History and Objectives: Delivery is associated with severe pain and it is one of the most severe types of pain. Regardless of recent progress in medical-surgical operations, management of delivery with reduced pain is one of the challenges of medicine. The present study was conducted to address the effect of childbirth preparation in order to reduce pain and duration of delivery without therapeutic use in the Imam Khomeini hospital in the city of Semiroom in Iran in 1999-2000.

Materials and Methods: A clinical trial was carried out on 100 primigravida mothers. They were selected by random-sequential sampling into two groups (50 experimental and 50 control groups). The two groups were matched for age, weight/height percentage, educational status, condition of cervix before delivery and history of dysmenorrhea. Experimental group (32±2 weeks of pregnancy) participated in the childbirth preparation classes held weekly for 2 hours for 4 to 6 weeks prior to delivery. Mothers received information about pregnancy, delivery and related techniques. Members of experimental group were accompanied by research team during labor and delivery. The control group received routine care. The intensity of pain was measured by Mac Gill ruler. Chi-square and t-test statistical analysis were carried out.

Results: In the first stage of delivery, the occurrence of moderate and severe pain in the experimental group were 46% and 48% respectively and 18% and 70% in the control group. There was a significant difference in the two groups (P<0.0001). There was no mild and moderate pain in the second stage of delivery. Severe and more severe pain in the experimental group were 12% and 88% respectively and 4% and 96% in the control group. Average duration of the first and second stage and total duration of delivery in the control group were 336.5±54.5, 50.6±12.3 and 405±56.5 and in the experimental group were 243.2±72.5, 30.7±12.2 and 284±77.7 min respectively. There was a significant difference between the two group (P<0.0001).

Conclusion: Childbirth preparation reduced intensity of pain in the first stage of delivery and duration of first, second and total duration of delivery. It seems that childbirth preparation should be included in the prenatal instructions for mothers. Further research is needed to study other methods of childbirth preparation.