Abstract
The quality of labor pain in primiparas and multiparas was systematically assessed on 41 primiparas and 64 multiparas when the cervix was dilated 0-3cm, 4-7cm, 8-9cm and Stage II of laborby the Mc Gill Pain Questionnaire which consists of 4 descriptions-sensory, affective, evaluative and miscellaneous.
The findings of this study are summarized as follows.
1. Except for evaluative description of Stage II, the descriptions in all four stages of labor pain was more intense for primiparas than for multiparas. Especially primiparas had significantly more pain at the 4-7cm and 8-9cm dilated stages than multiparas.
2. Characteristic words were reported for each stage of labor, so the qualities of pain were class fied into 0-7cm, 8-9cm dilated stages and Stage II.
3. The quality of labor pain was not a sharp pain, but a dull pain.
The assessment of the quality of labor pain hasbeen suggested to be useful in the judgment of progression of labor and for improvement in the quality care of women in labor.
