Women's experiences of labour pain and the role of the mind: an exploratory study

Laura Y Whitburn; Lester E Jones; Mary-Ann Davey; Rhonda Small

doi:10.1016/j.midw.2014.04.005

Women's experiences of labour pain and the role of the mind: an exploratory study

Midwifery. 2014 Sep;30(9):1029-35. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2014.04.005. Epub 2014 Apr 30.

Authors

Laura Y Whitburn¹, Lester E Jones², Mary-Ann Davey³, Rhonda Small³

Affiliations

¹ Judith Lumley Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia; School of Public Health and Human Biosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3086, Australia. Electronic address: L.Whitburn@latrobe.edu.au.
² Judith Lumley Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia; School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia.
³ Judith Lumley Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.

PMID: 24820004
DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2014.04.005

Abstract

Objective: labour pain is unique and complex. In order to develop a more sophisticated understanding of labour pain this exploratory study aimed to examine women's experiences of labour pain within the perspective of modern pain science. An improved understanding of labour pain will assist in informing and enhancing pain management approaches.

Design: a qualitative study was performed using phenomenology as the theoretical framework. Data were collected from telephone interviews. Thematic analysis of transcripts was performed.

Setting: Melbourne, Australia.

Participants: a diverse sample of 19 women who gave birth in a large maternity hospital was interviewed in the month following labour.

Findings: the data suggest that a woman's state of mind during labour may set the stage for the cognitive and evaluative processes that construct and give meaning to her pain experience. Women's descriptions of their pain experiences suggested two states of mind. The first was characterised by the mind remaining focussed, open and accepting of the inner experience, including pain. This state tended to be accompanied by a more positive reporting of the labour experience. The second was characterised by the mind being distracted and thought processes featured pain catastrophising, self-judgment and a negative evaluation of pain. Although these two mind states appeared to be distinct, women could shift between them during labour. Women's evaluations of their pain were further influenced by their personal beliefs, desires, the context and the social environment.

Key conclusions: women's state of mind during labour may set the stage for the cognitive and evaluative processes that construct and give meaning to their pain experience.

Implications for practice: developing interventions for labour pain that promote positive evaluative processes and cultivate a state of mind focussing on the present may improve women's experiences of labour pain.

Keywords: Catastrophising; Childbirth; Labour pain; Mindfulness.

MeSH terms

Adult
Catastrophization / psychology
Female
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Labor Pain / psychology*
Mindfulness
Pain Management / psychology
Pregnancy