Everything you really need to know about labour without really trying.
Happy International Women's' day.
Remember
that pain is the body's way of warning us that something is wrong. No
healthy tissue within the human body is designed to cause the
sensation of pain when working under normal healthy conditions. Most
labours are normal and healthy so there is no reason, other than
fear, that they should become painful. Dr. Grantly Dick-Read (my
hero) commented in his book, Childbirth Without Fear:
“There is no physiological
function in the body that gives rise to pain in the normal course of
health.”
Any relaxation technique when
practised regularly brings your body and mind into balance which
increases energy and concentration levels. Energy levels are not
being wasted, having to deal with unnecessary panic attacks
throughout the day. When relaxed we have an increase in serotonin
levels which make us feel well and happy, without the need to get
drunk. When stress hormones are being released throughout the day
they have a long term negative effect on us, we become tired and
listless. Remember
that in labour you can easily reach a state of utter exhaustion, if
adrenalin is secreted for long periods of time. Sometimes it is not a
case of being too posh to push, more a case of being much too
drained.
Remember,
it is vital to find a relaxation technique that appeals to your
lifestyle and preferences. When you find the one that best suits you
personally it can be used throughout the pregnancy so when labour
begins you will not instantly go into panic mode. If you do then you
can pull yourself back and start to take control by practising
relaxing in a way that suits you best. Having calm people around you
helps a lot. Make sure your birth partners are aware of your birth
plans and are strong enough people to make it happen.
Remember
to stay upright. It is very tempting to go and lie down on the nice
comfy bed when you are feeling tired, but you must resist. The most
dominant piece of equipment in a labour room is often the bed. When
showing women into a labour room I always asked them to sit on one of
the padded chairs. If I did not then they would make straight for the
bed. Labour is not an illness. You don't have to lie down to labour
or to give birth. In fact, lying down will make your labour painful
and last a lot longer. Gravity is your friend during labour. Use her
well.
Please try to stop smoking in
pregnancy. I know it is hard cos I did it three times. After my third
son was born I decided not to start again. When you become a mother,
it is incredible just how strong a person you can be. Having a tiny
baby reliant on you for everything is a life changing event. I
stopped smoking because I wanted to tell my children that taking
known harmful substances voluntarily into your body was not a good
thing to do. Remember
that there is help out there to give you the support you need to
quit. Ask your GP or community midwife for advice.
Remember
to ask your midwife for a blood test at around 28 weeks gestation to
estimate your iron levels. A pain free labour is reliant on getting
lots of oxygen to your contracting uterus. Having good iron rich
blood will ensure that your uterus is not being deprived of oxygen in
labour. The easiest way to take in extra iron in your diet is to eat
extra fruit and vegetables in pregnancy. Anything dark has good iron
in it like kiwi fruit and broccoli. These naturally also contain
vitamin C, so the iron in them is automatically readily absorbed. Do
not drink tea and coffee with meals as they will stop you absorbing
any iron present there.
Drinking coffee in early pregnancy has
been linked to an increase in spontaneous abortions. Why take the
risk? Coffee is a stimulant as it contains caffeine and can become
addictive. How many people do you know who simply cannot function in
the morning till they have had a fix of caffeine? They are not very
relaxed people. By not drinking coffee in your pregnancy you can
become even better at the relaxation techniques. Remember
what adrenalin, secreted after drinking caffeine drinks, does to your
cervix in labour. It makes it very difficult to open. The
contractions have to become stronger and stronger and eventually
cause pain.
Remember not
to slouch on the couch. Sitting with your back rounded for long
periods of time in pregnancy will encourage your baby to adopt an OP
position. Try and support your back with some cushions before
spending down time on the couch. If baby does settle into an OP
position then try some of the postures outlined in this book. Whilst
walking try and keep your shoulders back and your head high. You will
not only look good but the natural curve in your spine will
discourage baby from snuggling into an OP position. In labour,
contractions have to become stronger as the baby's head does not fit
well in the pelvis when his back is toward your back.
Remember
that most hospital staff firmly believe in painful labours and will
call your contractions PAINS! You can ask them to stop. One young
lady I booked for her second baby was telling me how she had got on
with her first. I had previously taught her how to approach labour
and she had been having pain free contractions at home. When the
contractions were every 3 minutes and lasting 50 seconds she informed
the hospital that she was on her way. On arrival the midwife noted
her calm demeanour and apparent lack of pain and sent her home
without examining her cervix or feeling her contractions. Once home
she gave birth on the bathroom floor with her mum in attendance. Your
midwife may not think that you are in labour if you are calm and pain
free, ask for a vaginal examination before she decides to send you
home.
I
have lived with the knowledge that a pain free first stage of labour
is achievable, for the majority of women, for more than three
decades. I have tried spreading the word by telling friends and
family, they were not very interested. I have become a midwife in
order to teach women how to approach labour, they are too few. I have
written articles for midwives magazines, they did not believe. If I
had not experienced two pain free labours for myself, then maybe I
would also find it difficult to believe. I am asking you to take a
huge leap of faith; to try the coping strategies outlined in this
book. I was so happy after my first pain free labour, I just wanted
to sing and dance and spread the word. Please
remember
to TAKE BACK CONTROL. All it takes is to believe. The truth.
Please let me know if you use a relaxation technique (I used Progressive Muscle Relaxation for my pain free labours and there is a post in this blog to explain how to use this method) to have a more comfortable labour. We need to spread the word so that we can take back control from the medics with regards to labour. Thank you. Good luck. xxx
