Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

    Background & Aim: About 30% of women experience severe continuous low back pains in labor, but limited options are available to reduce this pain especially in developing countries like Iran and remote areas. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of subcutaneous sterile water injection in lumbosacral area on low back labor pains at the first stage of labor. Patients & Method: We conducted a double blind randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of subcutaneous sterile water injection in lumbosacral area on low back labor pains at the first stage of labor. During the first stage of normal vaginal delivery, the intervention(case) group(n=50) received 0.5 ml sterile water injected subcutaneously and the control group(n=50) received 0.5 ml normal saline. Both groups received injection in a painful part of lumbosacral area. Pain score was measured before and after 10 and 45 minutes of injection using a visual face rating scale. This scale consists of 5 faces in which the severity of pain has been depicted by different facial expressions. Score one is considered for the lowest amount of pain and score five for the highest and intolerable amount of pain. The patient is asked to select the picture which corresponds to her condition best. The median scores of both groups were compared then. Results: The two groups were not significantly different regarding maternal age and weight, gestational age, parity and gravidity, degree of effacement, and education. Prior to the injection, median pain score was equal in both groups as per face rating scale. Both groups showed decrease in pain levels both 10 and 45 minutes after injection. The median pain score in the intervention(case) group was significantly lower than the control group 10 minutes as well as 45 minutes after injection(p<0.01). Conclusion: Administering single subcutaneous injection of sterile water in a tender point of lumbosacral area is effective in reducing low back pains during labor. Since this method is inexpensive, harmless, accessible, simple to apply and efficacious, it is recommended for routine clinical practice.