labour pain

I am being honest and logical. I never look down upon someone else while giving out my point of view (am never categorised anyone as narrow-minded for their opinion). Opinions are subjective. Now I would like to share something on labour pain. See how you are going to counter that.<:o>

This whole approach to talking about pain in labour during pregnancy needs a radical overhaul. Begin with an explanation about the nature and purpose of the pain itself, the role of endorphins and then explore the instinctive measures that women have used for centuries to make labour more comfortable: being upright, moving about, keeping eyes closed, being in a dark place, companion of choice etc. An emphasis on the impact of drugs on the baby, their effect on breastfeeding and potential side effects for the woman must also be part of the story.

The books that women buy in their bid to fully prepare themselves for birth and parenting (as if this is possible from a book!) may also be feeding into a woman's lack of confidence. Take a look at any book about pregnancy and birth on the shelf in your local bookstore. Tucked away in an appropriate chapter will be found messages about "learning how to breathe" in labour and the importance of learning how to be relaxed if birth is to be easy and the pain bearable. The very idea that women need to learn "how to breathe" in order to give birth well is an insult that affects confidence. There is no evidence that "the breathing" works to relieve pain - it is just another form of intervention. Are the authors of these books reflecting the muddled thinking of those midwives whose need for control over women during birth also extends to those mantras heard in labour wards ("just give us another little push", "push, push, push ... now puff, pant, pant..."!) in second stage?

A common complaint from midwives is that ‘there is no time' to spend with women in labour supporting them through the process. Being "with women" during birth often requires very little of the midwife. Giving the woman more space and privacy and doing less rather than more gives a woman a chance to realises that she can do it "by herself". Giving drugs and using complementary therapies, instead of easing the midwife's load, actually increases it, as she will need to constantly check for adverse effects and monitor the impact they are having on the normal birth process.

If we are to change women's belief systems about pain in labour we need a consistent message from all sources: the books written for expectant parents, the messages given during preparation for birth classes, the behaviours of midwives around women in labour and most importantly...We also need insight into why we are so scared of pain in labour that we will go to almost any lengths to remove it as much as we can.

<:o>