A trial sought to determine whether injecting sterile water subcutaneously
rather than intracutaneously produced less pain during injection while
resulting in equal effectiveness. Ninety-nine pregnant women at term who
required relief of severe low back pain during the first stage of labor
were randomly allocated to receive four injections of 0.1 ml sterile water
(not normal saline) intracutaneously, four injections of 0.5 ml of water
subcutaneously, or placebo injections in the area of the Michaelis rhomboid
in the lower lumbosacral area. The placebo treatment was subcutaneous
injections of normal saline.
Both groups of women receiving intracutaneous or subcutaneous sterile water
had significant reductions in pain scores after 45 minutes compared with
the placebo group. No difference occurred in the women's experience of pain
during the injections. When surveyed after birth, however, twice as many
women receiving subcutaneous sterile water said they would not be willing
to try this method in a future labor and birth, compared with those women
receiving intracutaneous water.
-Birth, March 2000
Reprinted from Midwifery Today E-News (Vol 2 Issue 17 April 28, 2000)
To subscribe to the E-News write: enews@midwiferytoday.com
For all other matters contact Midwifery Today:
PO Box 2672-940, Eugene OR 97402
541-344-7438, midwifery@aol.com, Midwifery Today
|
|