Pain Management in Labor, Article Review Example

The author states that the purpose of the article is to provide information about pain management options for childbirth educators. Weatherspoon (2011) emphasizes the need of flexibility, as every woman is different, and they have a different pain tolerance level. She states that providing information for pregnant women before the labor about their options can help them feel in control, and reduce the need for medication and local pain management. It is also interesting that the author lists natural, alternative pain management methods first, and then provides readers with a list of commonly used traditional ways of easing patient discomfort. Being a registered nurse specializing on anesthesia and pain management, it is surprising that she promotes alternative methods. While several side effects of traditional pain management methods, such as epidural block are listed and confirmed by research literature findings, the alternative methods are not backed up by relevant studies. While the author does not state that alternative treatment options should be solely used to manage pain, she states that they provide pregnant women a more natural experience. As many pain management drugs block receptors, they also decrease women’s ability to actively take part in the childbirth. If they do not feel the traction and pain, they would not be able to push at the right time.

The credibility of the author, based on her 30 years experience in the field cannot be questioned, and it is true that women should be given a choice regarding pain management methods. However, further research is needed on the effectiveness of alternative pain management approaches, in order to be able to give patients enough information to make a decision. Becoming familiar with the different methods is important for all health care professionals.

References

Weatherspoon, D. (2011) Current practices in easing discomfort from labor and delivery: Alternative and medical practices. International Journal of Childbirth Education. Vol. 26 No. 4.