Pain in Labour

Question 1

What is pain?

Answer 1

‘an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or, described in terms of such damage’

Question 2

What is the perception of pain?

Answer 2

Psychological factors
Cultural factors: no noise
Social factors
Progress in labour: communicate with woman
Support in labour (Hodnett E): constant support
Neonate

Question 3

What are the fibres?

Answer 3

A-beta fibres large diameter fibres that carry sensations of pressure and temperature

C fibres transmit pain sensations and A-delta fibres small diameter fibre

Question 4

What is the natural pain relief released in our body?

Answer 4

Endorphins

Question 5

How do we measure pain?

Answer 5

Visual analogue scale
Mc Gill pain questionnaire: how will this enhance pain score - more accurate
Always ask how severe the pain is. Ask twice once when they are in a lot of pain and then once given medication ask again to see if the medication has worked

Question 6

What is the gate control theory?

Answer 6

Melzack and Wall

Non painful input blocks the gates to painful then prevents the sensation of pain from travelling to the CNS