April 14, 2019
The pains that come with labour during childbirth cause fear and anxiety in some women due to their personal experiences or one they witnessed.
As much as pain is part of labour, you don’t have to suffer with whatever birthing method you choose. Everyone has a different threshold of pain, but there are ways to manage them.
If you’re planning to have a natural birth without any drugs, there are multiple ways you can manage labour pain.
There are several natural pain relief options you can use to ease labour pain. Injections aren’t the only option to relieve pain during labour. You can employ natural techniques if you don’t want to take any drug or have a natural childbirth.
These techniques will help you manage the pain caused by labour.
Here are five natural pain relief techniques for labour.
1. Relaxation and Breathing
Relaxation during labour is crucial to the delivery process. It helps you stay calm and get in tune with your body.
There are several ways to relax, and they all focus on your breathing.
Some like to relax with music or meditation, while others might opt for incense.
Breathing steadily and slowly helps you stay calm. So, you have to learn steady breathing before your delivery date. It helps you stay calm and focused.
2. Water immersion
A well-equipped healthcare centre allows bathing at the first stage of labour by providing bathtubs.
Research has proven that some pregnant women find warm water very soothing during labour.
The warmth of the water helps relaxes the muscles and aids buoyancy which help to reduce the pressure on the pelvis.
You might decide to have a water birth, but you have to check in with the hospital. Not all healthcare providers or midwives are well-trained for that birthing method.
3. Massage and heat
Massage and hot packs ease labour pains in hospitals. The massages help distract you from pain. The heat packs help your body release painkiller hormones, endorphins.
The combination of massage and heat relieves labour pain in women.
4. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
TENS is a small device used to reduce pain signals sent to the brain while you’re in labour. The machine works by connecting two electrodes to your lower back. It sends electrical pulses to the pain pathways in the brain, thereby blocking pain impulses.
This allows the brain to produce painkiller hormones, enkephalins and endorphins.
This device is very effective during early labour, especially lower back pains. It mostly works for mild pains.
5. Reflexology
Reflexology involves massaging reflex zones on pregnant women during labour. It helps to improve blood circulation and reduce the tension that you may be feeling while you’re in labour.
This technique is more effective during early labour because women tend to be more active when labour intensifies.
When it comes to managing pain during labour, the choice is entirely yours to make. If you can’t manage the pain properly, don’t hesitate to ask for other options.
Whether you choose to have natural childbirth or other options available, you have the power to make that choice.
Remember, no one has to lose their life to childbirth.
