Pregnancy & Delivery: Your Labour Pains Sorted

There are several labour pain relief options you could try:

BREATHING – A non-drug pain relief option

 How It Works:

Patterned breathing is often taught in good ante-natal classes.

Pain might be an indication that your body needs extra oxygen. Lack of sufficient oxygen in the muscles produces lactic acid, which when accumulated causes pain. So, pain is a signal to change your breathing rhythm. Used throughout labour, breathing helps to distract you from the pain.

What To Expect: 

While breathing correctly helps to relax the tension in your muscles caused by pain, it also ensures that your body gets a good supply of energy. Patterned breathing helps to calm and soothe a labouring mother while ensuring her baby has enough oxygen supply.

Pros	Cons
It puts mothers in control of the situation. There are no chemical side effects because it is drug free.	Mothers may hyperventilate if they breathe too fast.

MASSAGE – Natural form of pain relief

How It Works:

This involves stimulating the skin nerve fibres to divert the sensations of labour pain. This is done by gently but firmly kneading, stroking or rolling the skin and can be used at any time during labour.

What To Expect:

Massaging the nerves help to release muscle tension, block pain and promote relaxation. Mothers are soothed, encouraged and relaxed by the touch. Relaxation in turn can increase blood circulation to muscles, helping to ensure they have adequate oxygen.

Pros	Cons
It is inexpensive as anyone can massage the mother.	Massaging may tire the masseur.

WATER BIRTH – Has been a natural form of pain relief for many centuries

How It Works:

Some advanced hospitals have specially built-in birth pools. Women are advised to wait until the second stage of labour before getting into the pool. When a baby is born in the water, doctors recommend that the baby is pulled above water for his first breath. The baby will need oxygen quickly, as the placenta may begin to separate within seconds of delivery.

What To Expect:

While immersing the mother in water can provide a great deal of relief during labour, it also helps to progress labour. Used in uncomplicated pregnancies, water produces more natural pain killers while reducing the pressure on the mother’s abdominal muscles and helping her relax.

Pros	Cons
It’s a potent form of pain killer which relaxes the muscles.	Birthing pools and skilled practitioners familiar with water birth are rarely available in Nigeria.

ENTONOX or Gas and Air – Made up of colourless or odourless gas

How It Works:

Also known as ‘laughing gas’, this mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide is used in the second stage of labour.  The mother breathes with an oxygen mask which has a two-way valve that takes in air and eliminates carbon dioxide.

What To Expect:

It quickly provides reasonable relief when inhaled as it dulls one’s perception of pain within seconds. It is generally considered safe under healthy situations.

Pros	Cons
This is easily available in hospitals. It can be easily controlled by mothers.	It can make a mother’s mouth dry, interfere with her breathing rhythm, cause light-headedness and promote nausea.

POSITIONS – Provide comfort and pain relief

How It Works:

This can be used throughout labour to position the baby for delivery by walking and assuming different birth positions. A mother in labour may walk, squat, lie on her back, lie on her side, sit, or kneel with support.

What To Expect:

You may want to stick to one or any of these positions as you deem comfortable. An upright position is best, as it uses gravity to facilitate the descent of the baby while helping to relieve pain.

Pros	Cons
Walking speeds up contraction by encouraging the baby to move to a better position. Positioning increases circulation which decreases pain.You can take whatever position that you find most comfortable.	It does not give total relief.

 

EPIDURAL – An anaesthetic injected into the lower part of the mother’s spine

How It Works:

When injected, it numbs the nerves that feel the pain of contractions and can be used from early labour until fully dilated. A catheter may be used to empty your bladder as your mobility will be restricted.

What To Expect:

Abdomen and legs will start to feel numb and your blood pressure may drop. It is the only form of analgesia that gives total relief from pain. It is considered safe on mother and child.

Pros	Cons
Very little goes to your baby because the drugs are injected into your back.It helps to control your blood pressure if it’s a little high while you are in labour.	It may make you feel dizzy and sick when your blood pressure drops and will limit your mobility and birth positioning. Also, there is an increased risk of your baby being delivered by forceps.

 

TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) – An electrical device which delivers electrical impulses across the skin

How It Works:

This device which can be controlled by the mother works in two ways. One, it is used to block the nerve signals that carry pain messages to the brain. Two, it stimulates the body’s production of endorphins, a natural pain-relieving hormone.It can be used throughout labour.

What To Expect:

It might feel like a buzz of electrical sensation placed on the back.

Pros	Cons
It can be used alone or combined with other forms of pain relief. It has no adverse effect.It is easy to use and operate, as mothers can control the intensity of the device. It does not alter the normal course of labour and can be used with other forms of pain relief.	While it has no side effects, one should practice using it before the due date.