The pain of childbirth is like no other. It is indescribable. Thankfully, though, there are many natural ways to help manage this type of pain, and the prize at the end, for doing so, is simply amazing. While pharmaceutical pain management is needed in some situations, if you can make it without it, nature helps you and your baby to be so alert and open that, once your baby is born, the pain all seems to magically disappear. This is what helps women want to do it again, and again, and again!
Committing to a natural labor, beforehand, is a whole different thing than following through with it once labor gets going. You need a good support system to get you through. Your partner is especially important and can help you by learning massage techniques, taking you for a walk (yes, a walk!), and being able to communicate your birth plan to others while you are busy with the business of birthing.
Your health care provider’s support is integral, as well. He or she needs to understand your desire for a natural birth and have experience supporting women through this special process. If you are able, hiring a doula is often very helpful. A doula’s role is, according to Doulas of North America (DONA) International, “to mother the mother.” Doulas are experienced with supporting women through childbirth naturally, and they are clinically proven to reduce a laboring mother’s request for pain medicines.
As far as tricks for managing the pain you will experience during the birth of your child, every mother is different. For many, water birth has been a very successful way of reducing the pain of labor naturally. My first son is a “water baby,” and I can definitely say that when I eased into that warm tub, everything was reduced in intensity, and the contractions were much easier to manage. Hypno-birth is also often helpful for mothers and is a process of teaching the body to relax during labor with work you have done prior to the birth.
Movement is also a big help many women during labor. Being able to take a walk outside, use a birthing ball, squat, and shift labor positions all help labor progress more quickly and smoothly and can take your mind off the pain. You may find things like aromatherapy, visualization, hot compresses, and certain breathing techniques to also be helpful during your birth.
No one woman can tell another what she will experience during labor and what will, for sure, make a difference. What helped one may not have much effect for another. Exploring some or all of these options and seeing how they resonate with you will help you and your partner to prepare for your natural birth. It really is worth it–every painful minute!
