Having Partner Present During Delivery Reduces Childbirth Pain
Tuesday, August 27, 2019 IST
Researchers found that volunteers were able to tolerate more pain when their loved one was with them in the room as compared to when they were alone.
A new study now finds that people can tolerate more pain if their romantic partner is in the room with them, answering an age-old question on whether men should be in the delivery room with their partners during childbirth.
According to the study conducted by researchers at The University of Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, they gradually applied more pressure onto the fingernails of participants in a series of experiments.
Researchers found that volunteers were able to tolerate more pain when their loved one was with them in the room as compared to when they were alone. However, as a part of the study, the partners were not allowed to hold the hands of the partners or speak to them. They were only allowed to make eye contact.
The researchers further found that the painkilling effect was greater if the partner was considered to be empathetic. Speaking about the study, lead researcher Professor Stefan Duschek said that repeatedly talking and touching have been shown to reduce pain. However, "research shows even the passive presence of a romantic partner can reduce it and that partner empathy may buffer effective distress during pain exposure. The results confirm the analgesic effects of social support, which may even occur without verbal or physical contact."
During the course of the study involving 48 straight couples, one person from each couple went through experiments, in which their index finger was put into a machine, where machine slowly added weight onto the fingernail until participants gave a stop signal when the pain was too much.
The routine was repeated thrice, both alone with a study conductor, and when their partner was sitting one metre away from them.
Researchers found that participants had a higher pain tolerance when their partner was there, and rated their pain as lower. Furthermore they found that participants who had empathetic partners appeared to have a greater increase in their pain tolerance than those who did not.
Related Topics
Trending News & Articles
ALMATY: Hour upon hour, day upon day, Omir Bekali and other detainees in far western China's new indoctrination camps had to disavow the...
Recently posted . 218K views . 1 min read
If you have payed attention to the belly buttons of people on the beach or the members of your family, you have probably noticed that they have different shapes and...
Recently posted . 10K views . 2 min read
The Langya henipavirus has a place with a similar group of infections, including Nipah, which is known to kill up to 3/4 of people in extreme cases.
Recently posted . 6K views . 1 min read
Queen's death: The eldest of her four children, Charles, Prince of Wales, who at 73 was the oldest heir apparent in British history, became king immediately...
Recently posted . 5K views . 1 min read
More in Global
A new telescope recently captured the most detailed pictures yet of Sun. However, internet could not stop itself from cracking jokes on how it looked like chikki.
Recently posted. 911 views . 1 min read
She suffered from mercury poisoning from a tainted anti-wrinkle cream imported from Mexico, KCRA reported.
Recently posted. 874 views . 0 min read
There’s nothing like the warmth and security of a loved one being enveloping you in their arms. The simple act of giving and receiving genuine hugs can ...
Recently posted. 864 views . 2 min read
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 2K views
Recently posted . 2K views
Recently posted . 3K views . 140 min read
Recently posted . 4K views . 99 min read
Friendship is a small thing compared to friendliness that has a far wider connotation, a far bigger sky, says OSHO
Recently posted. 1K views . 1 min read
A couple of years ago, Nathalie Tufenkji stopped by a Montreal cafe on her way to work and ordered a cup of tea. She sat down with her mug, enjoying its warmth, bef...
Recently posted. 1K views . 1 min read