Secrets of an easier labor
February 25, 2006 | Health Diet Fitness, Women

These are the things that you can try to make giving birth less painful and maybe little easier for you.

Educate yourself | Childbirth classes put the experiences of labor into perspective and prepare you for what’s ahead. “I didn’t realize until I was actually in labor how much I’d learned at childbirth classes,” says Jennifer Amadola, a Washington D.C. mom. “I knew that it meant when the nurse said I was entering transition, and I knew to ask if I could walk around between contractions.”

Don’t rush to the hospital | Labor can last for hours and once you’re in the hospital you’re not going anywhere for a while. Spending early stages of labor at home is more comfortable; at home you can relax. The rule is to wait until contractions are intense and close together, but every OB seems to have different standard so ask yours what hers is.

Ask for help | Parents, sisters, friends. Another alternative is a doula. Doulas, who are specially trained to help women in labor, can reduce risk of needing a C-section, lower the probability that you’ll need pain medication and possibly make your labor go as much as 20 percent faster.

Have a snack | A snack gives your body fuel for the task ahead. Stay away from fatty foods, or hard-to-digest ones, since they can make you nauseated after labor starts. Some foodds may contribute to the dreaded “labor poop.” Make sure to drink plenty of water, too dehydration can make lalor last longer.

Move around | Take advantage of the power of gravity to speed your labor along – when you stand up, your baby’s head presses against your cervix, help you dilate faster. Movement, such as kneeling or squatting, can also help widen your pelvis to make labor go a little more quickly. Don’t be afraid to move around and try some different positions until you find one that is comfortable for you.

Do something relaxing | It sounds impossible, but if you starts obsessing over contractions as soon as they start, you’ll be mentally and physically exhausted well before the typical 12- to 14-hour labor is entering its most challenging period. Try to distract yourself during those first hours by taking a shower, working in the garden or even seeing a movie. Avoid puling out the timer and monitoring each contraction until you feel like your contractions are getting super intense or really close together.

Don’t automatically discount medication | Unless you’re determined to go all-natural, keep an open mind about getting medical help during labor. Once you’ve dilated 3 centimeters, an epidural won’t significantly slow down your labor. If you don’t want an epidural, there are other pain-relief option, including analgesis which dull your sensations rather than eliminating them. It’s smart to know the options ahead of time, even if you don’t plan on using them – that way if something happens and you do need pain relief, you’re at least familiar with the basic terminology and options. And keep in mind, even if you really wanted to go all-natural, lots of women need pain relief during pregnancy, and if you’re one of them, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. The goal is to have a healthy baby, so concentrate on doing what you need to do to make that happen.

Try massage | Women who receive massage during pregnancy report less pain and anxiety than women who don’t. You don’t need a professional masseuse to help you, either – just toss soem massage oil into your hospital bag and ask your labor coach to pull it out when you get to the hospital. You can try a little massage early on to see if you’re comfortable being touched that way during labor.

Take a bath | As long as your water hasn’t broken, a warm soak in the tub can be a good way to relax your nerves and tense muscles. Some hospital delivery room now have private tubs where moms-to-be can be immerse themselves in warm water during the early stages of labor – check with your hospital or birthing center to see if this is an option.

Dim the lights | Most women find a dark, quiet environment is the most comfortable one for labor, so don’t be afraid to ask your midwife or delivery nurse to turn down the lights. Harsh flourescent lights can make you feel stressed and tense and make the process of childbirth fee medical and scarr.

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