Importance of Husband-Presence during Labor in Midwifery

Using Relative Heart Rate as a Measure

Abstract

This study examined the effect of husband-presence during Labor on relaxtion of pregnant women. 12 husband-present women and 8 husband-absent women participated in this study.
The heart rate level during Stages II and Stages III was measured by Portable Heart Rate Memory. The data were converted into relative heart rate and analyzed statistically.
The findings of this study are summarized as follows.
1. A significant difference was noted in the relative heart rate level during labor between the group with husband-presence (presence group hereinafter) and the group without husbandpresence (absence group hereinafter). In any phase of labor, the presence group was significantly lower in the minimum level of periodical (up-and-down) heart rate.
2 Regarding midwifery factors, a significant difference was found in total blood during labor between the multiparas in the two groups, and 80% of the group with husband-presence did nothave perineal injury and episiotomy.
3. Between the primiparas in the two groups, duration-time for Stages II was different significantly.
At the end, the importance of this study in midwifery was discussed.