Labor and delivery can be a long and hard process. If you find yourself preparing for the upcoming day, you’re probably pretty concerned with finding effective labor pain management methods.
A few options help with labor pain management include:
- Epidural
- Laughing gas
- Choosing the right birthing environment
- Finding other things to focus on
- Gentle touch or massage
- Water immersion
Below, we’ll explore each option so you can make the right choice for you and your baby.
Epidural
Most moms are already aware of the option to have an epidural. Epidurals help plenty of moms get through the process with little to no pain and can be an excellent option for many. But it is a commitment: Once you receive the epidural, many hospitals will require that you remain in bed to labor because of the placement in your back. Others are more sensitive to pain medications, and still, others found epidurals to be so numbing that they felt too removed from the birthing process. Sometimes, epidurals can even prolong labor.
While an epidural may be the right fit for many, others might be looking to explore other options for labor pain management.
Laughing gas
While laughing gas is still being introduced into U.S. hospitals, it is now more widely accepted than ever before. With laughing gas, moms can have something to take the edge off the pain, while still remaining present during labor. A big benefit of laughing gas? If you try it and decide you don’t like it (it makes some moms nauseous or dizzy), it will wear off fairly quickly, and you don’t have to use it again. If you find it helpful, you can keep puffing laughing gas periodically throughout labor.
So, what is laughing gas, exactly? Laughing gas is nitrous oxide, or fifty percent nitrous and fifty percent oxygen. The nitrous oxide is inhaled instead of given through an IV and kicks in within thirty to fifty seconds of inhalation. Moms are fond of this labor pain management technique because they can be in charge of their pain management. If they feel like they need more, they can inhale more. If they feel fine or decide they don’t like its effects, they can stop inhaling! If this sounds like something you’d benefit from, be sure to talk to your doctor ahead of time to be sure it’s something they offer.
Choosing the right birthing environment
One of the best ways to manage pain during labor starts well before you go into it: finding the right birth environment. Ultimately, when it comes to choosing your birthing environment, that’s what you are looking for: comfort. So remember to bring your favorite blankets and pillows with you wherever you plan on giving birth. Whatever simple things bring you comfort, can help you in the delivery room.
Some may find that they consider birth to be a medical event, and feel that surrounding themselves with the best medical professionals who have studied long and hard and know exactly what to do to get them through the process. If you’re one of these people, it’s time to start researching hospitals and visiting birthing suites. Find a hospital that checks off all the boxes on your list of “must-haves” and makes you feel at home. Some people, however, get freaked out at hospitals and prefer something more intimate. If that’s what you want, maybe it’s time to start researching home births and doulas and find a method you feel comfortable with.
Another important factor in your birthing environment is knowing who you want by your side. Is it your partner? A family member? Do you want it to be a family affair? Or more intimate? It’s important to put up these boundaries ahead of time, so everyone can know what to expect, including you!
Finding other things to focus on
Labor can be a long process. In between contractions, you’ll need something to focus on other than the pain. Fear and anxiety can release stress hormones, which can exacerbate some of the feelings of pain that labor brings on be. Focus on the five senses—touch, sight, smell, taste, and sound—to find the right distractions.
Make a playlist that will pump you up during the hardest moments, and another that will relax you when things get stressful. Make sure your birthing partner is there to comfort you and to hold your hand. Learn breathing techniques that will help ground you. And experiment with hot and cold—a heating pad for your back or a cold towel for your forehead—to help relieve some of the discomfort.
Gentle touch or massage
Touch can send calming messages to your brain, whether it’s a gentle touch placed on a painful spot, a tight embrace, or gentle massages to soothe tight muscles. Receptors in your brain will receive these pleasurable sensations and block the reception of the pain that comes with labor. You are essentially giving your brain something positive to focus on instead of something painful, which can make itan effective labor pain management technique.
Many women also find that applying counterpressure during the intensity of a contraction, often to the hips, can help make the pain more manageable. Your birthing partner or doula will essentially apply force applied to one spot using the heels of the hand. This can be especially helpful if you’re experiencing back labor.
Water immersion
Water immersion, or hydrotherapy, can be used as a treatment for various symptoms and can be especially helpful during labor. Whether you want to take a hot shower at the beginning stages of labor, want to jump in a birthing tub for the transition, or you’re looking into a water birth, warm water can help relieve a lot of pain during labor. Many people find water to be very relaxing, helping them be in the right mind frame during labor and helping them find the strength to push through.
Do what works for you
Ultimately, when it comes to finding the right labor pain management techniques, it’s all about what is going to help you be your best self during labor. You know yourself, and you know what normally helps and comforts you in your toughest moments. So be patient, try not to compare your experiences to others, and know that you’re going to get through this. Just remember: this pain has a purpose, and the contractions bring baby closer to being in your arms.