Abstract : Most pregnant women experience severe pain and discomfort during the
second stage of labor. In addition, the longer the duration of second-stage labor the
greater the potential for a woman and her fetus to experience adverse effects. Thus,
the purpose of this experimental study, using a randomized factorial design, was to
determine the effects of the Prince of Songkla University (PSU) locked-upright
position on the duration, pain (sensation and distress) and comfort of second-stage
labor among 320 primiparous women with no known health complications.
The sample was divided into 4 groups of 80 subjects each, whereby: Group 1
used the supine lithotomy position; Group 2 used the PSU locked-upright position
with knees-to-chest; Group 3 used the PSU locked-upright lithotomy position; and,
Group 4 used the upright lithotomy position. Subjects in Groups 2, 3 and 4 had the
head of the delivery table raised 45-60o
.In addition, subjects in Groups 2 and 3 had
their lumbar areas raised 30-40o
, via a pillow.
Findings reveal the duration of second-stage labor, in Group 1 subjects, was
longer than that of subjects in the other three groups. Although subjects in Groups 2, 3 and 4 did not show significant differences in the duration of second-stage labor,
Group 3 experienced the shortest duration. This finding suggests the PSU lockedupright
lithotomy position may be useful in decreasing the length of second-stage
labor. No significant differences were found, among the four groups, regarding pain
(sensation and distress), demographics, and obstetrical and infant data. However, of
the four groups, subjects in the supine lithotomy position (Group 1) indicated having
the greatest amount of back pain and discomfort while in their labor position.