Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of spinal anesthesia for painless labor on the short-term and long-term social adaptability of newborn. Methods 221 full-term pregnant women with vaginal delivery were included in our study. Patients were allocated to receive spinal anesthesia for painless labor (n=105, painless labor group)or no analgesia labor (n=116, non painless labor group). The neonatal Apgar score and umbilical artery blood pH detection were done in all newborns. And they were followed up when they were 7 years old. Adaptive behavior scale were obtained and compared. Results There were no signiifcant differences in neonatal Apgar score and umbilical artery blood pH between the two groups (P>0.05). Total scores of Adaptive Behavior Scale were 192.67±13.53 in painless labor group, and 196.31±14.32 in non painless labor group, there was no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Spinal anesthesia for painless labor has no significant effect on neonatal short-term and long-term social adaptation ability, which can be widely distributed in clinical practice.

Key words: painless childbirth, Apgar score, umbilical artery blood pH, adaptive behavior scale