How To Control Pain During Childbirth

Just thinking about the pain of childbirth can scare anyone only. The pain is described as extremely great, and it really is just that. The good news, however, is that your body copes with pain through certain techniques that allow you to manage the pain during labor as well as cervical dilation.

My mother always used to say that during childbirth, “you feel nothing but one pain.” By this he meant that, in his experience, a person only feels a certain amount of severe pain that quickly passes by.

Although every birth story is different, experts say there are two different stages in childbirth that are associated with different pain conditions.

The first stage comes during cervical dilation. This stage is characterized by pain felt deep in the internal organs. The intensity of this pain is directly related to the pressure caused by the contractions.

The second stage is childbirth. Along with the contractions, there is intense and local somatic pain. According to the maternity protocol of the Spanish Association of Gynecology and Obstetrics (SEGO), this is because the baby’s head presses against the pelvic structures.

This will allow you to control the pain during childbirth

This article explains that there are both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical means by which pain can be managed during childbirth.

Proven non-pharmaceutical methods

• Partner support during childbirth
• Sterile dermal serum
• Water immersion

Non-pharmaceutical means for which there is no conclusive evidence of efficacy

• Certain breathing techniques (psychoprophylaxis)
• Hypnosis
• Acupuncture

Effective pharmaceutical methods

• Inhalation anesthesia
• Parenteral Pain Management (intramuscular or intravenous)

• Spinal anesthesia (epidural or subcutaneous anesthesia)
• General anesthesia

Before we look at methods that can be used to manage pain during childbirth, let’s take a moment to look at methods that can promote cervical dilation. This information comes from scientific articles such as SEGO’s “Guidelines for Medical Treatment of Ordinary Childbirth”.

Techniques for cervical dilation

Increasingly frequent and increasingly intense contractions are usually the first sign that labor has begun. Thanks to these contractions, you will inevitably pay attention to what is happening and thus be able to make the decisions that are best for you.

Contractions come rhythmically and become painful as your cervix gradually thins, softens and expands.

Experts urge you to stay in motion instead of lying down during cervical dilation. As you expand, you can settle into the position you feel most comfortable with.

It is also good to drink clear liquids (water, diluted juice, tea, coffee or isotonic drinks). Isotonic drinks are probably best for this purpose, as in addition to hydration, you get small doses of glucose from them, which prevents ketosis.

Positions that may help you feel more comfortable and avoid lying still include standing, squatting, sitting, or lying on your side. These postpartum postures are often associated with a shorter birth.

Also, keep in mind that women who choose to be on their knees think this is the most comfortable way to give birth. According to the Ordinary Childbirth Guide, women who give birth on their knees report less lumbar and pelvic pain after giving birth

Another piece of advice is to apply a hot bath to the perineal area during childbirth and avoid pre-natal perineal massage as well as spontaneous exertion.

Pain management during childbirth

One of the most effective non-pharmaceutical methods of pain management is the presence of a maternity partner. A childbirth partner may sound like a strange hippie technique, but its functionality has been scientifically proven.

According to a 2006 Cochrane Review, ongoing support for women who give birth serves as an effective method of pain management during childbirth. The Cochrane Review conducted 15 scientific studies sampling a total of 12,791 women.

One of the main conclusions of the study was that women who receive ongoing support from a maternity partner needed less analgesia and were generally more satisfied with their childbirth experience. They also had fewer caesareans and other assisted births.

Society during childbirth brings a sense of security, makes the pain caused by contractions more tolerable, and facilitates childbirth. However, you should carefully choose the person to accompany you during childbirth.

Your childbirth partner should know how you want to give birth  and how she can treat, support and encourage you at every stage of childbirth. A person who is too tense or who feels the emotional significance of the moment insurmountable should not be chosen as the birth partner.

One of the non-pharmaceutical methods that has not yet been proven effective is acupuncture. However, numerous studies have highlighted the benefits of acupuncture as a method of prenatal pain management. It is 63% effective and reduces the need for other anesthetic methods by 94%.

Spinal anesthesia: epidural and intradural

One of the most effective pharmaceutical methods of pain management during childbirth is spinal anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia relieves pain throughout labor.

It is more effective than any other systematic anesthetic and is also really safe. Therefore, it is the most common method of pain management during childbirth and should be available to all women giving birth.

According to experts, spinal anesthesia should be available on request as long as nothing appears to indicate the harmfulness of its use, assuming that spinal anesthesia is the safest and most effective method of controlling pain during childbirth.

In some cases, spinal anesthesia has benefits that other methods of anesthesia do not have. In these cases, its use is highly recommended and the obstetrician should provide information so that the woman can make the right decision.

Epidural anesthesia is the most widely studied and commonly available method of pain management for childbirth. However, if you choose epidural anesthesia, you will not feel any contractions at all, in which case the hospital staff will need to tell you when you should strive.