Physiotherapeutic assistance during labor

ABSTRACT Labor is a natural event; a subjective and complex experience changing from woman to woman. Physiotherapeutic intervention in obstetric assistance values women’s autonomy during labor by the active use of their bodies and non-pharmacological methods of pain management. Our study aimed to assess puerperal women’s perspective in face of the physiotherapeutic assistance received during labor. This study uses qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory approaches. Data were collected by a semi-structured survey for profile characterization and open-ended interviews containing questions on physiotherapeutic assistance and childbirth. Bardin’s content analysis was used to treat data. In total, 12 puerperal women were included. By analyzing the content of our survey, we created three main ideas: childbirth experience; physiotherapeutic assistance; and physical therapy for pain relief. We can conclude that in the perception of puerperal women, physiotherapeutic assistance plays an important role in reducing pain and anxiety, as it contributes to their emotional support and promotes relaxation.

摘要：分娩是一种自然事件，亦是一种因人而异的主观且复杂的体验。产科助产中的物理治疗干预，通过引导产妇主动运用自身躯体并采用非药物镇痛方法，凸显了分娩过程中产妇的自主性。本研究旨在评估产褥期妇女（puerperal women）对分娩期间所接受物理治疗助产服务的认知与看法。本研究采用质性、描述性与探索性研究方法。研究数据通过两类工具采集：一是用于受试者基本特征刻画的半结构化问卷，二是围绕物理治疗助产与分娩主题设置问题的开放式访谈。本研究采用巴尔德内容分析法（Bardin’s content analysis）对数据进行处理。最终共纳入12名产褥期妇女。通过对调研数据的内容分析，本研究提炼出三大核心主题：分娩体验、物理治疗助产服务、镇痛物理治疗手段。综上，从产褥期妇女的认知视角来看，物理治疗助产服务在减轻疼痛与缓解焦虑层面发挥着关键作用，因其可为产妇提供情感支持并促进身心放松。