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From Dr Magda Bayoumi
Labor Pain: an in Depth Pregnancy Topic
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(PDF),by Penny SimkinFor many pregnant women, concerns about labor pain are second only to concerns about theirbaby's welfare. Decisions you make about pain relief measures can have a profound effect on:
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your experience and memories of labor;
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procedures, medications, or restrictions that may become necessary for you or your baby;and
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your and your baby's well-being after the birth.For these reasons, you will want to explore your labor pain relief options well in advance andmake informed choices based on the best and latest research. This website can help you dothat.
How does labor pain differ from othertypes of pain?
Labor pain differs from other kinds of pain in ways that make coping easier. Labor pain:
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is not a symptom of injury or illness
: When pain signals that something is wrong,anxiety can increase painful sensations. Labor pain, however, is simply a sign that yourbody is working hard and well.
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is self-limiting
: Labor rarely takes more than 24 hours.
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is rhythmic
: Contractions last no longer than a minute or so and come in a regularpattern with one to several (usually) pain-free minutes in between them. This means youcan predict and prepare for each contraction and rest between them.
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intensifies gradually over time
: Contractions almost always start off mild andgradually grow longer, stronger, and closer together, thus allowing you time to adapt.
What is labor pain like?
The experience of labor pain varies markedly from woman to woman. It can also vary for thesame woman in different parts of the labor and from one labor to another.Nearly all women experience lower abdominal pain during contractions. Many also experiencelow back pain, either with contractions or, less often, continuously. Women may also feel painthroughout the belly; in the hips, buttocks, or thighs; or in some combination of theselocations. Pain may radiate from front to back, back to front, or down the thighs. It may be
felt in several areas at once or just in one specific place. Words women use to describe theirpain include: cramping, sharp, aching, throbbing, pressing, and shooting. Pain intensity varieswidely and generally increases as labor progresses.The sources and sensations of pain are different in the dilation and pushing phases of labor,and your experience may differ substantially as well. The pushing phase may be less painful.Some women reporting intense labor pain prefer not to describe their pain in negative terms.This suggests that the sensation and interpretation of pain may be distinct from each other.There are various reasons why this may be so.
What factors affect my experience of labor pain?
Labor pain is widely viewed as being nothing more than the perception of unpleasantsensation. The reality, however, is much more complex. Your experience of labor pain dependson many factors, including:
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your belief in your ability to cope
: Confidence in one's ability to cope with the painstrongly influences how much pain women report experiencing in labor. Overall, moreconfident women report less pain.
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societal expectations and beliefs about labor pain
: A woman's experience of laborpain and what she thinks is necessary to remedy it are influenced by popular and culturalbeliefs, including images in the media.
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your labor environment
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who is with you
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their verbal and nonverbal communication with you
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the quality of support you receive
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the philosophy of care and the practices of medical staff
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the familiarity and comfort of your surroundings, including noise, lighting, andtemperature.
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your previous experience with pain
: If labor is not your first painful experience, youare less likely to feel overwhelmed and more likely to have developed coping skills. Theseexperiences can reduce fear and pain.
Does labor pain relief make for asatisfying birth experience?
True or false: "If you have total or nearly total relief from labor pain, you will be very satisfiedwith your childbirth experience?" Many women and maternity caregivers may answer "true."However, women's labor pain experiences are often quite different from other experiences of physical pain. Labor pain need not involve suffering, and it can bring a sense of satisfactionand accomplishment.When a woman feels she is successfully meeting a challenge and that she is the center of
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| Upload Date: | 03/06/2009 |
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