Assisting the unprepared woman during labor.

Many women cannot or do not take classes to prepare themselves for the birth experience. Labor room nurses can use several prepared childbirth concepts to teach these women coping techniques in the course of labor, resulting in an increase in their comfort level and, possibly, a decrease in the amount of analgesia and/or anesthesia required. Suggestions are also made regarding the role of a significant other as a labor partner for the unprepared woman.