Effects of social support during parturition on maternal and infant morbidity

Abstract

Because continuous social support during labour is a component of care in many societies but inconsistent in our own, the clinical effect of support during labour on maternal and neonatal morbidity were studied. Social support was provided by female companions. Four hundred and sixty five healthy primigravidous women were enrolled using a randomised design. Compared with 249 women undergoing labour alone 168 women who had supportive female companions throughout labour had significantly fewer perinatal complications (p<0.001), including caesarean sections (7% v 17%, p<0.01) and oxytocin augmentation (2% v 13%, p<0.00l), and fewer infants admitted to neonatal intensive care (p<0.10). Of the women who had an uncomplicated labour and delivery requiring no interventions, those with a companion had a significantly shorter duration of labour (7.7 hours v 15.5 hours, p<0.001). This study suggests that constant human support may be of great benefit to women during labour. © 1987, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved. © 1986, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.