evaluating magnesium sulfate for labor pain management in primiparous women

Background & objective: labor pain management is crucial in obstetric care. magnesium sulfate (mgso₄) has been identified as a potential analgesic due to its muscle relaxant and neuroprotective properties. this study evaluated the efficacy of intravenous magnesium sulfate in reducing labor pain among primiparous women, hypothesizing that mgso₄ would not significantly impact labor pain intensity compared to a placebo. materials & methods: in this double-blind trial at al-yarmouk educational hospital, 60 primiparous women were randomized to receive either mgso₄ (4 g intravenous loading dose, followed by 1 g/hour maintenance) or placebo during early active labor. pain intensity was assessed using a visual analog scale (vas) at 30-minute intervals for two hours post-administration. secondary outcomes included labor duration, need for additional analgesia, and maternal satisfaction. data were analyzed using independent t-tests and chi-square tests. results: no significant differences were observed in pain intensity reduction, labor duration, requirement for additional analgesia, or maternal satisfaction between the mgso₄ and placebo groups at any time point post-administration. both groups demonstrated comparable safety profiles, with no serious adverse effects reported. conclusion: intravenous mgso₄, at the dosage used in this study, did not significantly reduce labor pain intensity, affect labor outcomes, or improve maternal satisfaction compared to placebo in primiparous women. these findings highlight the complexity of labor pain management. further research is warranted to explore different dosages, administration timings, or combinations with other strategies to fully understand mgso₄'s potential role in obstetric analgesia.