“No pain, no gain”: The experience of women using sterile water injections

Sterile water injections (SWI) are gaining popularity amongst women and midwives for the relief of back pain in labour. However the brief but intense pain associated with the injection has been cited as a deterrent to use and may negatively affect the birth experience. To explore women’s experiences...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives 2017-04, Vol.30 (2), p.153-158
Main Authors: Lee, Nigel, Kildea, Sue, Stapleton, Helen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Analgesia, Obstetrical - methods
Australia
Childbirth experience
Female
Humans
Injections, Intradermal - methods
Labor Pain - therapy
Labour pain
Low back pain
Midwifery
Midwifery - methods
Pain Management - methods
Pregnancy
Qualitative Research
Queensland
Sterile water injections
Water - administration & dosage
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Summary:Sterile water injections (SWI) are gaining popularity amongst women and midwives for the relief of back pain in labour. However the brief but intense pain associated with the injection has been cited as a deterrent to use and may negatively affect the birth experience. To explore women’s experiences of using sterile water injections as analgesia for back pain in labour. A qualitative study, which generated data through individual semi-structured interviews with postnatal women. Data were analysed thematically. Two metropolitan maternity units in Queensland, Australia. Nine postnatal women who had participated in a randomised controlled trial investigating the use of sterile water injections for back pain in labour Three major themes were identified including sterile water injections as a non-pharmacological injection; balancing injection pain against expectations of pain relief; the analgesic effect of sterile water injections. Women in this study largely viewed sterile water injections as an effective analgesia with few side effects. The pain associated with the injection of sterile water was weighed against the likelihood of rapid, effective pain relief. Women used the period of analgesia to support their objectives, be this a period of respite during the labour or to enhance the ability to focus on the birth experience. Information on SWI provided by health professionals should also balance realistic descriptions of the injection pain with prospect of analgesia.
ISSN:1871-5192
1878-1799
DOI:10.1016/j.wombi.2016.09.010