• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.188-202
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• 2001

This study was designed to investigate the effect of one-to-one labor support on labor pain, labor stress response, childbirth experience and neonatal status for primipara by a quasi experiment (nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design), from April 30, 1999 to February 20, 2000. The subjects of this experiment consisted of eighty two primipara with single gestation, full term, uncomplicated pregnancies. Forty one were in the experimental group and forty one in the control group. Their mean age was 25.95 years, their mean gestation period was 39.9 weeks. A caring package of one-to-one labor support had three components. Physical support consisted of massage, back pressure, touch. Emotional support was provided by a continuous nurse's presence, acceptance and encouragement. Informational support involved teaching breathing skills, relaxation skills and knowledge about the labor process. Data assessed labor pain, pulse rate and blood pressure to measure labor stress response. Also, in measuring the value of labor stress response, plasma epinephrine, plasma norepinephrine and serum cortisol were measured. In the 24 hours after birth, the data for the postpartum mother's childbirth experiences was collected. Umbilical cord arterial blood pH, one minute and five minute Apgar score were measured after birth. Data was analyzed by t-test, $x^2$-test, repeated measures ANOVA, ANCOVA with SAS Program. The results were as follows; 1. Labor pain was significantly low in the experimental group(P=.016). 2. No significant group effects were found, but significant time effects were found for plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine, serum cortisol, pulse rate and blood pressure. 3. The childbirth experience of the experimental group was significantly more positive than the control group (P = .005). 4. The umbilical cord arterial blood pH of the experimental group was significantly higher than the control group(P=.014). There was no significant difference between the two groups in neonatal one minute and five minute Apgar scores. In conclusion, these findings indicate that one-to-one labor support could be effective in decreasing labor pain, and increasing positive childbirth experiences, also increasing the neonatal umbilical cord arterial blood pH for primipara. So, one-to-one labor support could be applied as an effective nursing treatment for primipara.