I think it would be most constructive! I went through it in my posts about hypnobirthing when I was pregnant and even after the birth, but I guess I'm having a credibility crisis
Fear=tension=pain, ladies!!
Go for it, Yogababy
I may break it up into a couple of posts...and give everyone the opportunity to give feedback and add there experiences and advice
so I'm thinking I'll break it up...please let me know if you want anything in particular...or dont want something
1. how the uterus works
2. hormones in labor and birth
3. outline of the stages of labor and birth
4. why we feel pain in labor
5. pain relief options...natural
6. and only if requested...medical forms of pain relief
the uterus is the most amazing muscle...yes its a muscle...and is designed to grow with our beautiful babies, keep them snug and also support the placenta
the uterus is made up of the same/similar type of muscle fibres as the muscles is in our arms or legs...that is they are designed to stretch, relax and maintain tone. The uterus has the extra special ability to retract.
The uterus does not have nerve fibres that cause pain...the only time you will feel pain as a direct result of your uterus is if it is forced to work against itself. The uterus requires lots of oxygen to work effectively in labor...so when someone tells you to breathe thru a contraction, it is helping to provide oxygen to your baby and to your uterus (aerobic metabolism). If we dont breathe effectively the uterus begins to tire, and when in established labor contractions do not generally stop, so it starts to use its own stored energy reserves in the muscle (anaerobic)...this causes the beginnings of uterus discomfort. The other way the uterus will cause discomfort is if complications arise (which I wont go into...simply as there is enough scare mongering with childbirth already...but simply these things do not happen all the time )
The uterus contracts in labor to facilitate the opening of the cervix (all the way up to 10cms ) , and is composed of 3 layers... 1.the inner layer has muscle fibres that run around the uterus, ...and help the cervix dilate
2.the middle layer is a criss cross of blood vessels that supply the uterus with all the oxygen it needs
3.the outer layer is made up of long muscle fibres that run up and down the length of the uterus this layer draws the muscles of the uterus up to the top, or fundus, and as labor advances the fundus becomes thicker and the lower segment of the uterus gets thinner
the uterus is designed to contract and maintain muscle tone following each contraction, and works rhythmically in response to the work of the muscle layers and hormones in labor
next is hormones
xx yogababy
Last edited by blue daisy; February 5th, 2008 at 10:44 AM.
: update info
That's great
When I learned this last year in my HB classes, what very little apprehension I had about labour vanished into thin air. Then I did the birth centre classes...do you think they went through ANY of what the uterus is about? Like, you know, the most important part about labour and they tell you about what pain relief is or isn't available in the FBC, instead of what your body is doing and what the purpose is
I think knowing about this removes more than half the fear, so thanks heaps for posting this with your authoritative and experienced perspective!
Great idea Yogababy, we're really fortunate to have this right here at BB.
Aren't our bodies wonderfully made? It's like when you know what it's trying to do, then you want to do all you can to support its job.
I remember reading in Active Birth that the working uterus likes to tilt forwards as it contracts - so when you lean forward during cx, as many (not all) women seem to want to do insticitively, it's working with the uterus, whereas lying back on a bed makes the uterus tilt uphill, so it usually hurts more. Lying on your side would be easier for the working uterus than back-lying.
OMG, I soooo wish that i had come to this post prior to having my baby last year. I was induced and i feel i chickened out and went for the epi. All through my pregnancy i did Yoga and during the first internal exams i really used my breathing and i was amazed at how i sailed through that. Next time i am going to do some Yoga pregnancy based classes and really get into the breathing and not chicken out! Seeing posts like this makes me wish i had tried, you have given me and im certain many others the confidence in themselves and what our bodies can do... Thank you...
ok now its hormones and how they affect the beautiful birthing woman
there are 3 main hormones that affect labor, the work of the uterus, and birth
1. oxytocin
known as the love hormone, as it is released in men and women during orgasm and nipple stimulation (yep thats why nipple stimulation can help induce labor).
This amazing hormone is released in large amounts during pregnancy, helping with nutrient absorbtion via the placenta and helping to reduce stress levels, plus also promoting sleep.
Oxytocin levels increase in the late stages of pregnancy, peaking...at the onset of labor...and is the hormone that is the key to stimulating the uterus to contract.
Oxytocin levels are highest between about 2-4am...which is why many women go into labor in the early wee hours (at term).
Oxytocin also facilitates the birth of your baby...immediately prior to birth oxytocin levels increase to stimulate powerful contractions...like is experienced in transition...to help birth the baby quickly and easily...another reason to not push until you have uncontrollable urge
2. endorphins
our body's natural opiate, which work by filling up pain receptor sites
endorpin levels rise in pregnancy...causing 'pregnancy' brain...and peak at 38-40 wks, just prior to the body going into labor
endorphins increase oxytocin and oxytocin levels increase endorphins
3. adrenaline
Released when we are fearful, anxious, stressed etc...
When adrenaline is released we 'fight or fly' and all non essential body systems are put on standby...which includes the uterus
If we are fearful in labor...adrenaline is released and blood is divereted away from the uterus...meaning the uterus gets less oxygen...meaning it has to work against itself...and starts causing discomfort
Adrenaline also negates endorphins...no natural pain relief hormones...and Adrenaline reduces oxytocin levels...contractions may slow down or stop
so whats this all mean?
we need to remain relaxed and calm to encourage endorphin release and allow our body (and oxytocin) to do the work it was designed to do...working with your body to birth your baby
adrenaline is not beneficial in early labor and has its place immediately prior to birth...adrenaline released in labor has a negative impact on the baby (decreases their oxygen supply and makes labor longer for them) and mother (labor longer/or disrupted...hence the term some of you may have heard 'failure to progress'...and contractions more painful as the uterus has to work harder and longer) adrenaline is however, released just prior to the birth of your baby (this is termed Maternal Fetal Ejection Reflex, first talked about my Dr Michel Odent) to increase maternal awareness, and promote an alert baby, which helps stimulate first breath and also first breastfeed
so why do we feel pain in labor?
so far
1. if the uterus has to work without oxygen
2. if we are fearful, which releases adrenaline and decreases endorpins (natural pain relief) and decreases oxytocin...meaning a longer labor and more chance of medical intervention
hope this makes sense
next...
brief outline for stages of labor
xx yogababy
Last edited by blue daisy; February 5th, 2008 at 10:48 AM.
: info update
stages of labor...I will keep this simple, but please feel free to ask me to add more detail on any area
prelabor can be experienced for up to 2 weeks before true onset of labor...
there are 4 stages of labor
1. 1st stage...which is divided into latent and active labor
0-4cms (latent stage) effacement (thinning) and dilation of the cervix
contractions are mild to moderate in intensity, and may even be irregular, perhaps occuring 3-10minutely (this is different for every labor) and lasting anywhere from 30-60seconds
this is the part of your labor where it is best to stay somewhere you feel safe and secure...rest and relax
4-10cms (active stage) this is the stage of labor where the uterus kicks up another notch and the contractions becom more intense and regular, lasting 60-90seconds and occuring 2-5minutely (again just as a guide)
if your waters remain intact...that is no one breaks them 'accidentally'..this cushions the action of your baby's head on your cervix, softening the intensity of the contractions...mother nature giving us a helping hand
generally your waters will break sometime in the active stage of labor
towards the end of the 1st stage you enter transition...which for many women is the most challenging part of their labor
remember the work of the hormone oxytocin...which reaches peak levels just prior to your baby being born...with contractions at their most intense, as the uterus works to fully dilate the cervix and birth your baby
transition is often the stage at which you may request your personal method of pain relief
2. the second stage of labor is from fully dilated to the birth of your baby
the body is an amazing thing...as often a laboring woman will reach 10cms dilated and the uterus will actually take a break...contractions will ease off or stop for 5-30minutes of so...giving the mother and her baby a bit of a break before the work of birth...this is normal, and allows the baby to have lots of oxygen and the mother an opportunity to refocus, refresh and revitalise
as the baby moves down into the vagina, its head places pressure on the posterior wall of the vagina, stimulating the overwhelming sensation of pressure (which for some women feels like needing to do a poo) and then an uncontrollable desire to push...which leads to the baby being born some women are so relaxed that they literally just breathe their baby out, and this occurs with optimal levels of all birthing hormones
an uncontrollable desire to push is very different from directed pushing...as some of you may have experienced during birth. Directed pushing is just that, someone telling you how to push "take a breath and now push for 3, hold it then take another breath...". This type of directed pushing decreases O2 to your baby, tires out the mother, increases mother BP and increases medical assistance with birthing. There is no research that indicates the directed pushing improves outcomes for mother or baby
3. the 3rd stage is the delivery of the placenta which can be physiological, that is no artifical injection to stimulate the release of the placenta from the uterine wall, or managed (which means the jab in the leg)
4. this stage is often not referred to in a lot of hospital based antenatal classes...but is a very important stage and I love this...its called the babymoon period
this is the first 2hrs after the birth of your baby...for bonding, the first breastfeed and just getting to know each other
a lot of focus is placed on the labor and birth...but this stage is vital for the release of hormones in the mother to help with milk supply, the first breastfeed for the baby (and subsequent breastfeeding success) and also helps to reduce the onset and severity of symptoms associated with PND
next up...why we feel pain in labor
xx yogababy
Last edited by blue daisy; February 5th, 2008 at 10:56 AM.
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why we feel pain in labor and pain relief methods
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