Natural birth painful

What does unmedicated birth feel like?

Everyone experiences labor differently, with pain ranging from mild to severe.

It’ll start with waves of contractions. Some people describe the feeling as being like intense period cramps, others say it feels like a tightening or pounding feeling in your uterus or across your belly, others describe the feeling as being like very intense muscle cramps, while still other people describe contractions as being like the sort of wrenching intestinal cramps or gas pains that you might have a stomach virus. Sometimes you can even see these contractions across your belly as the uterus tightens. Some people might also have cramping, pressure, or pain that affects the lower back (called “back labor”), depending on how a baby is positioned, and this can be particularly intense. And some people feel these feelings of cramping, pressure, tightness, or pain in localized areas – the uterus, belly, torso, or back – and others feel it throughout their body. It’s very different for everyone and different with every pregnancy.

Regardless of how it feels for you, these contractions will grow in intensity as you move through labor, and many people find that as things intensify they prefer to move their bodies around in particular ways to try and find some relief – sitting on an exercise ball, getting on all fours, laboring in a tub if possible – or ask their care providers for help with relief. Throughout, some people report that they feel in control and empowered; others feel disconnected, like their bodies take control and do what needs to be done; and some feel a mix of in charge and out-of-body.

When it eventually comes time to push, many people say that they feel a great pressure in the rectal area, as if they need to have a bowel movement. For many people the act of bearing down and pushing also feels like having an intense bowel movement. (In fact, it’s pretty common to actually have a bowel movement during labor, as you use the same pelvic floor muscles to deliver vaginally. ) Pushing itself can be extremely tiring physically, like an incredibly physically demanding workout requiring intense focus. And despite the great deal of discomfort many people experience before getting ready to push, often the pushing can feel like it brings some relief.

Once your baby’s head starts to emerge, or crown, the physical sensation may feel intense in a new way. The crowning can feel like burning, stabbing, stretching, tearing, or intense pressure on your groin area, vagina, and rectum as your baby gets ready to make their way out into the world.

Once Baby is finally delivered, with a great rush, you’ll likely feel a strong sense of relief and even euphoria – brought on by a big release of the calming hormone oxytocin and also because your baby is finally here and you’re mostly done pushing. (You may, however, still need to push out the placenta. For most people, the uterus will continue to contract for some time to help things along, but it’s important that all of the placenta comes out after birth. Following this, you may need to get some stitches down below if you experienced any tearing as your baby was born.) This relief and euphoria will likely last about an hour before beginning to fade, which is when you’ll really start to feel all that your body’s been through. At this point, you’ll have been through a lot. Soreness and pain throughout your body – most notably in your groin, vagina, rectum, and your uterus – is common, as is bleeding from your vagina.

One thing’s certain: you’ll be exhausted by the end, but it’ll all be worthwhile once Baby arrives.

The Bradley method of childbirth
Midwives: what they do and what you need to know

Sources

Mayo Clinic Staff. “Signs of labor: Know what to expect.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 7/18/2013. Web.
Shannon K. Laughlin-Tommaso. “Does back labor really happen?” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 3/14/2015. Web.
“Hormones Driving Labor and Birth. ” Childbirth Connection. Childbirth Connection, 4/11/2011. Web.

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“Natural birth” vs. epidural: Pros and cons

As you and baby get closer to birth day, you’re probably finalizing your birth plan. And if you’re reading this, chances are there’s at least one big decision you’re still trying to make: Will you plan for an unmedicated birth, which is often referred to as a “natural birth”? Or, will you plan to get an epidural?

Having a plan for how you’ll manage pain during labor and delivery on the big day is important. It helps you prepare for the experience, and it will also help your labor and delivery team honor your childbirth wishes as much as possible.

In this piece, we’ll help you understand:

What a natural birth is (and isn’t) and what an epidural is
The potential pros and cons of a natural birth and an epidural
When a natural birth or an epidural birth might make sense
Other pain management options you may not know about

Epidural vs.

natural birth methods: What’s the difference?

What is a natural birth?

To be clear, there’s no such thing as an “unnatural birth”. Everyone’s birth experience will be unique. So, when people refer to a “natural birth”, they’re often referring specifically to giving birth with the use of little-to-no pain medication.

Natural birth can also mean taking a wellness-based approach to the childbirth process. Generally, this means that labor starts on its own, rather than inducing it, and letting the process run its course with minimal intervention. Simply put, natural birth is about giving birth at your body’s pace.

What is an epidural?

An epidural – or an epidural block as it’s sometimes called – is an injection of anesthesia in your lower back that numbs your nerves from the waist down. The anesthetic is usually delivered in a continuous flow or a repeatable dose, in order to keep your comfort consistent throughout labor. Epidurals are one of the most common pain medications used during childbirth.

The pros and cons of natural births

Benefits of natural birth

Since natural childbirth typically focuses on minimizing medication and intervention, one of the benefits is the potential for less side effects for you and your baby.

Other benefits of natural birth can include:

A strong feeling of control, empowerment and accomplishment – There’s no right or wrong way to give birth, and some individuals take personal satisfaction in handling their pain head-on. Medication dulls or numbs some sensations, so going without may make you feel more connected to the experience overall.
The ability to change birthing positions – Since pain medications help dull painful sensations, many people find they’re able to move around more freely when they avoid them. For example, if a certain position is uncomfortable, you’ll know it and be able to adjust until you find a better one. Changing positions can also help your labor progress by helping the baby move into a good position for your pelvis.
The potential for a quicker labor, delivery and recovery – For some people, a natural birth may go more quickly. While it depends on several different factors, like how relaxed you may be, in some cases medications can interfere with contractions and prolong labor.

Potential risks of natural birth

The biggest drawback of a natural or unmedicated birth is, of course, laboring and delivering without the help of pain medication. Every birth progresses at its own pace, and every person will experience both the beauty and the pain in their own way.

Other potential issues can include:

A longer labor – For some people, being too anxious, stressed or just plain tired can make labor take longer to progress. And sometimes your baby’s positioning can add more time and discomfort to your labor.
The pain could take away from the overall birth experience – As magical as childbirth is, pain is powerful. If your labor pains are particularly strong, they may keep you from focusing on the moment in the way that you want.
You may end up needing medication anyway – In the event of a complication, like the need for an unplanned C-section, pain medication will be necessary to safely perform the surgery.

It’s also important to note that a natural birth may not be possible for everyone. If you have certain medical conditions or your pregnancy has been deemed high risk, your care team may recommend against a natural birth in order to ensure the safety of you and your baby.

The pros and cons of epidurals

Benefits of an epidural

The biggest benefit of an epidural is undoubtedly pain relief during labor and through delivery. After the 10 to 20 minutes needed for an epidural to take effect, many individuals find that an epidural provides them with an easier, less stressful birth experience.

Other benefits of giving birth with an an epidural can include:

Flexible pain relief – The dosage and resulting numbness can be increased or decreased depending on how much relief you need. This can include being able to control your medication pump with the push of a button.
Non-drowsy pain relief – Many individuals choose an epidural because it relieves their pain and relaxes them, while still allowing them to stay awake and alert during labor and delivery.
A backup plan – If you’ve planned for a natural birth, but the pain gets to be too much, you can still choose to get an epidural or other pain medication if you’re giving birth at a hospital-based birth center. If you’ve chosen a freestanding birth center for your delivery, epidurals are typically not an option. So, you would need to be transferred to a local hospital if you change your mind.

Risks of epidurals

Epidurals, like any pain medication, come with side effects – which is what most people worry about when they’re making their decision. Complications are uncommon, but some individuals may experience things like headaches or nausea.

Other potential issues with having an epidural can include:

It may not be possible – If you have certain medical conditions, your labor progresses too quickly, or an anesthesiologist isn’t available, you simply may not be able to get an epidural – though other options like nitrous oxide may still be available.
Limited mobility – Since an epidural numbs your lower body, you won’t be able to move as freely to change positions or safely stand up until after the medication wears off. Sometimes this causes labor to slow down.
Difficulty pushing and potentially prolonged labor – For some individuals, the epidural’s strong impact can make it hard to feel contractions and push during delivery. Also, if the baby is in an abnormal position relative to the pelvis, an epidural may make it more challenging for the baby to move out of this position. This may mean needing intervention to help labor progress.
Lowered blood pressure – Sometimes an epidural can cause a drop in blood pressure during labor, which may lower your baby’s heartrate. However, since this possible side effect is well understood, your care team will take steps to manage blood flow to your baby in order to offset it.

Can I be too far along in labor to receive an epidural?

Yes. If you arrive at the hospital and you’re already dilated to eight or more centimeters, then you may be too far along to receive an epidural. In these cases, we make every effort to get an epidural placed in time to provide relief, but we just might not have time before baby comes.

The good news is that you’ve made good progress! And your health care team will work with you to determine what options you have. When you’re at the end of dilation, you’re often near the pushing stage and will soon get to meet your baby.

How to choose between giving birth naturally and having an epidural (or something in between)

Is your pregnancy considered high risk?

Natural childbirth may not be the best option if you have a high-risk pregnancy.

For example, you may be deemed a high-risk or complicated pregnancy if you’re expecting twins, or if you have certain health conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes. In these cases, your care team may recommend a medical intervention in order to make sure your birth experience is as safe as possible.

Do you know all your pain management options?

Natural birth and an epidural birth aren’t your only pain management options. There are a variety of techniques and medications you’ll likely be able to choose from depending on where you decide to give birth.

For example, when it comes to non-medication pain management tools, you may have techniques that you learned during pregnancy, such as using a birthing ball, and focused breathing or visualization, which may help take your mind off of your pain.

There are also a number of therapeutic options that may be especially helpful for reducing your pain, such as massage or aromatherapy to help you relax during labor. A water birth or hydrotherapy, and even acupuncture, can also be options. Just as a massage or a warm bath may ease your mind and body in everyday life, many women find these kinds of techniques to be really helpful during childbirth.

And when it comes to pain medications, the world-renowned epidural isn’t your only option. Some medications can also provide a numbing effect, while others can take the edge off your pain and help you relax. Other common pain medications used during labor include nitrous oxide and analgesics.

You can also combine certain tools and techniques. Some aren’t compatible, such as pain medications and water birth. But massage and aromatherapy, for example, are unlikely to interfere with anything.

What kind of birth experience are you hoping to have?

Do you feel empowered by the thought of giving birth naturally? Do you think pain medication may help you stay relaxed and focused? Or, do you think that you want to try for an unmedicated, natural birth but have options if things don’t go exactly as you hoped?

As long as you communicate your wishes with your care team in advance, you’ll likely be able to have any of the above.

As you finalize your birth wishes, talk to your family doctor, midwife or OB-GYN about what your ideal birth experience looks like. They can help answer any questions you may have, as well as help you determine any next steps you should take.

For example, doctors and midwives can all manage natural births, but they can have different focus areas and specialties. So, one may refer you to the other to help you achieve your ideal birth scenario.

When the big day comes and more questions about your options bubble up, your doctor or midwife, labor and delivery nurses, anesthesiologist, and other members of your care team can help you determine what’s right for you.

Plus, if you choose a birth venue with flexible pain management options, like a hospital-based birth center, you’ll be able to start natural and adjust your plan as needed during the first stage of labor.

Medicated or unmedicated birth: Which is right for you?

There is no right or wrong way to give birth. All that matters is the health and safety of you and your baby. So, how you’ll manage pain during childbirth is up to you – and your care team will be there every step of the way.

Your prenatal care team can help answer any questions you have about unmedicated birth, an epidural birth or other pain management options before the big day. And when it comes time to decide where you’ll give birth, make sure you choose a hospital that can provide the options you’re looking for and the flexibility you might need.

Give birth with pleasure? Yes! - articles from specialists of the clinic "Mother and Child"

Why does it hurt to give birth?

There are two types of pain during childbirth.

The first is pain associated with uterine contractions and cervical distension . It occurs during the first stage of labor, during contractions, and intensifies as the cervix opens. It should be noted that it is not the unpleasant sensations themselves that increase, but their perception by the woman in labor, due to fatigue. Such pain is dull in nature, and the exact location of its localization cannot be determined. It is often felt not at the place of origin, but in the lower back or sacrum.

The second type is pain that occurs before the birth of a child, during attempts . This painful sensation is caused by stretching of the tissues in the lower part of the birth canal during the advancement of the fetus, has an acute character and is precisely localized in the vagina, rectum, perineum.

It is not difficult to imagine the mechanism of pain development. With strong fear or stress, a person, as a rule, reacts with muscle tension , "compresses". When during childbirth the muscles of the vagina are constantly clamped, they prevent the child from passing through the birth canal - as if pushing him back. Because of this, both the baby and the woman in labor suffer, in which the attempts are delayed. In addition, they become more and more painful, because the fetus must “break through” through the clamped muscles.

As a result of the interaction of many chemical reactions in our head, pain acquires an emotional coloring, and, as a rule, negative.

Cross the threshold

Pain can vary in severity from mild discomfort to unbearable pain. After all, our feelings are very individual , just like ourselves. Each person has their own threshold for pain sensitivity. In “thick-skinned” people, it is high: only a significant irritation of the receptors (for example, with a severe injury) causes a sensation of pain. And for people with a low threshold of sensitivity, even a slight scratch makes them suffer.

Who sets the pain threshold in our body? A kind of "anti-pain system". In fact, our pain is a complex biochemical process. In response to an injury, information from irritated pain receptors along the nerve fibers enters the brain and spinal cord, is processed - and the central nervous system responds with a counter nerve impulse . This is pain.

Fortunately, the human body is very intelligently arranged and there are always systems in it that compensate or do not allow excessive activation of the mechanisms of pain.

Even for the same person, the pain threshold can change depending on the situation. For example, at night it decreases so that in a dream a person does not miss the danger. During the day, when a person is awake, it rises. If a person is obsessed with an idea, the pain threshold also rises. In such cases, the emotional mood is also of great importance. Anger and rage, for example, increase the pain threshold: temporarily the pain is simply not felt. But fear, on the contrary, reduces the threshold to almost nothing and pain occurs almost out of the blue.

It is no coincidence that they say that 70% of labor pain depends on fear, and only 30% on actual physical discomfort. Therefore, it is important that childbirth takes place in a calm, friendly atmosphere. And the expectant mother should relax, rest as efficiently as possible between contractions and know that childbirth is a temporary phenomenon.

What is the salvation

Hormones - endorphins - are the main part of our pain relief system. They regulate the formation of different emotions. They are much better known to us as hormones of pleasure.

The study of endorphins began with the appeal of Western experts to the secrets of Eastern medicine. In China in the 1970s, local surgeons demonstrated to astonished American doctors the possibility of performing surgery without the use of painkillers. And from that moment began an active study of substances that are released in human blood during pain or stress and are close in chemical nature to morphine.

Then scientists noticed that endorphins are produced in the human body not only during pain exposure. For example, a high concentration of endorphins has been found in the blood of people doing hard physical work. And the release of the hormone increases even more if such work is accompanied by high motivation and pursues a valuable and meaningful goal. For women, an example of such work is perhaps the most highly motivated action - the birth of a desired child. For us, this is one of the most important moments.

Endorphins are released into the blood during contractions and have analgesic and tonic effects.

Why? Because at the cellular level, these hormones interrupt the transmission of a pain impulse from one nerve cell-neuron to another. And the amount of this natural anesthetic is such that it is possible to help the expectant mother relax, reduce pain and discomfort, and positively affect the course of the birth itself.

REFERENCE

How to promote the production of endorphins?

In addition to drugs, natural pain relief methods are also used during childbirth.

Breathing exercises and auto-training help eliminate one of the important mechanisms for the development and maintenance of pain - a negative emotional reaction.
Acupuncture activates the components of the “pain relief system”.
Some types of massage also have a relaxing, calming, distracting effect. During childbirth, you can massage the sacrum, lower back, lower abdomen, dissipating and reducing pain.

It is the release of endorphins that provides the feeling of happiness and satisfaction that occurs after childbirth. Childbirth can be the most powerful and positive memory of your life.

Childbirth. Painful and scary? No pain and no fear!

My charming beloved daughter is two years old. Two years of great happiness from communicating with this miracle, two years in the world of absolutely new and wonderful emotions... And over the years, I regularly remember my pregnancy, the moment of the birth of my girl and the feelings that overwhelmed me then. I would like to share my personal experience of natural childbirth and thoughts that probably come to the mind of all expectant mothers, and especially those who are expecting their first child.

Starting from afar, I will say that I have a very low pain threshold, I cannot stand any medical manipulations. In general, until the age of 25 (I gave birth at almost 29), the thought that I would someday have to give birth (and I always wanted a child) caused me horror and tears in my eyes. From my youth I was interested in medicine and re-read quite a lot of literature and articles from the Internet about childbirth long before pregnancy. I was just curious. And films with a standard image of childbirth complemented the already “colorful” picture: an operating room, screams, groans, inhuman torments, fussing doctors ... At that time, I saw childbirth as a test that had to be heroically passed. After reading stories about childbirth, I had the feeling that in the maternity hospital the main person in childbirth is a doctor who necessarily performs some kind of manipulation (“pierced the bladder”, “put an epidural”, “finally injected painkillers”, etc. .). At the same time, questions were spinning in my head: “How did they give birth before in villages with midwives without anesthesia? And how do the medicines that a woman is stuffed during childbirth affect the child and milk?

Once again, surfing the Internet, I came across excerpts from Michel Auden's book "Reborn Childbirth", which turned my idea of them upside down and answered many questions. I fully agreed with the author, who wrote that childbirth is a natural process, and the main character in them is a woman who, it turns out, is able to give birth herself, you just need to give her this opportunity. Auden's ideas inspired me, but I understood that France is France, and I would have to give birth in a Russian maternity hospital (the prospect of home birth did not attract me), where they would hardly be reverent about my wishes ...

I get the good news that my husband and I are expecting a baby! I began to look for a medical center where I could be observed during pregnancy, and I came to the Center for Traditional Obstetrics for information, where I learned about the Natural Birth program. To be honest, I have never even heard of such a “golden mean”, as I see it now, between standard and home births. The decision on where to give birth was made by me intuitively. I immediately felt that this was mine, that I had a chance to give birth on my own, as it was provided by Nature, which I really wanted.

Many people think that there is no reason to go to the courses, that you can read books and magazines, and everything that is taught in the courses will be forgotten at the time of childbirth anyway. Of course, this is everyone's choice. I believe that preparation for childbirth and courses for pregnant women are absolutely inseparable things. No books will tell what a practicing obstetrician will tell, they will not answer exactly your question. Personally, the courses have helped me a lot. Classes dedicated to childbirth radically changed my idea of labor pain, I realized that you should not be afraid of it, but you need to learn to accept it, not by clenching your teeth and clenching your teeth, but by relaxing, no matter how paradoxical it sounds. A film about childbirth (where none of the three women screamed in pain) finally convinced me that there is nothing terrible in this process. The most valuable result of the courses for me was that I became psychologically ready for childbirth. And as we all know, a lot comes from the head and inner mood. In the courses, we did not memorize breathing exercises, relaxation exercises, we were simply shown positions in which it might be convenient to endure contractions, explaining that during childbirth the body itself will tell you how comfortable it is in this or that period - and so it turned out in fact, or something the midwife will advise. After the baby was born, the information received in the classes, where they talked about breastfeeding, caring for the baby, and the physiological characteristics of newborns, helped me a lot. I felt confident and knowing what to do with my own child.

The Natural Birth program provided for several visits to the midwife who will take care of the birth, even two - the main one and the "backup". It was very important for me to be next to the person taking delivery, whom I already know, who sees you not for the first time, and in a place familiar to me (when concluding a contract in the maternity hospital, they showed me the ward where the birth takes place). For each visit to the midwife, I prepared a whole list of questions, and not only related to childbirth. Together we adjusted the list of things that you need to take with you to the hospital, the list of “dowry” for the child at home, several times we talked about the action plan when I understand that “something is starting”.

...The birth began, as is often the case, at night. I felt my stomach begin to pull, but I decided that these were training contractions, which I had been waiting for. My husband advised me to call the midwife, but I decided not to disturb her at 12 midnight. Three hours later, I realized that this was no longer a “training” and called. The midwife arrived 40 minutes later, looked at me and said that you can go to the hospital. At the maternity hospital, I really appreciated the joint visit with the midwife, who saved me from standard unpleasant procedures (in my case, the body cleansed itself at home). My husband left (it was our mutual decision that I would give birth without him), and I stayed with the midwife. How grateful I was to Larisa for being by my side all the time! She suggested comfortable positions for me, gave me water to drink, poured a bath in which it was much easier for me to endure the contractions that were already very strong by that time, and at the same time she was, as it were, invisible. Almost all births we were with her together. The maternity hospital doctor came in the first time for a minute right after we settled in the ward, and the second time - at the last attempts, although, to be honest, her presence bothered me because her mobile phone constantly rang, and this, believe me, in such a crucial moment is very annoying.

The labor itself (pulling) lasted almost two hours. As I now understand, in the maternity hospital they would hardly have bothered so much with me in the birth chair (and I wouldn’t have lasted there for so long). And the midwife waited patiently, periodically checking the baby's heartbeat, and encouraged me, saying that everything was in order.

Being attuned to childbirth without anesthesia, but knowing my inability to endure pain, before childbirth, even after the courses, in the depths of my soul I asked myself the question: “When will I still scream that I can’t take it anymore and demand anesthesia?”. Anesthesia was not required! At some moments it was more difficult than unbearably painful, it was physical fatigue at the end of the contractions (at that moment I said the only time: “I can’t take it anymore! I’m tired.” But the midwife explained to me that the contractions were about to when they run out, and it becomes easier.This gave me new strength, and, indeed, after a couple of minutes they ended.

And then my baby was born! She didn't scream, but groaned calmly. The pediatrician immediately came to examine her, because. she had an umbilical cord around her neck, but everything was fine with her, and a minute later my daughter was placed on my chest! I did not cry with happiness (although before the birth I imagined this moment in this way), but lay and enjoyed the inexplicable calmness, stroking my baby. An hour later my husband arrived, and we were all together until evening.

Someone says that it is boring to lie in a separate room, that two or four people are more fun, but personally I didn’t need any communication, except communication with my own child! And it is much more convenient to receive relatives in a separate room.

The maternity hospital offered to take the baby for the night, I refused (but the nurses did not insist, they just said that if I wanted, I could give her at any time), because. I couldn't imagine my life without my baby. Before giving birth, many people told me that I needed to “rest,” that I would recover more slowly if I took care of the child myself from the first hours. But I initially had a mindset to be with the baby. Yes, I felt tired after giving birth, I sincerely envy those mothers who, a couple of hours after giving birth, were already ready to fly! This was not my case, I felt weak, “broken” all over my body, but in the first seven hours, the presence of my husband helped me a lot. From my experience, I can say that the best rest for a mother is to lie next to a sleeping baby. If the baby feels good and comfortable (again, with a mother nearby), then at first he sleeps a lot and lets him sleep and rest. And if something worries him, then his mother - her voice, hands, smell - is needed even more (of course, we are not talking about conditions requiring urgent medical intervention). Performing simple procedures - feeding, changing clothes - naturally makes you get out of bed and move. There was a very friendly staff in the maternity hospital No. 6, they showed me several times at my request how to swaddle and wash the baby, they answered all my questions. I don’t even talk about the role of living together in establishing breastfeeding, because. it's just obvious.

My baby girl was very calm from birth, she hardly cried, I think that this is partly because she was allowed to be born on her own. And I had a very good impression from the birth, a feeling of well-done responsible work. I remember a funny moment when already at the last attempts (!!!) for some reason the thought occurred to me that in French and English the word “work, labor” (travail, labor) also means “childbirth”. I told the midwife and the doctor about this, they looked at me with surprise, because, apparently, for the first time they encountered the fact that a few minutes before the birth of a child, a woman discusses philological nuances with them, but agreed with me. Childbirth really requires the active participation of a woman, her work with her own body, labor pain.

There is an opinion that labor pain is quickly forgotten, because she is overwhelmed by the joy of having a baby. But I remember all my feelings very well and from my own experience I can say that there is no unbearable pain in childbirth. Many of my friends, hearing from me that I gave birth without stimulation, without anesthesia, and at the same time did not experience unbearable pain, unfortunately, they are sincerely surprised, and sometimes they do not believe.