Childbirth pain is caused by contractions of the uterus and dilation of the cervix, and is similar to an intense menstrual cramp that appears and disappears, begins lower and gradually increases in intensity.
During labor, pain can be relieved through natural resources, i.e. without medication, with forms of relaxation and breathing. Ideally, the woman, who will accompany her, will know these possibilities during the prenatal period, so that they can be better used during childbirth.
- Although the pain is not completely eliminated.
- Many prenatal instructors suggest using some of these resources to make women feel more comfortable during work.
There are affordable, affordable and possible alternative methods in most places where childbirth can take place to relieve pain during childbirth:
The woman has the right to have a companion at the time of delivery, whether it is the partner, the parents or a loved one.
One of the functions of the companion is to help the pregnanter relax, and one way to do so is to massage with circular movements in the arms and back during childbirth.
Since contractions are muscle exertions that leave the woman completely tense, the massage between contractions increases comfort and relaxation.
Avoiding lying with your right back and staying in the same position for more than an hour can help relieve pain during childbirth. Stretching is a position that forces women to do more abdominal strength than they would sit or stand, for example, increasing pain.
Thus, a pregnant woman may choose a body position that allows her to relieve pain, such as:
In addition to these positions, the woman can use a chair to sit in different positions, identifying one that helps her relax more easily during contraction. The instructions can be seen in the image below.
Staying in motion during the first phase of childbirth, in addition to stimulating dilation, also relieves pain, especially when standing, as they help the baby descend through the genital canal.
Walking through the birthing place can reduce discomfort and help strengthen and regulate contractions.
Sitting in a shower with a jet of water on your back or lying in a hot tub are options that can relax and relieve pain.
Not all maternity units or hospitals have a bathtub or shower in the room, so to use this method of relaxation during childbirth, it is important to arrange in advance for delivery in a unit that has this equipment.
Putting a hot water compress or ice pack on your back can reduce muscle tension, improve circulation and relieve pain.
Water with more extreme temperatures dilates peripheral vessels and redistributes blood flow, favoring muscle relaxation.
The type of breathing changes depending on the time of delivery, for example, during contractions, it is better to breathe slowly and deeply, to better oxygenate the body of the mother and baby. At the time of expulsion, when the baby leaves, the shortest and fastest breathing is indicated.
In addition, deep breathing also decreases adrenaline, the hormone responsible for stress, which helps control anxiety, which often intensifies pain.
Listening to your favorite music with headphones can divert attention from pain, decrease anxiety and help you relax.
Regular physical activity improves breathing and stomach muscles, giving women more control at the time of delivery in terms of pain relief.
In addition, there are training sessions for the perineum and pelvis muscles that promote relief and reduce the risk of injury when the baby leaves, as they strengthen the area of the muscles of the vagina, to make them more flexible and strong.
See exercises to facilitate normal delivery
In some cases, when natural resources are not sufficient, the woman may resort to epidural anesthesia, which consists of the administration of an anesthetic in the spine, able to eliminate the pain from the waist down, without altering the level of consciousness of the woman at work. . allowing the woman to attend childbirth without feeling the pain of contractions.
See what epidural anesthesia is and how it develops.