pain relief techniques in labor
Epidurals are commonly thought as the only way to erase pain during childbirth. This may be the most common and most utilized in a hospital setting, but in reality there are countless ways to reduce pain in childbirth! And even have completely pain free labor and birth experiences.
In no way should you feel pressured from anyone in your care team to use a certain pain relief technique, whether it be your partner or spouse, doctor, midwife, nurse, or birth doula. You know your body best and are the only one who can make the decision when and if to use any of the techniques we discuss for pain relief in labor.
It is best to become familiar with the different ways to manage pain ahead of time and know that you can choose to or change your decisions at any point in your labor and birth. Finding out information in the moment can be overwhelming. Hopefully, we can break down some of this information now, so that your decisions come more fluidly while in labor.
The types of pain relief in labor include: Physical, Emotional, and Medical.
Physical ways to reduce pain in labor
Let’s get physical! Things that reduce pain physically include: Movement, Water, Temperature changes, and Breathing techniques. These physical ways to reduce pain and increase comfort can all be done in your home or at your birthing location (hospital or birth center). These pain reduction techniques put YOU in the driver seat and include subtle things you may be doing already that you can harness for your labor.
Movement in labor
Many people don’t realize that shifting positions to relieve pain or discomfort is instinctual and happens throughout all of our daily lives, pregnant or not. When you adjust your legs while sitting in a chair, you are responding to the discomfort of your former position and moving to a position that feels better. In childbirth, we can do the same.
Moving, whether it be swaying from side to side, walking, or changing to a different fixed position, are all ways to adjust your comfort level. In labor, forward leaning positions are your go-to’s for pain relief. These positions release tension and pain from the lower back, create a hammock-like structure for your baby in the womb, and continue to use gravity to put pressure on your cervix.
Try creating circuits of movement so you don’t have to think about what happens next. Every 5 or so contractions change to a different item. For example, sit on a birth ball for 5 contractions, rolling your hips in all directions. Then, after those 5 stand up and sway for 5 contractions. Then, maybe try a lunge position where you can deepen your lunge and sway within contractions. These circuits relax different muscles throughout your body, use up any of the adrenaline or energy produced from fear-based thoughts, and can relieve pain in different muscles and regions of your body.
hydrotherapy in labor
Water is another unique tool to relieve pain that is often overlooked. Being submerged in a tub or sitting under a shower stream have been shown to reduce sensations of pain by up to 80% in some cases.
When submerged in water, gravity is felt differently. Your belly and baby are able to float, meaning you feel less tension and pressure from the contractions. Instead of feeling the weight of your baby, the tightening of your uterine muscles, and the constriction of other ligaments and muscles due to the uterine contractions, your body feels the water roll over you. The intensity of the other sensations are “drowned” out by the intensity of the water.
Your body has millions of receptors that tell your brain what is happening in your environment. When you are in water, those receptors are more focused on the water than say the pain receptors trying to tell your body what is happening internally.
If your tub or shower is large enough and you have the support from someone like your partner or a doula to keep you balanced, you can change into various positions too, combining the strengths of movement and water as comfort tools.
Temperature control in labor
Changing temperature can be a great way to manage pain in labor. Warmth from a heating pad, hot shower or bath, or from a hot compress are all great ideas to relieve pain and discomfort. Applying a heating pad on your lower back and around your hips can help to loosen up your ligaments and muscles to make it easier for positioning. A cold washrag on your forehead, neck, or chest are great ideas when you are sweating, in the middle of contractions, or need to cool off.
Similar to hydrotherapy, heat and cold changes on your skin can stop your brain from registering pain. Instead of noticing pain, your body notices the heat or cold. It is like tricking you are tricking your brain into thinking the pain is not there.
Breathing techniques for labor pains
Breathing is a subtle but profound way for managing pain. By focusing your breathing and sending each breath to the area feeling the most intense pain, your body will respond. What you are doing is bringing more oxygen and blood flow to those regions of the body. With additional oxygen and blood flow, those muscles and organs can work more efficiently leading to reduced feelings of fatigue, tightness, throbbing, and pain. This is mechanism behind practicing Yoga and meditation.
Emotional ways to relieve pain in childbirth
Outside of physical things we can do to limit our feelings of pain, there are many techniques from an emotional and psychological stand point that can help us as well! Our body follows our mind and our mind follows our body.
Learning ways to improve your overall mood can help to reduce your perception of pain in childbirth. Laughter, love, and support from loved ones are all great ways to reduce pain and keep you comfortable.
laughter as a pain relief technique in childbirth
Laughter! Surprisingly, there is way more laughter involved in birth than you would imagine. Laughter can do a lot of things for your body. 1. It reminds you that you are safe and secure. 2. Laughing releases endorphins in the body that act as natural pain relief 3. Laughter also releases oxytocin (something we will touch on more in a moment) 4. And laughter moves your body in ways that helps to get you more oxygen and wiggles your belly.
love as a comfort tool in labor
LOVE: And I don’t just mean snuggles and telling your partner you love them. Giving and receiving love releases oxytocin in the brain. Oxytocin, which is a hormone responsible for attachments and bonding, is also the same biological chemical that creates uterine contractions.
Oxytocin, like love itself, renders feelings of warmth, belonging, connectedness, and safety. All of these feelings tell your nervous system that you are safe, comfortable, and ready to have your baby. When you are in a loving state, your body responds differently to pain.
Emotional support from family and friends
Holding hands with someone you love while getting your blood pressure taken has been a proven way to reduce your blood pressure reading. Think about how kids run to their mothers for reassurance or a simple kiss to fix a booboo. This same physiological process can help reduce pain in adults as well.
Your loved ones know you best. Often times, being in the room is enough to soothe pain and fears. Other times, your loved ones can transform your experience by remaining calm, attentive, and expressing their love for you. Think about those people in your life who always leave you feeling relaxed, full of energy, and loved. These are the people you should have with you while in labor!
MEdical interventions for pain relief in labor and childbirth
Outside of tools you can use that aren’t medical, there are a handful of medicines you can use that can relieve pain through an IV catheter. These are great options for a lot of people because it is something you do not have to physically put effort into.
There are some medical conditions such as heart disease, blood disorders, or previous spinal surgeries or injuries that may prevent you from being able to receive some of these medications. Be sure to bring up any medical conditions you may have with your prenatal health care provider. They may encourage you to speak with an anesthesiologist for a consultation or talk about specific methods that would be best for your individual case.
IV pain medications for labor and childbirth
IV Pain Medications (Fentanyl or Morphine): These medications are given through an IV that move through your body in your blood. This medication is quickly felt and relief comes quickly. Its effects last for about an hour (every body processes the medication differently). Most medical environments will require you rest in bed and have continuous monitoring because this medication may cause your blood pressure to drop or feelings of drowsiness.
You may be able to get more than one dose of this medication to manage your pain, however, most medical providers do not want to give it to you too close to delivery. Fentanyl, as a narcotic, can be passed through the placenta to your baby. If given too close to delivery, your baby may be very sleepy and may need respiration support.
Epidural for labor pain management
Epidural: Epidurals are the classic medication relief for pain in childbirth. Check out more details about Epidurals and how to make the most of them our previous blog post here. In short, an epidural is a combination and mixture of several different medications (may change based on anesthesiologist) that is continuously flowing through an IV catheter that is placed in the epidural space of your spinal column.
Epidurals relieve pain and create a numbness feeling from your belly down to your toes. You will be required to be in bed once receiving this medication and at most hospitals you will be required to go on a clear liquid diet only. Epidurals feel almost magical for many women, but its important to note that they focus on pain. Pressure, trembling, and other sensations of labor are not changed by using an epidural.
Nitrous oxide as a self-controlled pain option for labor
Nitrous Oxide: Nitrous Oxide, also known as laughing gas, is an aerosolized medication that you take through a mask on your face. This option is incredible because you can control the dosing of the medication. You move to the mask to your face and you take it off as well. Nitrous oxide can help to take the edge off at the peak of your surges, but is not a complete pain relief. Nitrous oxide is short lived in that once you remove the mask, the sensations can come back quickly.
Nitrous oxide can change your mentality. Nitrous oxide has that laughing quality which can give you a sense of high, but again your mental status can return to your “normal” quickly.
As a side note, hospitals have changed many of their policies for nitrous oxide due to COVID-19. This option is less likely to be available and may require a COVID-19 test before being able to use it for pain. Check with your hospital for more information.
General Anesthesia as pain relief in cesarean births
General anesthesia: General anesthesia, now a days, is used during some emergency or planned epidurals, but no longer is used for labor pain outside of the operating room. With general anesthesia you have medications that are given through an oxygen mask that puts you in an unconscious state, asleep per se. Under general anesthesia, a breathing tube is placed down your trachea to support your breathing. This tube also prevents anything from your stomach getting into your lungs.
After general anesthesia is turned off, you can expect to “wake up” within 5 to 10 minutes. However, you may feel confused and not like yourself for several hours.
conclusion
Let’s retrace our steps to the beginning of this blog post. There are so many medical and non-medical ways to reduce or eliminate pain in childbirth. Some of the pains of labor can be specific to your pain tolerance and perceptions level. Other pains can be due to individual conditions and baby’s positioning in the womb. Either way, these pain relief techniques are all options for you! You are in the driver-seat and YOU are the only person who can make these decisions.
It’s best to know these options ahead of time so that you are not panicking in labor or choosing an option that you do not fully understand. Don’t be afraid to ask all the questions where ever you are planning to give birth.
As always, I hope you feel the RADIANT light within.