Dealing with Pain during Childbirth
If you're like most women, the pain of labor and delivery is one
of the things that worries you about having a baby. This is certainly
understandable, because for most women, labor is painful.
Even though it is possible to have labor with relatively little
pain, your best bet is to prepare yourself for the idea of pain
during labor and delivery and to plan some strategies for coping
with it. Alleviating your anxiety about pain is one of the best
ways to ensure that you'll be able to deal with it when the time
comes.
Pain During Labor and Delivery
Pain during labor is caused primarily by uterine muscle contractions
and somewhat by pressure on the cervix. This pain manifests itself
as cramping in the abdomen, groin, and back, as well as a tired,
achy feeling all over. Some women experience pain in their sides
or thighs as well. Other causes of pain during labor include pressure
on the bladder and bowels by the baby's head and the stretching
of the birth canal and vagina.
Although labor is often thought of as one of the more painful
events in human experience, it ranges widely from woman to woman
and even from pregnancy to pregnancy. Women experience labor pain
differently - for some, it resembles menstrual cramps; for others,
severe pressure; and for others, extremely strong waves that feel
like diarrheal cramps. In addition, first-time mothers are more
likely to give their pain a higher rating than women who've had
babies before.
The intensity of labor pain isn't always the determining factor
that drives women to seek pain management - often it's the repetitive
nature and length of time the pain persists with each contraction.
Preparing for Pain
There are a variety of ways to reduce pain during labor, some
of which you can start doing before or during your pregnancy.
Regular and reasonable exercise (unless your health care provider
recommends against it) can help strengthen your muscles and prepare
your body for the stress of labor. Exercise can also increase your
endurance, which will come in handy if you have a long labor. The
important thing to remember with any exercise is not to overdo it
- and this is especially true if you're pregnant. Talk to your health
care provider about what he or she considers to be a safe regimen,
given your prepregnancy fitness level and the history of your pregnancy.
If you and your partner attend childbirth classes, you'll learn
different techniques for handling pain, from visualization to stretches
designed to strengthen the muscles that support your uterus. The
two most common childbirth philosophies in the United States are
the Lamaze technique and the Bradley method.
The Lamaze technique is the most widely used method in the United
States. The Lamaze philosophy teaches that birth is a normal, natural,
and healthy process and that women should be empowered to approach
it with confidence. Lamaze classes educate women about the ways
they can decrease their perception of pain, such as through relaxation
techniques, breathing exercises, distraction, or massage by a supportive
coach. Lamaze approach takes a neutral position toward pain medication,
encouraging women to make an informed decision about whether it's
right for them.
The Bradley method (also called Husband-Coached Birth) emphasizes
a natural approach to birth and the active participation of the
baby's father as birth coach. A major goal of this method is the
avoidance of medications unless absolutely necessary. The Bradley
method also focuses on good nutrition and exercise during pregnancy
and relaxation and deep-breathing techniques as a method of coping
with labor. Although the Bradley method advocates a medication-
free birth experience, the classes do prepare parents for unexpected
complications or situations, like emergency cesarean sections.
Some other ways you can handle pain during labor include:
- hypnosis
- yoga
- meditation
- walking
- massage or counterpressure
- changing position
- taking a bath or shower
- distracting yourself by counting or performing an activity that
keeps your mind otherwise occupied
Additional Information:
Importance of Relaxing
Perineal Tear Prevention
Warm Tub Bath During Labour
Blue Cohosh and Birth Defects
Labor Pain
Why is there Pain in childbirth?
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