7 Simple Ways to Naturally Reduce Pain in labour.
And Avoid Unnecessary Interventions.
There are many things you can innocently do that will increases pain or slows labour down. Which can ultimately increase your likelihood for needing interventions, such as pain medication, or drugs to get your labour going. And all of these things can lead to further interventions like vacuum extraction, forceps, or C-sections.
Doing certain things will help you reduce labour pain and avoid unnecessary interventions, while other things can cause you complications, so here is my list of things to do and things not to do:
Do This Not That
# 1 Do This Not That
There is no reason not to eat and drink in labor. If you are eating and drinking then you won't need an IV. Labor is work, calories are needed for your body to work effectively, and so you have the energy you need to give birth. If you are well hydrated it will decrease pain in labour.
Starving yourself and becoming dehydrated during labor can lead to complications. IVs keep you from moving freely during labor and movement facilitates faster and easier births. The use of IVs can cause other complications such as fluid overload and hyperglycemia for both mother and baby.
#2 Do This Not That
Use water and other natural comfort measures to reduce pain.
The tub or shower can provide a great deal of comfort during labor. Immersion in a tub can relieve pressure on mom's back and allow for relaxation. The shower stream can be directed on to moms back to provide comfort during back labor.
Epidurals can cause a whole list of complications for mom and baby, as well as can make it more difficult during the pushing stage. Epidurals increase your risk of needing forceps, vacuum and c-session to deliver your baby.
#3 Do This Not That
Find different positions that work
for You.
Using gravity can make your contractions more effective, Changing labor Positions is one of the most important things you can do to decrease pain, and help the baby get in a good position and speed labor up.
Do not lay in bed on your back during labor, It can increase pain, slow labor. And can cause fetal distress.
#4 Do This Not That
Plan to have continuous support. When a women in labor feels loved and supported her body releases a hormone called endorphins. These hormones help labor progress and decrease pain.
If she is feeling lonely or scared then adrenaline is released, which slows labor and increases pain.
#5 Do This Not That
Remember to do your rhythmic breathing during contractions.
· Breathing techniques will help you stay calm and focused
· Distracts you from pain or negative thinking
· Getting enough oxygen to the uterus helps decrease pain
When you are in fear and fighting against labor in will increase your pain and can slow labor. And increase the likelihood of needing pain medication to cope.
#6 Do This Not That
Education about labor and delivery is one of the most important things you can do.
A good natural childbirth course will help you work through fears, and practice relaxation and learn coping methods, to reduce pain.
Peacefulbirth.ca offers complete online natural childbirth classes.
Don’t just show up at the hospital and hope for the best.
Know what your choices are, and make a plan for the kind of birth you want. Even if everything doesn’t go as you planned, you will know that you were able to make decisions in labor that you feel good about.
#7 Do This Not That
Have your baby monitored intermittently. So you can still move around, get in the shower or tub to decrease pain.
Being able to move around decreases pain and helps the baby get in a good position.
Avoid continuous Electronic Fetal Monitoring for normal
labor.
This can seem harmless enough , but it can start you on the “cascade of interventions.”
Meaning one intervention leads to another. The restricted movement associated with EFM can cause increased pain and labor to slow down.