Iran Journal of Nursing

  The period of labor in women is a great event as a result of a stressful situation, which occur in short-time. Laboring women need comprehensive support to enable themselves to cope with the stress of labor. Fear and anxiety may cause failure of progression and consequently, necessitate surgical interventions. The one to one midwifery care provides a situation in which the mother would be able to cope better with the stress of labor. This study with a randomized controlled clinical trial design was conducted on 290 low risk pregnant women. All the subjects were randomized into two groups of experimental (145) and control (145). Non-pharmacologic interventions to relif pain (such as breathing technique, relaxation, massage) were provided to the experimental group during caring the women to enhance their psychological and physical comfort during labor. The aim of this study was to determin the effects of the one to one midwifery care during labor on modes of delivery. The study findings showed that significant decline in caesarean section and use of instrumental vaginal delivery (P=0.001), in the experimental group compared to the control group. According to the study results, one to one midwifery care as responding knowledgeably and sensitively to the individual needs of laboring women would eventually decrease surgical interventions, complications and medical costs. The researchers suggest that, this method can be used by midwives in obstetric centers. Therefore, providing of the one to one midwifery care in the delivery and labor rooms of birth centres is recommended.