LONG-TERM ASSESSMENT OF EXTRADURAL ANALGESIA FOR THE RELIEF OF PAIN IN LABOUR. II: SENSE OF “DEPRIVATION” AFTER EXTRADURAL ANALGESIA IN LABOUR: RELEVANT OR NOT?

Abstract

Ninety-nine mothers who received extradural analgesia, and 95 who received conventional methods of analgesia for the relief of pain in labour, were interviewed at 18–24 months following delivery. An increase of about 2% in the proportion of mothers experiencing a sense of “deprivation” in the long term in comparison with the findings recorded immediately after delivery was noted. This was not accompanied by the need to seek psychiatric treatment