If you’re concerned about using drugs during labour to curb the pains and would like to learn more natural methods to ease labour pains, this article is for you.
The degree of labour pains cannot be predicted by anyone and there’s no telling if it will be bearable or otherwise. Rest assured though, that there are a number of ways you can manage the pain without the use of drugs. Here are some of them.
1. Water immersion
Immersing your belly or whole body in warm water during labour offers a natural, soothing method of pain relief. It also relaxes and comforts nagging aches that tend to prolong during labour.
During the first stage of labour, a warm water shower might be a better way to do this, as you can remain upright and direct the shower head at your lower back without hindering your labour from progressing. While water immersion during the first stage of labour may help to reduce epidural/spinal analgesia requirements as well as maternal pain, most midwives and birth attendants will recommend getting into the bath once you are in the second stage or active labour. The reason is, being in water creates buoyancy, but gravity is required in early labour so as not to stall it.
2. The Hypnobirthing Method
If you feel that you’re easily stressed or anxious, Hypnobirthing will be a good choice for you. Being as relaxed as possible is important in labour, otherwise, you end up in the vicious cycle of fear tension pain. When you tense up and get tight (which is a natural reaction to any sort of pain) it makes that pain worse. With Hypnobirthing, you will learn:
- To access your natural inner resources to alleviate the fear, anxiety, and tension experienced during pregnancy, labour, and childbirth
- Practical skills of relaxation, breathing and visualisation which are used during pregnancy, labour, childbirth and beyond
- How the mother’s body is beautifully designed to birth her baby naturally and calmly and with the right preparation, to work with the process rather than resist it
- The importance of a mother’s beliefs and attitudes about birth and how these can be one of the major differences between a positive or negative birth experience
For more information, visit: www.hypnobirthingmalaysia.com
3. Use a heat pack
Applying heat on a sore, aching back can be relieving and comforting during labour. It is a great non-pharmaceutical alternative but if you’re giving birth in a hospital, you’ll want a gel-based heat pack that heats up in hot water instead of the ones that heat up in a microwave oven.
4. Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is helpful to women in labour in more ways than one. If you are giving birth in a hospital, it can provide a nice smell to mask the smell of the hospital, enabling you to relax a little more. While not all oils will do the trick, many are said to work well for labour pain management. Inquire about the hospital’s policy on aromatherapy and which methods are allowed. Most probably, if the hospital allows it, it will have to be a battery-operated one, or a hospital one if they have it. Check out our article Best essential oils for women in labour for suggestions on selections.
5. The ideal environment
During labour, the environment in which a woman is about to give birth can influence her level of relaxation and how she copes with the pain. For instance, dimming the lights, or turning it off for that matter, will instinctively tone down her thought about the pain. Bringing along some familiar objects that she is particularly fond of also helps.
If you’re going to try this, you can also try bringing along your favourite CD, for music will help calm and relax you too. Lastly, a little humour also goes a long way in managing your labour pain, so have someone tell you some (tasteful) jokes!
6. Massages
You don’t need to be a professional to provide you with comforting massages when you’re in labour. All you need is the magic touch of loving, nurturing strokes on your aching body. Studies have revealed that massages help provide relief from anxiety for women who are in labour. Some studies indicated that partner involvement, as in massaging one’s partner who is in labour, resulted in better birthing experiences compared to women who did not receive massages.
7. TENS machine
A TENS machine works by attaching two strips of electrodes on your lower back — one on either side of your spine. These connect to a hand-held battery-powered unit, which allows you to control the strength of the electrical impulses. It works by sending a signal to the brain via impulses that compete with pain impulses from the uterus. While it does not work with all women, many have found it useful in helping them cope with labour pains, both in the early and late stages.
You can use it from the very start of labour It can be used anywhere — at home, in the car or hospital. You can remain mobile while using it and it can be used with other forms of pain relief except for back massage or water (shower, bath).
8. Drink water for hydration and eat if you’re hungry
In case you forget whilst in early labour especially, get your partner to remind you to drink at least 300ml of water every couple of hours to avoid dehydration — this will help you beat fatigue and a poorly functioning uterus. Eating and drinking during labour have been shown to reduce the total length of labour by as much as 90 minutes. Eat light, easily digested food.
Get some good prenatal education
Seek out classes that include how labour and birth work and natural labour pain management techniques, such as breathing, self-hypnosis, relaxation, and other coping mechanisms. Your hospital probably offers an evening or weekend course, but that might not be enough information, especially if they have a high epidural or C-section rate. Research independent educators and try them out until you find one that feels comfortable to you.
