The hormonal effect of delivery in a birth chair and delivery table was examined in a prospective study from July through December, 1991. The study was performed in 36 primiparous women, 37~41 weeks gestation with a normal pregnancy and labor, 18
delivering on a traditional delivery table in supine position and 18 delivering on a birth chair during second stage of labor. All women had labored in a recumbent position during latent and first stage of labor.
Plasma levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine in latent phases, first stages (cervical dilatation 5~7 cm), and second stage (cervical dilatation over 10 cm) of the two groups were measured by high performance liquid chromatography and compared.
@ES The results obtained were as follows:
@EN 1. Supine group showed significantly higher levels of plasma catecholamines in second stage (norepinephrine, 732.17±107.80pg/ml; epinephrine, 216.60±38.30pg/ml) than in first stage (norepinephrine, 570.98±137.78pg/ml; epinephrine,
163.48±45.67pg/ml) (P<0.001).
2. Birth chair group showed significantly lower levels of plasma catecholamines in second stage (norepinephrine, 403.5±83.93pg/ml epinephrine, 120.75±21.87pg/ml) than in first stage (norepinephrine, 602.89±161.35pg/ml; epinephrine,
168.31±58.32pg/ml) (P<0.001).
3. In second stage, plasma catecholamine levels of birth chair group (norepinephrine, 403.05±83.93pg/ml; epinephrine, 120.75±21.87pg/ml) were significantly lower than those of supine group (norepinephrine, 732.17±107.80pg/ml; epinephrine,
216.60±38.30pg/ml) (P<0.001)
From the above results, it is considered that the decreased or catecholamines in birth chair group may be associated with the reduction of labor stress. So it is suggested that delivery in birth chair is more comfortable for laboring woman.
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