Birth Practice Committee

9/17/03

Labor coping scale ideas:

1. Objective, subjective, or both:

  1. Is it helpful to ask about coping during labor? Do we need 2 scales, objective and subjective?
  2. Can we build an instrument based on observations (as the circumcision scale), but with room for voluntary input from the woman?

 

2. Proposal, content:

W- Woman

Subjective appraisal of coping

C- Communication

Able to converse normally

Short answers only

Asking for help

Asking for relief/medication

Crying/unable to answer

O- Orientation

Focused on baby and work of birth

Focused on self/situation/pain

P- Position/activity

Upright

Purposeful- rocking, dancing, pushing

Asleep/resting

Restless, trying to escape

E- Expression

Smiling/relaxed

Concentrating/focused

Grimacing/frightened

Tearful

S- Sound

Quiet/conversant

Singing/chanting

Moaning

Shouting/cursing

S- Support

Welcomes support and assistance- loving to partner/helpers, coming baby

Rejects support and assistance- isolated, argumentative, fearful, or hostile