Labor is intensely painful. Many women take birthing classes and choose to forgo using medicine to help them deal with the pain. Even if this is your plan, it is wise to know your pain relief options before you go into labor. Labor can be unpredictable and you never know what will come up.
If you have a particularly long labor or if the baby is turned wrong, it can be very painful and your plans may change. Maybe you know going in that you want medical pain relief. Either way here is some helpful information about your pain relief options - both medical and natural.
An epidural is probably the most popular of the labor pain relief options.
You will need to sit on the edge of your bed or lay completely still on your side with your back bare. The anesthesiologist will clean your back with an antiseptic solution. He will give you a small shot with a local anesthetic in your back. You will need to be absolutely still, even through any contractions.
Sometimes family members will be asked to leave during the procedure to minimize distractions.
A nurse will stand in front of you for you to lean on and to support you and give you instructions. The anesthesiologist will then tell you to put you head on your chest and bow out your back to separate a space between your vertebrae. He will insert a needle with a catheter that will be hooked up to a machine that can administer the epidural medicine. The needle will be removed leaving the catheter. You will feel a pinch and some pressure during the procedure.
The epidural will begin working in about 20 minutes or less and will last until the birth is over and the machine is turned off. In earlier days it was common that the epidural would numb you from the waist down, making it impossible to stand up or walk. Now a "walking" epidural is much more common; taking away the pain but without making you paralyzed.
While in most cases, epidural is a real comfort for the woman in labor, some women do experience severe headaches or that the epidural is not completely effective.
Spinal blocks are another of the popular labor pain relief options. Like the epidural, a spinal block numbs the lower part of your body to relieve the pain. A tiny needle will inject the medicine directly into your spine. It is one of the quickest pain relief options, but it only lasts about two hours and cannot be given again. You will have limited mobility and it causes some women to feel shaky or itchy.
A narcotic such as Nubane may also be given. These types of drugs do not take the pain away. Instead they simply take the edge off. There are significant side effects to these pain relief options. Nubane and Demerol will make the mother and baby sleepy. It can have adverse effects on breathing and cause the Apgar score to be a little off. These effects are usually temporary, though.
Many women report that it doesn't offer a lot of pain relief, it just makes you so tired or out of it that you don't focus on the contractions. These do have their place though, and many find them to be viable pain relief options.
Laughing gas or nitrous oxide can be quite effective at taking of the worst edges of the labor pain. It will definitely not take the pain away completely, however. An advantage of laughing gas is that it doesn't affect your baby. To use it effectively, you might need some practice, so start using it before the contractions become completely unbearable.
What you do is that when you feel the contraction coming, you start breathing deeply in the mask immediately with. Then you continue until the contractions are fading away. Since the effect last for a little while after you start breathing air again, don't use the gas all the way through the contraction. Both you and your baby need lots of oxygen to be in good shape for the next contraction.
There are also a number of natural ways you can reduce the pain of labor.
Breathing and relaxation
Breathing and relaxation are very important. This is something you should carry out through out the labor and delivery regardless of what other pain relief you may be using. Take a breathing class, attend prenatal yoga or buy a book or DVD on the topic and practice at home. Also have your spouse involved, so that he can support you during the labor. Acupressure can be quite effective, as well as hot water (in a bath before the water breaks or a shower).
Sterile Water Injections
Sterile water injections can be used for curbing back pain during labor. The advantage is rapid relief without the use of drugs. Pure, sterile water is injected into 4 specific locations on the lower back of the mother. This may cause a stinging pain that lasts for 20-30 seconds producing plenty of natural pain relief hormones (endorphins) in the woman's body, and the relief can last for an hour or more. The procedure can be repeated any number of times.
To be honest, mothers' views on this type of pain relief vary from "great" to "never again". Those that say never again usually feel that the pain from injecting the water was so bad that it was simply not worth it. It can be worth trying, though, because it is completely harmless and might be effective.
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
Using a small apparatus that you can borrow or rent , this method of pain management uses electrodes, fitted to the woman’s back and lower part of the belly. The electrodes pass electric current into the body. This stimulates the natural secretion of endorphins, the body’s painkillers.
This method is usually used in the early stages of pregnancy and has no known side effects. The electric current isn't painful, it is more like a strong tickling, but it is actually quite effective, particularly in the early stage of labor, which can take long and you really need to be able to sleep for example.
It can be a bit of a hassle to put the electrodes on yourself, particularly the first few times. Have your spouse help you! And be sure to follow the instructions on where to place the electrodes.
Heat Therapy
Some sort of heat pad or warm water pack placed on lower part of your belly or back can help ease the pain a bit. Some hospitals provide these, but make sure to ask in advance! A heat pad can also be great to keep at home to help you during the first stage of labor.
Massage
Massaging the lower back or using acupressure is a great way to relieve some of the pain. This will be the most effective if your support person helps you during the labor.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is also getting increasingly common for pain relief during labor. This is not something you can practice yourself, but some hospitals do have access to a certified acupuncturist who can help you.
Hypnosis
Self-hypnosis is actually quite a good way to help yourself focus and remain relaxed during childbirth. If you practice a lot before giving birth, you will have an effective tool to keep yourself from panicking and to think positively.
Self-hypnosis can be taught at various hypnosis training centers, or special childbirth classes that teach the technique of repeating positive statements. You can also try listening to a hypnotherapy CD to help you feel more relaxed.
No matter how you choose to give birth, it is good to know your options. All of these pain relief options are considered to be safe for laboring mothers. Each one has its advantages and drawbacks. Only you can choose what pain relief options are right for you.
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