American scientists have conducted a study that has shown that physical intimacy between partners can significantly reduce pain during childbirth. This study arose after one of the scientists tried to help his wife during childbirth and became interested in whether touching between lovers could affect pain sensations.
The experiment involved 22 heterosexual couples who had been in a relationship for 2 to 10 years, and were aged 23 to 32. The women were exposed to heat on their forearms, which caused them to experience slight pain. During the experiment, the couples were in different conditions: sometimes the partners could touch each other, and sometimes they could not.
The results revealed an interesting pattern: when partners were close together and their heartbeats and breathing were synchronized, women experienced less pain. At the same time, when partners were in different rooms, synchronization did not occur and women's pain did not decrease.
This study suggests the importance of physical intimacy, especially during crucial moments like childbirth, when even light touches can help ease pain.
