Non-Pharmacologic Labour Pain Relief
Witoon Prasertcharoensuk MD* Jadsada Thinkhamrop MD,MS*
Affiliation : * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University
Many women would like to avoid pharmacological or invasive methods of pain management in
labour and this may contribute towards the popularity of complementary methods of pain management.
This review examined currently available evidence supporting the use of alternative and complementary
therapies for pain management in labour.
To examine the effectiveness of complementary and alternative therapies for pain management in
labour on maternal and perinatal morbidity.
The trials included three trials of hypnosis (n = 189), one involving audio-analgesia (n = 25), one
involving (n = 22), and one trial of music (n = 30). Women receiving hypnosis were more satisfied with their
pain management in labour compared with controls (RR 2.33, 95% CI 1.55 to 4.71). No differences were seen
for women recieving , music or audio analgesia.
Hypnosis may be beneficial for the management of pain during labour. However, few complementary
therapies have been subjected to proper scientific study
Keywords : Pain, Hypnosis, Music therapy
