Objective: To compare the effectiveness of acetaminophen and pethidine injection in reducing labor pain in pregnant women.
Design: A randomized, double-blind, clinical trial based on random number table.
Study population: Laboring women requesting pain relief.
Inclusion criteria: Term pregnancy, request for pain relief; singleton pregnancy with cephalic presentation; no growth impairment or fetal abnormalities.
Exclusion criteria: Medical history of diseases (hepatic, renal, cardiovascular, or respiratory diseases, preeclampsia, diabetes, addiction, allergy to acetaminophen and drug abuse, and G6PD deficiency); need for induction; fetal distress; history of cesarean section.
Sample size: 100 cases.
Study intervention: The control group will receive 1000 mg of acetaminophen injection in 100 cc of lactate ringer serum during 15 min, and at the same time, injection 5 cc of distilled water in angiocath during 2 min. The intervention group will receive 5 mg injection of pethidine diluted in 5 cc distilled water during 2 min, and simultaneously, 100 cc lactated Ringer’s solution will be injected with Micro Drape during 15 minutes.
Study outcome: Evaluation and comparison of pain level based on VAS score before and 15 min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 3 h, and 4 h between the intervention and control groups after the intervention.