1. Don't think of contractions as pain but intense sensations (I realise you've birthed before but through Calm Birth classes I heard of many women this worked well for in subsequent labours). Understanding the basic physiology of birth really helps too (there is a chapter in Dr Marsden Wagner's book below that explains this brilliantly). The different hormones and the way contractions actually work (3 ways) really helped me understand what was happening to my body during contractions. It removed fear and hence the tension that comes with fear and which can cause pain. This worked in the lead up for me and while it was intense I didn't feel pain per se.
2. If you want the best opportunity to have a drug free labour, have a birth plan in place that clearly states no one is to offer you pain relief during labour at any time. State clearly that if you want it you will ask for it. I also included that if I did ask for pain relief my birth team were to make some gentle suggestions like - why don't you try so and so for half an hour and see how you go, or you are doing so well do you want to just give it 30 more minutes and see how you feel then. etc.
3. Practice deep slow (yogic) breathing in the months leading up. Focusing on my breath made them seem shorter and helped heaps.This is all I used in an induced labour.
4. As you say water may help, I personally didn't need or want it.
5. Practice birthing positions prior to birth so they come more naturally on the day.
6. Embrace the experience as something to be celebrated and ensure you have a great birth team are there to support you not rescue you during a normal birth. Having relaxed, gentle caring people present was a godsend for me. No loud noises, no talking and a dark welcoming space really helped.
7. I went into my cave (the toilet) during transition, sat on the toilet and went with the flow. It was a lovely safe space. Feel empowered to birth where ever you want regardless of anyone else.
8. Read Ina May Gaskin's "Guide to Midwifery" and/or Dr Marsden Wagner's "Creating a Birth Plan". Both fabulous books making the understanding of birth so easy and obvious.
I've heard really good things about TENS machines and labour pains. Unfortunately, I can't vouch for them because I planned to use one in my last labour and my baby was breech so I had to have a c/section. I am thinking about it again this time. To use one though, my hospital makes an appointment with me for the physio and they teach you how to use it prior to labour. It costs a $50 deposit to hire one and they give back the $50 when I return it. Different hospitals would offer different things though but that's what mine does
I had sterile water injections last time as DD was posterior and i have to say while this was extremly painful at the time and the only time i swore during my whole 50hr labour it definatley helped to relieve the unrelenting pressure in my back and calmed me down heaps, giving me the second wind i needed to keep going. Not sure if all hospitals are doing this now but it may be worth researching further.
For me it was water on my back while I layed over the fit ball and closed my eyes. I don't think I even opened my eyes the entire time I was in labour! lol
Change your mindset NOW.
Remove the word "pain" from your vocab, and begin some positive NLP.
Ditto everything Dusty said. Especially regarding pain relief - do NOT let them offer it to you, put it in your birth plan, have your DH reiterate this when you go in, labour as long as possible at home first. Remember to stay in a safe place - once you even subconsciously feel "unsafe" or watched, your labour may well stall or slow.
Fingertip massage helps - have your DH practice it - lightly stroking your skin works just like a TENS machine - it confuses your nervous system and allows you to focus on something else.
Honestly, I think most of it is state of mind. If you go in expecting pain and trauma and hurt, that is what you will get. If you are able to teach yourself now that it isn't any of these things, you will do much better.
Breathing definitely helps, and being able retreat into your own headspace.
Depending on how open minded you are, take a look into some orgasmic birth info... fascinating stuff, logical and very achievable.
Anything else - I will let you know in a couple of weeks!
The "aaahh" sound that Jas mentioned helped me to stay focused with DS and not lose it. I think it meant I was in control of the contractions.
Other things were stomping whilst leaning on a windowsill. I found an object (a blue office chair) to stare at in a window across the courtyard (well, until the stupid cleaner turned the light off!), once things got a bit unbearable, I hopped in the shower, where DH alternated the shower head between my front and my back, whilst I lent on the handles and stomped. I also blew the pain away down the plughole - this really seemed to help. But for me, movement was the biggie, no way was I sitting down.
Definitely the 'aaah' sound. Open jaw, open cervix. In any case, it was as if the noise coming out of my mouth was like releasing the pain through sound, itms. As if I were transferring it out of my body. Hot water on my back helped, leaning up against the wall and letting the water play on my back during contractions helped.
Mostly the second time it just helped to know that soon it would be over.
Re the pain relief, I agree with the birth plan idea... and M was right there to reiterate that I didn't want any pain relief; saying that, if I'd needed there were other options (pethedine, morphine) but I have a reaction to opiates (I vomit) so they weren't for me. Gas didn't seem to do anything, tried about 2 sucks with S and got nothing, so didn't even bother with T. If you want to try TENS, I've heard it's good - my mum uses it on her back - but start practising now so you can get used to using it.
Good luck. Remember above all that you can do this.
first time contractions came on really quick and hard and lasted about 16 hours i was stuffed at about 12 hours got a peth shot i would not recommend it i couldnt get the gas to work
second time contractions were bareable untill my waters broke hot water helped heaps and when i had a contraction i would stare at something stationary and that helped a bit sorta like a distraction DD came about 4 hours after the doc broke my waters and when i needed to push i had to walk from my room to L&D lucky it was right next to it but the middie copped a serve lol
i wana go and apologise to her coz she was really nice and helped me so much but i think the relaxed environment helped first time i was on ABs with a cannula and it was all rushed and impersonal the environment helped a lot
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