[Women's motivations to give birth with or without epidural analgesia].

Objectives: This study aimed to question pregnant women about motivations to give birth with and without epidural analgesia, and about their perceptions of childbirth and pain.

Patients And Methods: One hundred and fourteen pregnant women completed questionnaires measuring their wish of an epidural analgesia, pain experienced during a childbirth, general anxiety, their perception of a childbirth and then motivations of a woman to give birth with and without epidural analgesia.

Results: Women gave more motivations to give birth with an epidural analgesia. Differences were found concerning pain evaluation and childbirth perceptions depending on the fact that women wanted or not wanted an epidural analgesia.

Conclusion: Various motivations and differences between women observed in this study show the necessity to take into account wishes and expectancies of the women concerning childbirth pain relief.