Comparison between Effect of Entonox and Controlled Breathing Technique for Pain Management in Labor

Introduction & Pain relief during labor is one of the major concerns in obstetrics; severe labor pain causes fear of the next pregnancy and interferes with the mother's family relationship. The aim of this study was to evaluate the comparison between Entonox and controlled breathing technique during labor for pain management in labor.
This double-blind semi-experimental was conducted on pregnant women who were candidates for vaginal delivery in Educational Hospitals of Valiasr Broujen, Iran. Before entering into the inactive phase of labor, participants were randomly allocated to receive inhaled Entonox gas (n = 35) or controlled breathing technique (n = 35) as a control group. Mothers inhaled the gas or breathing at the commencement of pain, and ceased as soon as the pain diminished, up to the end of the second stage of labor which was the neonate's birth. Main outcomes were pain score based on VAS (visual analog scale), duration of delivery. Chi-square and Independent T-test were used for data analysis and P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Seventy pregnant women with a mean age of 25.25 ± 4.66 years were studied. Mean of pain severity score during labor in the Entonox and controlled breathing technique groups was not significantly changed (P Using Entonox or controlled breathing technique are effect for reducing labor pain and there are cost benefits without the significant increase in maternal and neonatal complications for controlling pain severity during of labor.