Longitudinal study of the intensity of memorized labour pain.

This study was designed to investigate various factors affecting the intensity of memorized labour pain. The study assessed 101 primiparas' and 95 multiparas' labour pain and related factors, such as physical, psychological and living environmental factors at three periods post-delivery: (i) within 24 h; (ii) at 1 month; and (iii) in year 1-2. The rate of the high group, whose intensity of memorized labour pain was larger than mean +1SD during the three postpartum phases, was 24.0%. The rate of the low group, whose intensity of memorized labour pain was smaller than mean + 1SD, was 9.7%. In the high group, the length of labour was longer than that in the low group, the rate of pregnancy disorder was higher, the self-control score during labour and delivery was worse and the rate of women with difficult birth was higher and that for those with low birth weight was lower. The high group obtained more family support but needed a longer time to adjust to childcare. There were significant differences between the high and low groups in all the factors.