suited to the statistical analysis of covariance and could potentially be used to compare the effects of covariants on labor pain and the rate of change of pain.

Topics: Adult; Analgesia, Epidural; Analgesia, Obstetrical; Female; Humans; Labor Pain; Labor Stage, First; Models, Biological; Models, Statistical; Oxytocics; Oxytocin; Pain Measurement; Pregnancy; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors

The aim of this study was to test for an analgesic effect of exercise during labor.. 50 women in labor exercised continuously with moderate intensity on a bicycle ergometer for 20 minutes. During rest and exercise, they rated their pain on a visual analogue scale (VAS). Venous blood was sampled for beta-endorphin, cortisol and catecholamines during rest and directly after exercise.. 84 percent of the women perceived uterine contractions during exercise as less painful than at rest. 76.2 percent objectified the pain relief by a reduction in VAS units 1.67 +/- 1.01. Beta-endorphin levels were much higher after exercise than at rest (P < 0.001). During exercise the fetal heart rate rose slightly within the reference range. Uterine contractions were more frequent during and after exercise than at rest (P < 0.05).. Exercising on a bicycle ergometer during labor seems to be safe for the fetus, a stimulus to uterine contractions, and a source of analgesia, possibly due to the release of beta-endorphin.

Topics: Analgesia; Apgar Score; beta-Endorphin; Butylscopolammonium Bromide; Cardiotocography; Exercise; Exercise Test; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Labor Pain; Male; Oxytocin; Pain Measurement; Parasympatholytics; Pregnancy; Treatment Outcome