Individual variation in childbirth pain

The study explored the impact of 6 predictor variables on pain experienced by 50 women during early, active, transitional, and second stage labor. Childbirth preparation, parity, state anxiety, confidence in ability to cope with labor, concern regarding the outcome of labor for self and baby, and fear of pain were the predictor variables. Confidence in ability to cope with labor, state anxiety, and fear of pain explained a substantial amount of the variance in early and active labor pain reported by the women, but not transitional or second stage pain. Childbirth preparation and parity explained a significant but small amount of the variance in second stage labor pain.