Virtual reality is beneficial in decreasing pain in labouring women: A preliminary study

Lorna Massov; Brian Robinson; Edgar Rodriguez-Ramirez; Robyn Maude

doi:10.1111/ajo.13591

Virtual reality is beneficial in decreasing pain in labouring women: A preliminary study

Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2022 Jul 25. doi: 10.1111/ajo.13591. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Lorna Massov¹, Brian Robinson¹, Edgar Rodriguez-Ramirez², Robyn Maude¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Practice, Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.
² School of Design, Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.

PMID: 35880315
DOI: 10.1111/ajo.13591

Abstract

Background: Women use a range of non-pharmacological pain relief methods to reduce labour pain intensity and to help manage labour pain.

Aims: The purpose of this intervention study was to determine whether virtual reality would have an effect on labour pain intensity. Virtual reality has been shown to be effective in reducing pain in other acute pain settings.

Materials and methods: This study was an intervention study in labour in a cross-over within-subjects design (Clinical Trials Registry Number: ACTRN12618001776291P). Fourteen participants reported their pain and had their heart rate and blood pressure measured during active labour while using and not using virtual reality.

Results: There were significantly lower reported pain scores (6.14 compared to 7.61, P < 0.001) and maternal heart rate (79.86 beats per minute compared to 85.57, P = 0.033) and mean arterial pressure (88.78 mmHg compared to 92.61 mmHg, P = 0.022) were lower when using virtual reality compared to when not using virtual reality during active labour.

Conclusion: This study makes an important contribution to the field of virtual reality in labour and birth. It is consistent with other recent findings of reduced pain in labour and links decreased pain scales to heart rate and blood pressure, the physiological markers of pain.

Keywords: birth; labour; pain; virtual reality.

© 2022 The Authors. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.