10 Alternative Ways To Reduce Pain During Labor

Before a woman can bask in the joy of holding her baby in her arms, she normally has to undergo the tormenting pains of labor. Mostfemales experienced severe or extreme pain quoting "the worst pain of my life",though other individuals described only little pain sensation. The intensity of labor pain differs widely amongdifferent individuals, and from various pregnancies of the same person.

Labor pain, as any acute pain, has two components. First is the sensory or physical element,whereby the pain stimuli is transmitted to the brain; second is the affective element,which pertains to how an individual subjectively interprets the painful stimuli through theinteraction of external factors such as emotional, social, cultural, and cognitive variables singular to the person.

These days , any pregnant woman can opt for a painless labor and delivery byutilizing standard medicine. If available in the hospital, she has a choice from epidural anesthesia, inhalation anesthetics, or administration of injected drugs. All of these procedureshave a similar system of action - to inhibit the firstcomponent of the pain pathway, the physical side.

However, due to the constrained availability of these standardprocedures, complementary and alternative procedures exist. These are theories and practices that wish to tackle the second element of pain. Thesealternate options do not necessarily replace the standard medicine, but only tryto supplement it.

Here are some known alternate ways to reduce the pain during labor.

1.Psychoprophylactic Methods
This is based on physiologist Ivan Pavlov's idea of classical conditioning. Thepregnant woman is taught the anatomic and physiologic details ofchildbirth and she is familiarized with the process. She is thenadvised to do some mental relaxation methods that may includefocusing on certain breathing patterns or a specific concentration point,like a mark in the wall. Employing these kinds of techniques could possiblystop pain messages to the brain.

2. Leboyer's Method
Instead of the usual environment where there is so much noise and light, this method offers comfort to the mother throughout delivery by supplying serenity and acalm atmosphere throughout labor.

3. Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis seems to reduce awareness of discomfort, fear and anxiety; and elevate pain threshold throughout labor. Here, the pregnant woman is initially subjected to hypnotic experiences making her somewhat unaware, but not absolutely blind, to her surroundings. Few negative effectsnoted involve headache, nausea, and dizziness. There can also be failure to dehypnotize the patient properly. Its use must be avoided in patients with psychotic decompensation.

4. Yoga
Yoga has an Indian origin, which suggests control of mind and body. It involvesspecial training of breathing, that achieves relaxation and inner peace. Although there has been no scientific confirmation for these assertions, practitioners of yoga noted decrease in pain sensation andlesser need for analgesic medication.

5. Music Therapy
It is believed that pregnant women can attain sedation and relaxation during the early stage of labor by playing a slow and restful kind of music. On the other hand, songs with a continuous beat is a stimulant which can promote the active stage of labor.

6. Acupuncture
This includes stimulating particular anatomic parts of the body with the use of needles. It is hypothesized that by stimulating acupuncture points, the level of chemical neurotransmitters in the body is altered. For instance, there is an increase of endorphin level, which like morphine, has analgesic property.

7. Therapeutic Touch
This refers to application of hand pressure to the pregnant woman's back, hips, abdomen, thighs, sacrum or perineum. The goal of therapeutic touch is to communicate caring and reassurance.

8. Hydrotherapy
Females who utilized water immersion throughout the earlystage of labor described statistically significant less pain compared to those not laboring in water.

9. Herbal Medicines
This comes with the use and application of plant materials which are consideredto have a calming and soothing effect. The downside of herbal remedies though, is that they have less scientific inquiry concerning its pharmacologically active ingredient and toxicity potentials.

10. Aromatherapy
This uses essential oils extracted from botanical sources. Mixed with massage, it enhances relaxation and helpsrelieve anxiety and stress.

Alternative procedures may be helpful through the earlystage of labor. As a distracter, it diverts the woman's attention from the source of pain. But during the delivery itselfonce physiologic pain is at its peak, a woman may need further conventional intervention.