Effectiveness of Warm Compress on Labour Pain Relief in Primiparturients During the First Stage of Labour: Quasi-Experimental Study
Keywords:
Evaluate, Effectiveness, Warm Compress, Lumbar and Sacral Area, Labour Pain, First Stage of Labour, PrimiparturientsAbstract
Labour pain is one of the most intense forms of pain experienced by women, particularly during the first stage of labour, which includes the latent and active phases. Effective pain management is a crucial aspect of obstetric care. While pharmacological methods are commonly used, there is a growing preference for non-pharmacological interventions that offer relief without medical side effects. Warm compress therapy, involving the application of heat to specific areas such as the lumbar and sacral regions, has been recognized for its potential to reduce pain and enhance comfort during labour.Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of warm compresses in reducing labour pain in the lumbar and sacral areas during the first stage of labour among periparturient admitted to a selected hospital in Vadodara.Methods: A quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental design was adopted. The study included 60 primiparturients selected through non-probability convenience sampling. The participants were divided into experimental and control groups, and pain levels were assessed using the Numerical Pain Intensity Scale before and after the intervention. The experimental group received warm compress therapy, while the control group received standard care. Results: Pre-test findings indicated no statistically significant difference in pain levels between the experimental (mean = 7.93±1.08) and control groups (mean = 7.86±0.97) (t=0.251, p=0.803). However, post-test results showed a significant reduction in pain in the experimental group (mean = 6.50±1.08) compared to the control group (mean = 8.06±0.73) with a mean difference of 1.57 (t=6.861, p=0.001), indicating a statistically significant effect of the warm compress intervention.Conclusion: The study concludes that warm compress therapy is an effective non-pharmacological method for reducing labour pain in the lumbar and sacral regions during the first stage of labour. Its integration into routine obstetric care may improve the childbirth experience for primiparturients
Downloads
Metrics
References
Lowe, N.K. (2002). The nature of labor pain. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 186(5), S16–S24.
Simkin, P., & Bolding, A. (2004). Update on nonpharmacologic approaches to relieve labor pain and prevent suffering. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 49(6), 489–504.
McIntosh, N., et al. (2004). Pain relief in labour. RCOG Press .
Lowe, N.K. (2002). The nature of labor pain. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 186(5 Suppl), S16–S24. https://doi.org/10.1067/mob.2002.121427
Simkin, P., & Bolding, A. (2004). Update on nonpharmacologic approaches to relieve labor pain and prevent suffering. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 49(6), 489–504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmwh.2004.07.007
Anim-Somuah, M., Smyth, R.M.D., & Cyna, A.M. (2011). Epidural versus non-epidural or no analgesia in labour. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 12, CD000331. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD000331.pub3
Melzack, R., & Wall, P.D. (1965). Pain mechanisms: a new theory. Science, 150(3699), 971–979. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.150.3699.971
Dabiri, F., & Shahi, A. (2014). The effect of heat therapy on pain intensity of primiparous women during the active phase of labor. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 19(3), 290–293. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4110143/
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
Terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.