Using epidural analgesia management in primiparous women for painless labor

Purpose: Clinically, painless labor is a widely used method to alleviate the physical discomfort experienced by pregnant women. However, this approach often overlooks the psychological factors affecting pain expression. Neglecting these factors may lead to clinical issues, such as labor cognition of pregnant women, postpartum depression, and decreased willingness to continue to get pregnant. To address this gap, the present study explores using epidural analgesia management in primiparous women for painless labor. Methods: The study included 101 respondents who met the study's criteria. The study used a questionnaire, the modified Pain Control Satisfaction Scale (American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire, APS-POQ), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Trait Anxiety (STAI-T). Results: There was no significant relationship between pain level and satisfaction before and after primiparous women received epidural analgesia management. However, after the painless labor intervention, trait anxiety was statistically significant. The degree of overall pain was significantly and positively correlated with the degree of trait anxiety after easy labor (r = .30, p = .002), indicating that the higher the degree of pain perceived by the parturient, the higher the degree of trait anxiety after painless labor. Conclusion: These findings have practical implications for future clinical medical staff when managing painless labor. Providing psychological support and education on pregnant women's hygiene during labor is crucial for the delivery process of the mother. This can improve maternal awareness of labor and increase maternal willingness to give birth while reducing possible complications and medical costs.