Introduction
The experience of labor pain during delivery is a subjective and multidimensional issue. The amount of pain sensed during labor and delivery varies for every woman. The level of labor pain depends on many factors, such as the position and size of the baby, the woman's level of ease with the process, and the strength of the contractions felt. Usually, there are two ways to alleviate pain during labor and childbirth. One uses medications, and the other uses a natural approach without medications. Some women prefer either of them, while other women opt for a combination of those two.
What Is Labor Pain?
Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience related to actual or potential tissue damage. Labor pain consists of two elements, somatic and visceral.
Visceral Pain: It occurs during the initial stage of labor, and it is associated with the tension that gets generated on the cervix, causing its dilatation. The women undergoing labor pain felt this tension and dilatation as pain.
Somatic Pain: It occurs at the end of the initial stage and lasts till the second stage. This pain is due to the force exerted on the endocervical canal (vaginal part of the cervix, also called the birth canal), the vagina, and the perineum (the skin between the vagina and anal opening).
What Are the Factors That Influence Labor Pain?
During the delivery of the baby, labor pain, anxiety, and stress can raise the release of catecholamines and cortisol hormones into the blood circulation, which can directly sensitize peripheral nerves and enable these hormones to signal pain even in the absence of actual nerve injury. Among many factors that influence the intensity of labor pain following are;
- The individual's pain threshold.
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Size of the baby.
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The level of progression of the labor process.
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Maternal general health condition.
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The dimension of the mother's pelvis.
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Position of the baby during the delivery.
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Mental factors and stress.
What Are the Non-Medical Methods for Pain Relief During Labor?
There are many non-medical approaches for pain relief during childbirth. Various methods for labor pain control include the following;
1. Supportive Person: Although pregnant women will have a nurse or midwife looking after them during labor, it is beneficial to have a support person with the women. The support person during the labor can be their partner, family member, family relative, or a paid service person such as a doula. Pregnant women can choose to have one or more support persons per their preference, but it is advisable to restrict the number of people present during the delivery. Having a support person by the side during labor can provide practical support and other non-medical pain relief tactics such as massage, emotional support, and encouragement through talk. In addition, having continuous support from someone trustworthy can help to cope better in labor. It can also reduce the need for medical pain control and lower the chance of the need for assisted delivery.
2. Massage and Heat Therapy: Massage and heat application are widely known for their role in relieving pain. Similarly, during labor also, massage helps to provide a distraction from the pain, and heat packs can help release natural painkillers of the body, which are endorphins. However, while massage during labor may feel good sometimes, pregnant women may find it irritating at other times. Hence it is advisable to discuss it with the support person before labor.
3. Active Birth: The most helpful method to manage the pain of labor and childbirth is to stay active throughout the process. Moving freely and rocking the pelvis can help to cope with contractions. Moreover, staying upright also helps move the baby further down the pelvis due to gravitational forces.
4. Water Bath or Water Birth: Many hospitals and birthing centers do have facilities to have a shower or bath during the first stage of labor. A warm bath can make pregnant women feel relaxed and help to cope with contractions. A hot shower can also provide relief from back pain. However, it is essential to note that having a bath or hot shower to ease labor pain is not the same as a water birth experience. During the water birth and bath, the intraabdominal pressure increases, which helps the future mother in easy breathing and change of positions. In addition, water allows more flexibility and elasticity of pelvic tissues. It lowers the pain of the contractions and may also reduce the need for several instrumental interventions during childbirth.
5. Relaxation Methods: Pregnant women can use relaxation techniques such as meditation or music to ease labor pain.
6. TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation): TENS device uses two electrodes stuck to the skin of the lower back. The machine transmits a small electric current through the body. However, there is insufficient proof to support this method for labor pain control, but some pregnant women find it helpful. It is usually safe for the mother and baby. However, A TENS device is not suitable for everyone, such as a woman with a pacemaker should not utilize it for labor pain relief, and TENS is not recommended before 37 weeks gestation. Use of TENS in the shower or the water is also contraindicated.
7. Aromatherapy: In aromatherapy, essential oils are heated over a burner or massaged on the body. The aroma released by these is thought to provide a soothing effect that lowers stress and anxiety. However, not enough evidence supports the claim that aromatherapy provides labor pain relief, but some women find it pleasant.
8. Self-Hypnosis: Practicing self-hypnosis throughout the pregnancy may help lower the fear and anxiety regarding labor and childbirth. However, insufficient evidence supports that self-hypnosis, also called hypnobirthing, can decrease the requirement for other pain relief methods during labor.
9. Acupuncture: It may help reduce pain in labor. In addition, there are no known adverse effects of acupuncture for babies or pregnant women. However, only a trained and highly skilled person should perform acupuncture during labor.
10. Sterile Water Injections: Injections with no medicine and filled with sterile water only can be injected under the skin of the lower back for relief from lower back pain. However, how they work needs to be clarified or if they provide adequate comfort. The sterile water injections may sting but are safe with no known side effects on babies or pregnant women.
Conclusion
Non-medication Pain management during labor can have various methods, as described above. Pregnant women may choose one or multiple ways to relieve and soothe labor pain. These non-medical pain control methods are generally safe and can also be used with medical therapy for pain control.
