During pregnancy, it is difficult not to think about the upcoming birth. And most often the fear is the thought of severe pain. Girlfriends and women who have given birth on the Internet often scare the expectant mother with their stories and recommend different methods to relieve pain. Of these, several of the most effective can be distinguished.
Correct breathing
The most common way to relieve pain during labor is with special breathing. It is necessary to practice in advance in order to act without hesitation at the most crucial moment. If you do not take into account the relief from pain with the help of drugs, it is the breathing technique that has the best analgesic effect. And besides this, it brings other benefits:
- speeds up labor - focusing on proper breathing, the woman in labor stops thinking about pain and gets rid of fear, because of this, the cervix opens faster;
- relaxes muscles - it is important that childbirth is easier and faster, and measured breathing perfectly helps the body to relax;
- saturates the body with oxygen - the muscles tense during childbirth, so they need more oxygen, especially since part of it leaves the baby.
Midwives note that recently women have not been able to breathe properly, and at the same time they have not listened to prompts. Because of this, childbirth is delayed, women suffer longer and experience more pain. But this is not their fault - it is difficult in such a stressful situation to readjust to correct breathing, if you have not practiced before. So it is worth investigating this issue before the contractions begin.
For each stage of labor, breathing is different:
- During contractions, at an early stage, you need to take a slow deep nasal inhalation (by 4 counts), and then exhale even more slowly through the mouth (by 6). This measured breathing allows you to relax and relieve the pain of the contraction.
- During more frequent contractions, it is recommended to breathe through the mouth like a dog, i.e. quickly and superficially, with an open mouth. Such breathing should be used only during the contraction, and at the end of it, take a deep breath and then a long, slow exhale.
- During pushing, you need to take a deep breath with your nose, and then exhale sharply with your mouth, directing the force to push the baby out of the uterus, and not pushing into the head.
If you have time to practice special breathing before labor starts, it will be much easier for you to listen to the midwife's prompts and follow them during labor. The main thing is not to scream or hold your breath during the contraction, because this deprives you and the baby of oxygen.
Walking and the right postures
During contractions, it is better for a woman to be on her feet, rather than lying in bed or on a couch. Unless, of course, there is no indication for the horizontal position. In a normal situation, it is more useful to experience contractions on the legs:
- pain is not so strong;
- the baby presses on the cervix and it opens faster, which speeds up labor;
- the woman is free to choose a position that will ensure blood flow to the child, which means he will not have hypoxia.
When it becomes difficult to walk around the ward, you can take a position that is comfortable for you. It is impossible to suggest a universal position in which the pain will go away. Each woman is unique, so you need to try different options and find the one that suits you:
- lean on the headboard of a bed, chair or wall;
- sit on a chair leaning forward;
- get on all fours;
- squat down and spread your legs to the sides;
- sit or jump on a fitball;
- lean on your knees on a chair or bed;
- hang on the neck of a loved one or on a rope;
- rotate the body to reduce the load on the back, etc.
If you are very tired and do not have the strength to stand, then it is better to lie down and find a comfortable position in bed. The most comfortable position in this situation is lying on your side with a pillow. You will need strength in the last phase of labor, so you don't need to overexert yourself. Listen to your feelings and the body itself will tell you how it will be better at the moment.
Massage
There is a special massage that can help relieve pain and speed up labor. It is desirable that the massage be done by another person - a husband, girlfriend, relative, or at least a midwife.
The sacrum massage, which is located just below the lower back, is considered the most effective. Indeed, in this area all the endings associated with the pelvic organs are concentrated. If you massage the sacrum during a contraction, the transmission of a nerve impulse from the uterus is disrupted, due to which the pain subsides. One hand is enough for massage, you need to press or rub the sacrum area with knuckles, palm or base of the hand.
In addition, you can press on the dimples above the buttocks, where the sacral nerve is located, since its stimulation very well reduces pain during childbirth.
Self-massage will also help relieve pain. To do this, gently stroke the lower abdomen with your palms or fingertips. You need to move from the center to the sides, and then again to the middle.
Another point for self-massage is on the back of the hand. Located between thumb and forefinger. Press on this point for a minute, and then take a break for a couple of minutes. Just during the contractions.
Aromatherapy
Certain smells help some women relax during labor. But if you have never used this method before and do not believe in the power of aromatherapy at all, most likely you will not notice the effect at such an exciting moment.
Certain scents usually help women who have actively used them before. The main thing is to choose the right smells, but in this matter everything is too individual. The scent of a rose can have a relaxing effect on one woman, while another can only cause a headache.
Each oil is credited with its own special properties:
- Lavender - Reduces uterine pain in contractions, relieves pain in the back and legs. It can gently increase contractions without increasing pain.
- Rose - harmonizes uterine contractions, reduces nervousness, stimulates even breathing and generally improves mood.
- Verbena facilitates childbirth and makes them softer, and invigorates a tired woman in labor and gives a second wind when strength is running out.
- Clary sage is especially good as a compress on the sacrum, then it will strengthen labor and reduce pain.
Before using a new scent oil, you need to make sure you are not allergic to it. Talk to your doctor about your desire to use aromatherapy during labor.
Positive attitude
In many ways, the painful sensations depend on the thoughts and fears of the woman in labor. If she is tuned in to difficult childbirth, expects it and is afraid, the process can be delayed and painful. This is due to stress - in this state, the cervical dilatation is difficult. Therefore, you need to learn to relax and think about good things.
The first step is to get rid of the negative attitude. Focus specifically on positive stories, and do not read the description of problem births with complications. You need to understand how childbirth is going, but you should not intimidate yourself with scary stories. Better imagine the moment of meeting your child.
Contractions will be much more painful if the woman is tense and scared. Therefore, it is very important to learn how to relax the body at will. You need to learn this in advance, from the first half of pregnancy. So by the beginning of the contractions, you will already be able to relax at will and detach from negative emotions.
Self-relaxation is the most effective relaxation method. The body feels what you show it. Therefore, often close your eyes and imagine pictures pleasant to your heart - how you play with your baby or lie on the beach by the sea. Learn to fully immerse yourself in a mental picture to switch from painful sensations to pleasant experiences.
Medication methods
All of these methods can reduce painful sensations by only 30-50%. Only with the help of pain relievers can you almost completely get rid of pain.
Epidural anesthesia is the most common method for women in labor to relieve pain. The drug is injected into the spine with a special needle and catheter. The tool prevents pain impulses from reaching the brain. The lower body remains insensitive during the action of the anesthetic.
A big plus of such anesthesia is that the woman remains conscious, realizes and understands everything. No harm is done to the child, since the medicine does not enter the mother's blood.
Inhalation analgesia is a little known and less effective method. A woman in labor is given a mixture of nitrous oxide in a concentration of 30-50% with oxygen. This mixture reduces pain during contractions. The main thing is to correctly calculate the inhalation time - the remedy acts 1 minute after inhalation, but quickly disappears. So you need to inhale at the very beginning of the uterine contraction, so that anesthesia is necessary at the right time.
But with all the ease of use and safety of the product, there are also side effects: nausea, dizziness, vomiting, confusion.
