Effects of biofeedback on childbirth pain

Abstract

A study of the effects of biofeedback on the pain of childbirth was conducted. Forty primigravidae were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group was given a series of training sessions in biofeedback and used biofeedback equipment during labor. All subjects were monitored during the labor and delivery period for their reports of pain using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a verbal descriptor scale (VDS). Results showed that women using biofeedback during childbirth reported significantly lower pain: from admission to labor and delivery (p less than 0.05:VDS; p less than 0.01:VAS), at delivery (p less than 0.005:VDS), and 24-hr postpartum (p less than 0.01:VDS). Also, women in the biofeedback group labored an average of 2 hr less and used 30% fewer medications. The results of this study suggest that EMG biofeedback may be effective in reducing levels of acute pain experienced by childbearing women.