Pain Management During Labor

Pain management during labor can come in many different forms, it depends on whether you want to do it 'au natural' or with the use of medication.

Try and look at all the options well before your due date, as you will probably change your mind several times before finding a method that will be suitable. You may also change your mind at the last minute, so don't be afraid to tell your midwife or birthing partner if your labor pain management plan isn't working and you need to try something else.

Pain management during labor - Your options

Unless your Healthcare provider deems a method unsuitable, you have a whole host of options open to you.

• Medication - Including Gas & Air, Pethedine and Epidural. These forms of managing labor pain are discussed in more detail here.

Natural pain management - This can take on many forms.

• Acupressure - One of the most popular labor pain management plans for some women. This technique can be applied by the birthing Mom herself, or the birthing partner. Pressure applied to certain points on the body can help to speed up labor and also ease the pain. This method has been used for thousands of years in Asian countries. As well as being used for the pain of labor it can also help to induce labor in overdue women. Learn how to use acupressure for labor pain management here. 
• Birth doula - A birth doula will support you through childbirth emotionally. She will be there to hold your hand and massage your back. She can advise you on the best position to alleviate pain, and give you encouragement. A doula will support you through your whole pregnancy and help you to decide on your pain management during labor.

• Massage - Your birth partner can learn precise points to massage to help ease pain. Although for some women massage during childbirth just heightens the pain and they can't bear to be touched.
• Active birth - This enlists the help of breathing exercises and certain positions to ease the pain of childbirth. Classes can be taken while you are pregnant, these classes will teach you everything you need to know for an active birth.
• Aromatherapy - The use of essential oils applied by a qualified practitioner is said to speed up the birth process for some women. As well as having a calming and relaxing effect on the Mum-to-be.

This is not a comprehensive guide to all of the labor pain management methods available, but these are the most common.

One product that I recommend taking a look at is The 7 secrets to natural childbirth by Loretta Anderson - Midwife, Registered Nurse and Proud Mother.

In her book she will explain how you can discover the pain relieving, tension busting, trauma reducing and drug free secrets of Natural Child Birth.

Sound good? I think so too.

Just remember that whatever method of labor pain management you decide on, it's not set in stone. If you decide that you want a natural birth, and then 3 hours into labor decide that it's not for you and you really need some medication, then tell your birthing partner or midwife. No one will judge you. For me labor really was painful, its just a matter of finding the best way to manage it, Every woman is different!

Return from Pain management during labor to the childbirth page. Or take a look at the New baby and beyond homepage.

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