Model Marriage
Pain-Relief Options
There are a number of ways you can relieve pain during labour. The pain of labour varies
considerably from woman-to-woman and from labour-to-labour.
The most effective way of pain relief is by having an epidural. This is to have an injection
around the spine area. It usually removes all feelings of pain while leaving the woman clear-
headed and able to cope. If contractions are coming thick and fast, it is advisable not to have an
epidural because like many other injections, it is best given when there is little or no movement
at all.
There are a few medical conditions that prevent an epidural from being given e.g. very low
blood pressure or a previous back injury. Most epidurals work by numbing the lower half of the
body completely, but occasionally the injection may not work correctly, and this may leave you
with one side of the abdomen that is not affected. There are no known side effects on the baby.
Transition
The very end of the first stage of labour is the most stressful. Contractions may be long and
strong, come thick and fast and feel irregular. This is usually due to one part of the cervix not
being as fully dilated as the rest. Usually it is the front part of the cervix that is slower to dilate
and this is known as the anterior lip. If you feel the urge to push, tell the doctor straightaway, and
he will do an internal examination to check whether the cervix is fully dilated. If it is not, he will
ask you to wait a while. Change positions to ease the discomfort. Try sitting up or turning on all
fours. You may need to blow out to help prevent you from holding your breath and pushing.
This transition is the bridge you need to cross to reach the less stressful second stage, when
you can begin to push your baby out into the world.
Second Stage (The Pushing Stage)
The second stage of labour is when you now push the baby out. Each contraction at this stage
helps to push the baby down the birth canal. It is a relatively short journey but it can take one or
two hours. The vagina is made up of several muscular folds, which stretch and give way to
accommodate the baby. With each contraction the baby moves further down the canal, but then
slips back a little after the contraction has ended. Note that the birth canal is not a straight line;
the baby has to turn as he moves along, and he needs to be in just the right positions to fit through.
It is like fitting a key into a lock.
Pushing
Traditionally, mothers are told to hold their breath and push as long and as hard as possible
with each contraction. This can be effective but it can also make the mother’s blood pressure rise
very high and then fall, which is not very good for the baby. Some women feel happier giving
little breaths and little pushes, usually making a noise like a grunt with each push.
It is recommended that you listen to your body and go along with what it is telling you to do.
If you feel unsure, try giving little pushes and little breaths with each contraction. If this does not
seem to work, you can then move on to holding your breath and pushing as hard as you can.