Analgesia and satisfaction in childbirth (the Queen Charlotte's 1000 Mother Survey).

Maternal satisfaction with the experience of childbirth was investigated in 1000 women having a vaginal delivery of a live child. Effective pain relief did not ensure a satisfactory birth experience. Epidural block produced the most effective analgesia but there were more dissatisfied women among the epidural patients than among those who did not receive this analgesia (p less than 0.05). Bad experience scores were evaluated one year later and were clearly related to a forceps delivery and long labour, both of which were more common in the epidural group. The desirability of an "epidural on demand" service should be tested against an "epidural when necessary" service.