Little Benefit in Labor Coaching

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research reveals coaching during labor does little to help women while giving birth and may cause bladder problems.

Researchers from UT Southwestern in Dallas studied 320 women with first-time, uncomplicated pregnancies.  The women were divided into two groups. During labor, one group received coaching instructions to push while the other group was told to do what felt natural.

Steven Bloom, M.D., lead author of the study, and colleagues found labor was shortened by approximately 13 minutes for the women who were coached. Three months later, however, these women reported smaller bladder capacity and a decreased first urge to void -- the volume at which there is a need to pass urine -- than the women told to do what felt natural.

Investigators say more research is needed to determine whether any permanent damage is caused to the bladder, but trust over time the bladder function will return to normal. They believe this study gives woman more confidence to choose method of labor freely.

Dr. Bloom says, "Oftentimes, it's best for the patient to do what's more comfortable for her."

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SOURCE: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, published online Dec. 2005