Pharmacological vs Non-Pharmacological Interventions

Pharmacological vs Non-Pharmacological Interventions

Non-pharmacological interventions are those that do not entail the use of medications to manage labor pain. They include massage, hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, music therapy, use of birthing balls, and variation in the position and motion (Czech et al., 2018). Massage entails gentle or firm stroking of the skin. Aromatherapy can be administered together with massage or hydrotherapy. Essential oils are used to relieve tension and stress. Jacuzzi tubs can be applied in hydrotherapy. The warmth and pressure of the water help in pain relief. Birthing balls facilitate pelvic mobility and enable change in position (Czech et al., 2018). This creates comfort during laboring and relieves pain. Music therapy creates a relaxing and peaceful atmosphere hence relieving pain. Other techniques include counterpressure and exercise to create pattern breathing.

Pharmacological interventions entail the use of medications to manage pain. They are used in concert with non-pharmacological approaches to relieve pain during labor and childbirth (Czech et al., 2018). Local anesthesia can be used to temporarily numb a specific body part. A local anesthetic can be injected into the vagina or surrounding area before an episiotomy is done (Lee & Shin, 2017). Epidural anesthesia facilitates continuous pain relief by administering the anesthetic through a catheter into the epidural space. Narcotic analgesics can be given intravenously to relieve pain. The other pharmacological approach is spinal block and general anesthesia.

The two classes of drugs used for pain relief during labor and childbirth are Local anesthetics and analgesics. Local anesthetics such as bupivacaine can cause fetal bradycardia and alterations in the peripheral vascular tone (Lee & Shin, 2017). Pethidine is a synthetic opioid analgesic that can cause neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (Nunes et al., 2017). The syndrome presents with fetal tremors and irritability.

During labor, nurses can use massage and encourage patterned breathing of the laboring patient. Patterned breathing creates comfort and enables the laboring woman to focus. It also facilitates the uterine contraction process. Massage creates pleasure sensations that are transmitted to the brain. This counteracts the pain associated with labor and childbirth. The overall outcome is the relief of pain during labor and the delivery process.

References

Czech, I., Fuchs, P., Fuchs, A., Lorek, M., Tobolska-Lorek, D., Drosdzol-Cop, A., & Sikora, J. (2018). Pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of labor pain relief—establishment of effectiveness and comparison. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15122792

Lee, J. M., & Shin, T. J. (2017). Use of local anesthetics for dental treatment during pregnancy; safety for the parturient. Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, 17(2), 81. https://doi.org/10.17245/jdapm.2017.17.2.81

Nunes, R. R., Colares, P. G. B., & Montenegro, J. P. (2017). Is Pethidine Safe during Labor? Systematic Review. Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetricia, 39(12), 686–691. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0037-1604065

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