Outcome measures
The primary outcome measure was caesarean section rate.
Others were active phase of labour duration, pain score, need
for analgesia, need for oxytocin augmentation, time from
delivery to initiation of breast-feeding and the emotional
experience during labour. Estimation of active phase of
labour was from the trial entry till delivery. Labour pain was
assessed with numerical rating scale by patients,13 while the
request for analgesia was entirely at the patient’s discretion.
The only analgesia provided was intramuscular opoids. The
emotional experience was assessed by asking a closed-ended
question that ‘how would you rate your labour experience?’
The responses provided were (i) satisfying, (ii) not satisfying
and (iii) indifferent. All outcomes were recorded into a
proforma within 24 h of childbirth.