Pain control during labour

Abstract

Labour pain is described as a complex, subjective and multidimensional experience characterized by severe pain. Usually, labour is divided into three stages. The first stage is defined as the beginning of regular uterine contractions until cervical dilatation is completed. The second stage is from the end of the first stage until the delivery of the fetus, and the third stage continues until the placenta and membranes have been discharged. During the first stage the pain is mainly visceral and mediated by the T10-L1 segments of the spine, while during the second stage, an additional somatic component is present, mediated by the S1-S4 segments of the spine. © Springer 2008.