This study aimed to evaluate the effect of respiration and relaxation techniques on pain and anxiety during labor. Seventeen parturients (Control Group - CG) received routine care and nineteen (Experimental Group - EG) were orientated and stimulated to perform respiration and relaxation techniques. Pain was evaluated by means of the visual analogy scale and anxiety by means of the anxiety inventories - trait and state. Pain intensity increased along with the evolution of the delivery for both groups. In the latent phase, anxiety levels were low for both groups; in the active phase, levels were average for CG and low for EG. In the transition phase, levels were average and, in the immediate post-labor phase, low for both groups. It was concluded that the techniques used did not reduce pain intensity, but provided EG with lower anxiety levels for a longer time during labor.
nursing; respiration; relaxation; pain; anxiety; parturition
