During labor and delivery, there are many factors that will influence you ability to cope more effectively with the pain of labor, including the place in which you have chosen to give birth, your care-provider and you support system, your ability to relax and your emotional mind set. Here are some tips in more effectively managing your pain with regards to some of these factors: Birth Place & Care Provider Familiarize yourself with the place of birth. Know what's available to you. Discuss your goals with your care provider Create a birth plan and discuss it with your care provider Participate actively in decision making. Rely on companionship and support, let those around you know what you want and need. Try water therapy - shower, bath or Jacuzzi Privacy - within the limits of safety. Music - soft and relaxing music for first stage, energizing for second stage. Adjust lighting and temperature to your comfort. Comfort Measures & Relaxation Relax, particularly where you hold tension. Use breathing patterns to enhance relaxation. Touch - massage, heat, cold, pressure, tap a rhythm. Use a variety of positions that use gravity to help your baby descend. Sway, rock, dance to keep your pelvis mobile. Go to the bathroom often Eat and drink as you can to maintain strength and energy. Make releasing, relaxing noises. Emotional Well-Being Practice relaxation, focusing, and breathing together with your partner to build trust and confidence. Have confidence in your body's ability to cope with labor and the birth of your baby. Think about and visualize giving birth to your baby Figure out what your needs are and communicate them. Focus on something positive that you see, hear, feel, smell, taste or imagine. Pray or meditate. Expect the unexpected. More Specific Methods of Pain Relief During Labor Hydrotherapy (And the Benefits of Water Birth) Women have been instinctively birthing in water for thousands of years…that alone says something about the benefits. By laboring in water, women are allowed some element of freedom from gravity’s pull on the body and sensory stimulation, so her body is more relaxed and able to produce endorphins, the pain inhibitors associated with labor. It has also been shown that women who are hypertensive often experience a significant drop in blood pressure upon entering a warm water bath because the hormones (noradrenaline and catecholamines) that are released during stress, which tend to raise blood pressure, are not being produced to such a great extent. The physical relaxation achieved by laboring in a warm water bath also promotes mental relaxation and relieves much of a woman’s anxiety and fear. Pain perception is greatly influenced by anxiety level, and when a woman is more at ease she is better able to focus inwardly on the birthing process, making the desire for pain meds that can have a negative effect on both mom and baby less likely. The water also helps the perenium become more elastic, thus reducing the risk of tearing. There are also significant benefits for the baby. The relaxed physical and emotional state of the mother carries over to the baby, making birth more positive for both. If a baby is born in water, s/he has the ability to unfold in a more natural way, with the comfort of familiarity (surrounded by water) after the stress of birth. This mitigates the shock and sensory overload of being born into a fairly cold, dry, and often busy environment. For more information on WATER BIRTH and HYDROTHERAPY: The Water Birth Website Doulas & Labor Support A doula is a professional labor assistant, usually a woman who has given birth herself, who is familiar with the both the basic physiology and the emotional aspects of childbirth. She provides continuous physical and emotional support, and assists her clients in exploring their options and preparing for their birth experiences. Doulas are familiar with a verity of non-medical comfort measure, thus reducing the need for pharmacological pain relief during labor and delivery, and she is able to help a birthing mother achieve a deeper awareness of her body’s ability to give birth on it’s own. She also acts as a facilitator of communication between a mother, her partner and her care providers, and can insure that she has all the information necessary to make informed decisions regarding her care. She does NOT replace the partner as the primary support person, nor does she give medical advice. A doula realizes how what a significant event the birth of a child is and provides that extra bit of support that allows both parents to focus on and more fully appreciate their experience. Doulas are also statistically proven to help women achieve faster and less medically invasive births. Statistics on the Benefits of Having a Doula: Studies conducted by Drs. Kluas and Kennell, founders of DONA (Doula of North America) have shown that women who use the services of a doula have 25% shorter labors, a higher VBAC success rate, and indicate a reduction in the: chance of cesarean birth by 50% use of pitocin by 40% need for epidural anesthesia by 60% need for narcotics by 30% need for forceps or vacuum extraction The Klaus/Kennel studies also indicate that women who have had the support of a doula have more positive feelings regarding their birth experience and an easier transition to motherhood. For more information on how DOULAS benifit birthing women: The Doula's Contribution to Maternity Care DONA Position Paper The Value of Labor Support From Childbirth.Org Pharmicological Pain Relief (Specifically Epidural Anesthesia) As strongly as I believe that a natural, drug-free childbirth is best for both mom and baby, I support women in choosing whatever type of pain relief with which they are most comfortable. However, before the decision is made to use pharmacological pain relief (specifically epidural anesthesia), it is of the utmost importance to understand and be aware of the risks and possible side effects, as well as the benefits. Here are some very basic tips on making the decision whether or not to have an epidural: Get the latest information from a wide variety of original sources. Look at the information with a critical eye. Does the author have a political or personal agenda? Is the information balanced and up to date? Choose a health-care provider whose general philosophy of pregnancy and childbirth closely matches your own. Be wary of those who strongly campaign for or against a particular position. Make sure you understand your pain relief options, including more natural methods of relief. Talk to your doctor about the different types of epidural currently available, including the walking or "ultralight" epidural. Keep your options open. You never know what will happen during labor. That way, if your labor is manageable, you won't prematurely request drugs. Nor will you feel deeply disappointed if it turns out that you need medication assistance. Keep in mind that synthetic augmentation and induction methods will increase the strength and intensity of your contractions, most likely causing you more pain. If you avoid artificial means of encouraging labor, chances are the pain will be more manageable. For more information on choosing epidural anestheisa: Choosing Epidural Anesthesia Informed Consent Questions Here is a list of questions to ask when interventions or unplanned procedures are proposed at any point during your pregnancy or the birth of your child: Is this an emergency or do we have time to talk? What are the benefits of doing this? What are the risks of doing this? If we do this, what other procedures or treatments might we need as a result? What else can we try first or instead? What would happen if we waited before doing this? What would happen if we didn’t do this at all? | Choosing a Care Provider | Choosing a Birth Environment | Building a Birth Plan | | Your Labor Support System | Pain Management | VBAC | Common Interventions & Procedures | | Breastfeeding | Birth Stories | Recommended Reading | Doula Services (Denver) Hosting by WebRing. Navigation by WebRing.