A Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Lamaze Breathing and Relaxation Technique regarding Labour Pain Management among Gravid Mothers in Selected Maternity Hospitals at Bangalore

Maya Roat

Abstract: Statement of the problem: "A study to evaluate the effectiveness of lamaze breathing and relaxation technique regarding labour pain management among gravid mothers in selected maternity hospitals at Bangalore". Background of the study: Pregnancy is a crucial period and childbirth represents the most painful event in most women's lifetime. Pregnant women commonly worry about the pain they will experience during labour and childbirth. Pain during labour is primarily caused by uterine muscle contractions and somewhat by pressure on the cervix. This pain manifests as cramping in the abdomen, groin, and back, as well as a tired, achy feeling all over the body. Some women experience pain in their sides or thighs as well. A study was conducted o find the effect of Lamaze method on child birth experiences among primi gravid women in first stage of labour. The study concluded that, lamaze method is an effective non-invasive, cost-effective, non pharmacologic, supportive and educative alternative for reducing the labour pain and to improve the behavioral responses of women in first stage of labour. Lamaze method was effective in labour pain reduction. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY: 1) To assess the level of labour pain before lamaze breathing and relaxation technique among gravid mothers in experimental and control groups. 2) To assess the level of labour pain after lamaze breathing and relaxation technique among gravid mothers in experimental and control groups. 3) To evaluate the effectiveness of lamaze breathing and relaxation technique in reduction of labour pain among gravid mothers in experimental groups. 4) To compare the level of labour pain among gravid mothers in the experimental and control groups. 5) To find out the association between the levels of labour pain and select. Hypothesis: H1: There is a significant reduction in labour pain after lamaze breathing and relaxation technique than before among gravid mothers in the experimental group. H2: There is a significant reduction of labour pain among gravid mothers in experimental group than in the control group. H3: There is a significant association between the level of labour pain and selected variables among labour pain in experimental group. H4: There is a significant association between the level of labour pain and selected variables among gravid mothers in the control group. Methods: A Quasi-Experimental design was adapted in the present study. Convenient sampling technique was used to select 70 caregivers 35 in experimental group and 35 in control group. The data was collected using a interview method. A lamaze breathing and relaxation technique was adopted for experimental group to manage labour pain among gravid mothers. Content validity was obtained from the experts of related specialties. Following this, a pilot study was conducted to test the feasibility and the practicality of the study. Pre intervention pain scores were assessed using numeric pain rating scale during first stage of labour. Experimental group received Lamaze breathing and relaxation technique during first stage of labour. The intensity of pain was reassessed after the intervention. The control group mothers received the routine measures as per the hospital policy after the post test. Results: The Mean post-intervention score was 27.886, with a standard deviation of 3.367and the mean post intervention score was 11.286with standard deviation of 3.77among control group. The mean difference was 16.60. The t-value, 19.438***was found to be significant at 0.001 level between experimental group and control group. The p values (p < 0.001) provides sufficient justification to accept the H1, i. e. mean post intervention pain scores in the experimental group is lower than that of control group at 0.001 level of significance. The Mean value of pre and post test score were 28, and 11.286respectively with mean difference of 16.714and t-value of 33.297***and was found to be significant at 0.001 level among the experimental group. Interpretation and conclusion: The effectiveness of the Lamaze breathing and relaxation technique was tested using inferential statistics using the paired't' test. t-value 19.438***was found to be significant at 0.001 level between experimental group and control group. The Mean value of pre and post test score were 28, and 11.286respectively with mean difference of 16.714and t-value of 33.297***and was found to be significant at 0.001 level among the experimental group. Hence the Lamaze breathing and relaxation technique was found to be effective in reducing the labour pain among gravid mothers and there is a significant association between age and occupation in the experimental group and in the control group association is found with age.

Keywords: Lamaze breathing and relaxation technique, labour pain and gravid mothers