Natural Birth Pain Management
Natural birth pain management is just what it says - natural. Skip the medication for now. On this page I will share with you 9 techniques that put you where you should be - in control.
In my experience as a health care provider, having attended over 1500 births, one of my mamas’ top concerns is 'how much it will hurt.' Putting it bluntly, many new moms worry that a vaginal birth WITHOUT pain medication will hurt more than it will WITH medication.
Today’s post will tackle that issue head on. It will help you answer THESE questions:
"Does it (natural birth) hurt more than a hospital birth?
"How can I manage without pain medication?"
Let’s start by repeating an observation I have made many times. You were quite literally MADE to do this, Mama. The body naturally releases hormones and endorphins during childbirth to help relieve labor pain, reduce stress and improve your sense of well-being.
Believe it or not, in my 25 years attending births, I have had many clients who have told me afterwards that it ‘didn’t hurt’ at all.
“WHAT?” you may say? Are you kidding me?
No, I speak the truth.
Now - is there pain? Of course there is. The question is - how do you cope with it? Every new mom and her experience is different and unique. Yes, some describe the experience as pain-free. Others make use of a variety of techniques that we will describe below to manage the pain they do experience.
Either way, it’s obviously not easy. Delivering a baby is one of the most challenging things you will ever do. But that is part of what makes natural childbirth beautiful. And sacred. And so empowering.
All that being said, natural birth pain management is very much a part of the the natural birth plan in most cases, whether attended by a licensed midwife during a home birth or by a medical doctor in the hospital.
6 Common Approaches to Natural Birth Pain Management
Here are some of the natural (non-medicated) approaches we utilize in my practice:
- Waterbirth Tub: First and by far the most frequent is the use of warm water. The birth tub is often referred to by midwives as a ‘natural epidural.’ This natural pain relief option helps to relax the body. lower blood pressure and increase circulation, thereby easing pain. Ninety percent of my clients spend some time in a birth tub during labor, with most of those actually experiencing a water birth.
- Breath management: There is no mystery here: breathing techniques such as the practice of slow, rhythmic breathing and deep breathing, typically in through the nose and out through the mouth during active labor can help relax the body, ease tension and induce a more peaceful state of mind.
- Massage: The practice of applying gentle pressure in a variety of patterns is one of those relaxation techniques that can produce similar responses to water therapy and breath management. Massage can be administered by a partner or by a trained doula as one component of a pain management plan.
- Movement and Position Changes: This is one of the most important distinctions between a natural childbirth and one that is administered in a medical facility with a typical health care team and fixed furniture and equipment. Mom is free to move around the room, sit, stand, crouch, lean and generally find the positions that are the most comfortable to her.
- Meditation and self-talk: In our practice we help birthing women to visualize their babies, meditate on the sacred experience they are having and focus on positive affirmations of calmness and self-esteem.
- A Birthing Ball: Also known as an exercise ball or Swiss ball, is a large inflatable rubber ball. Sitting on the birth ball and gently rocking your pelvis in a circular or back-and-forth motion in different positions can help relieve lower back pain and encourage the baby to move into a more favorable position for delivery.
Natural Birth Pain Management: A Few More Ideas
Some practices offer complementary therapies that cannot really be called ‘natural,’ and yet they sometimes make the difference for the mother who wants an out of hospital (OOH) vaginal delivery:
- Over the counter pain reliever: Medications such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, and other NSAIDs such as over the counter Naproxin, can be used to treat mild to moderate pain during labor.
- A TENS machine: Short for "transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation," a TENS machine is a device that uses low-voltage electrical currents to provide pain relief. It consists of a small battery-powered unit connected to electrodes that are placed on the skin. The electrodes deliver electrical impulses to the nerves, which can help alleviate pain. While I do not employ TENS in my practice, I have colleagues that do.
- Nitrous oxide: More commonly used in countries such as the UK and Canada than it is in the US, ‘laughing gas’ can also be employed as a pain management method. While I prefer to stay closer to a ‘pure’ natural childbirth experience, I do have peers that have use Nitrous Oxide with good success for their clients.
As you know, one of the primary goals of natural birth is to avoid unnecessary medical interventions, including unnecessary medications. I hope you have found this overview of natural birth pain management helpful, as you consider the pros and cons of a natural childbirth for yourself and your baby.
At this stage, many of my clients wonder 'what else should I know?' They may have more detailed questions or worry about surprises they may not have anticipated.
If that is you, why don't you have a look at our post on "The One Thing Every Mama Should Do" (regardless of the chosen care setting.)
