Subcutaneous sterile water injection for labour pain: a randomised controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
About 30% of women experience severe continuous low-back pain in labour, but limited options are available to reduce this pain especially in developing countries and remote areas.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of subcutaneous sterile water injection in reduction of labour pain compared with placebo.


METHODS
One hundred (100) consecutive patients were enrolled in a double-blind randomised controlled trial. During the first stage of labour with planned normal vaginal delivery, the intervention group (n = 50) received 0.5 mL sterile water injected subcutaneously and the control group (n = 50) received normal saline as a placebo. Pain score was measured before and 10 and 45 min after the injection, using the faces rating scale.


METHODS
Low-back labour pain.


RESULTS
The two groups were not significantly different regarding maternal age and weight, gestational age, parity and gravidity and degree of effacement. The median pain score was equal in both groups prior to the injection. Pain severity was reduced in both groups after the injection. However, the median pain score in the sterile water group was significantly lower than the placebo group 10 min (P < 0.01), as well as 45 min, after the injection (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Administering one subcutaneous injection of sterile water in a painful point of the lumbosacral area is effective in reducing low-back pain during labour.
Bahasadri
Shohreh
S
Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. ocrt@sina.tums.ac.ir
Ahmadi-Abhari
Sara
S
Dehghani-Nik
Mojghan
M
Habibi
Gholam Reza
GR
D000328:Adult; D016362:Analgesia, Obstetrical / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D048949:Labor Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D007747:Labor Stage, First; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013242:Sterilization; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014867:Water / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D014867:Water; D012965:Sodium Chloride