Childbirth is one of the biggest fears a pregnant woman can have. Hearing stories from others of how painful it is and how "awful" it is can make a first time mother become very anxious about her own labor that is soon to occur.
However, childbirth isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be and pain is a good thing. Only by having a truly natural birth can you appreciate the pain you do feel and what it gives you and your baby - in terms of well being and empowerment.
The best way to reduce the pain during labor is to prepare for it. Knowing what to expect, understanding your options and having a supportive partner are all musts. Do not leave it all in the hands of the medical staff - YOU know best when it comes to you and your body. It is only by knowing what you want and having support from someone who has your best interests at heart can you really relax when the time comes.
Currently, it is becoming more and more popular to use pain management methods other than drugs. Coping methods such as labor coaching, meditation and hypnosis have been very helpful to many women. However the most commonly used form of pain relief in the USA and used in almost two thirds of labours is an epidural.
Generally, from my own experience, I chose not to have drugs because I figured they would be more hassle than they were worth and also because I did not want to affect my son. Using pain medication and c-sections have been linked to post partum depression and also make it harder for mother and child to bond as well, so I avoided them for this reason too. Once in labor, I just zoned out. My focus was so much on the labor that I just laid down and just went through the motions. Nothing around you matters really; you have a job to do. For me, having people bother me and try to give me medication or disturb me would have made labor horrible. Being left to deal with it on my own made it easier for me to deal with.
Of course though what you decide is up to you but it is worth researching and being prepared and making sure that someone can speak on your behalf when you can't.
Besides natural childbirth techniques such as breathing and relaxation techniques, of course there are pain medications you can get while in hospital. There include:
Reduced dosage- Reduced dosage of pain medications allows you to have a greater range of function in your legs and you will be able to push well. There will also be a smoother progression of labor. One example of this is the "walking epidural". The "walking epidural" gives a woman enough mobility to move about in bed and change position but not enough to walk.
Woman-controlled medication- This allows the mother to dispense her own medication, allowing her to control the degree of pain she feels. One example of this that is becoming popular is woman-controlled epidural anesthesia.
There are also other pain medications that you can have. If you intend to use some sort of pain medication make sure you are clued up on all the ones available and what is available at the hospital you intend to have birth at. If you have birth at home, some options like an epidural will not be available to you. To get what you want you need to know what there is as you will have to negotiate with your doctor or midwife.
