Effect of a female labour companion and of educating her regarding support during labour on perinatal and labour outcomes

Abstract

Objectives: To study the effect of the presence of a labour companion from the mother’s social network and the effect of giving to the companion an education regarding support to the parturient. Design: This was a comparative trial in a University Obstetric Unit. Sixty women were randomly distributed in two groups who were allowed female companions of their choice, one where the labour companion was given an education (A) and a second where the companion was not given such an education (B). Group C comprised of 30 women who did not have a companion as routinely practiced in our hospital. Perception of control over self during labour was assessed using the validated version of the Labour Agentry Scale (LAS-10) and perinatal events were recorded. Anova test and respective 95% confidence interval were used in statistical analyses. Results: Maternal satisfaction was significantly higher in the group A (Group A: mean = 56.10, Group B = 48.40, Group C = 45.93; p<0.05) and the number of breastfeeds in the first 12 hours in group B (A: mean = 5.8; SD = 1.45 B: 6.03, 1.09; C 5.0, 1.2, p<0.05). There was a favourable trend in the need for augmentation of labour, with the following numbers not requiring such intervention: A = 10 (33.3%); B = 13 (43.3%); C = 9 (30%). No difference was demonstrated in the use of analgesics, mode of delivery or presence of meconium staining of liquor.Conclusions: A female labour companion of the mother’s choice has a positive effect on the mother's experience of labour and perinatal events, irrespective of the companion receiving an education.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljog.v35i4.6584 Sri Lanka Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2013; 35: 112-115