Virtual Reality and Biosignals for Labor Pain Relief: A Pilot Study

Labor pain is intense and multifaceted, requiring effective management to ensure both maternal and neonatal well-being. This study explores the use of virtual reality (VR) as a distraction tool, combined with biosignal monitoring. Electro-dermal activity and heart rate variability (HRV) were recorded using wearable devices on four pregnant women. The acquisition protocol was divided into three phases: before, during, and after VR exposure. To complement the physiological data, the Visual Analog Scale was administered before and after each session. Participants were also asked to evaluate how effective they found the experimental treatment in helping them relax during labor, using a 1 to 10 scale. Results showed reduced sympathetic activity during VR, indicated by lower skin conductance and HRV features (heart rate and low-frequency/high-frequency ratio), suggesting a calming effect. In addition, participants manifested a 55.72% reduction in perceived anxiety and expressed positive appreciation for the VR treatment. Ongoing data collection will allow for deeper investigation of these trends, enabling more detailed analyses during individual contractions and facilitating correlation with subjective questionnaire responses. These findings highlight the potential of VR as a non-invasive, personalized approach to managing labor pain.