Which prepared-childbirth coping strategies are effective?
To investigate coping strategies taught in childbirth education classes, a study was conducted to nulliparous women immersing their hands in ice water. Length of tolerance and self-reported pain served as measures of the techniques' effectiveness. Results in Experiment 1 showed structured breathing to be more effective than normal breathing. Effleurage was less helpful than no effleurage. Practice under stress was better than either imaginal practice or no practice. In Experiment 2 a combination of structured breathing and attention focal points was much better than normal breathing. While coaching was better than no coaching, the combination of structured breathing, attention focal points, and coaching produced the strongest treatment.
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage; D008722:Methods; D009321:Natural Childbirth; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D011247:Pregnancy