Although every birth is unique, one element remains constant: Labor is painful. Women now have an array of medications and techniques at their disposal to help squelch the discomfort of labor. But what if you're looking to avoid drugs altogether?
Epidurals have their place, but may not be the best pain relief for everyone. There are many alternatives available that help put women more in control of the birth experience. Essentially, it's a personal choice.
Non-drug strategies include:
- Breathing exercises Slow, deep breaths relax your body and increase oxygen flow to the uterine muscles, helping them work more efficiently. Patterned breathing uses distraction and conditioned response to reduce the perception of pain.
- Massage Soothing touch, such as light or firm stroking and circular pressure, promotes relaxation and reduces transmission of pain impulses by overloading the nerves in the spinal cord that relay pain.
- Movement Squatting, leaning, standing, rolling on a therapy ball or walking facilitate the movement of the baby through the pelvis and are associated with faster, less painful labors.
Labor is a mind-body experience. Bringing a new life into the world is a cultural, not a medical, event with the potential to be a peak life experience. Supporting a woman's choices during labor empowers her and promotes her self-confidence to safely birth and successfully parent her child. The goal is to have a healthy mother and baby, and to optimize that experience for the whole family.
Last Updated: September 24, 2009