Frequently Asked Questions...
Would you ever consider giving birth without pain relief?
My partner thinks I'm crazy for even considering it. I've never taken pain relief in my life, growing up my parents didn't agree with modern day medicine, though I did have all my vaccinations. So I don't even know how my body would react to pain relief and I don't want to harm my baby if I do react. I've tried those TENS machines when I broke my wrist and it didn't work.
Would you ever consider giving birth without pain relief?
Answer:
I've done it.
When I had my son I was in back labour for 36 hours, he was over 9lbs and his head was 37cms, I pushed for three hours and had stitches afterwards. I did the first 31 with no pain relief at all, then I had gas and air for two hours, then nothing at all for the last three hours (which is when I was pushing).
It's entirely possible to give birth without pain relief. I did it because I hate anyone fiddling with my back so an epidural was out and I dislike feeling spacey and out of control so morphine and pethidiene were out too. Plus I didn't like the idea of whatever I took affecting my baby. I wrote in my birth plan "please offer me support and encouragement rather than drugs. If I want them I will ask for them" to make it clear I didn't want to be medicated. In the UK the majority of pregnancies and deliveries are midwife-led in hospitals or birthing centres, doctors only get involved where there are issues the midwives can't deal with. They encourage natural, non-medical methods of pain-relief however the option is there to use them if you so wish. If you're in the UK then discuss pain relief with your midwife to see what options your chosen hospital offers.
Because I hadn't had any drugs I was able to continue to eat lightly and to drink during labour - sips of ice water and icy cold fruit juice are just heavenly when you're sweaty and tired. I had tea and toast right after the delivery, followed by a shower, and I was then able to walk from the delivery room to the post-natal ward rather than being wheeled there in a wheelchair or bed.
There are other ways to relieve pain - have your partner rub your back, try a variety of positions to find one that is comfortable, move around, rock back and forth, I found standing and leaning on the bed to be comfortable. You could ask the hospital if you can use the birthing pool as water is great for pain relief. If they don't have a pool then put a chair (a waterproof one!) in the shower and straddle it so you're leaning your chest against the backrest, angle the shower spray aginst your lower back - it's amazing for relieving some of the pain there.
The main thing is to breathe, if you tense up then it will hurt more. It's easier said than done but relaxing, breathing, and letting your body do what it was designed to do is the main thing. Imagine each contraction like a wave lapping on the beach. As it builds, that's the wave coming in, so you start to breathe in slowly and count in your head 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. When it reaches it's peak, that's it lapping over the shore, start to breathe out slowly like your breathing it away, and then it starts to recede and you count back down in your head as you exhale, 4, 3, 2, 1, etc. I know that sounds lame and stupid but that helped me. I didn't take any relaxation or breathing classes, I just did what felt natural and right on the day and didn't give a stuff if I looked stupid lol.
Keep an open mind on the day, there are no medals for being brave and it's not a contest to see who can withstand the most pain. If you do need pain relief then take it, but you don't need to jump right to an epidural. Think of pain relief as a padder. On the bottom rung is no pain relief (except for methods like massage, water, etc). On the next rung up is gas and air. On the next is morphine/pethadine. On the last rung is an epidural. If you decide that you want some pain relief then you need only go up to the next rung (gas and air) and see if that works for you. If it does, stick there. If it doesn't, move up another step. Take it as it comes and see what the day brings but if what you really want is a drug-free delivery then go for it. I'm a wuss about pain and I managed it and it was the best thing I've ever done. I plan to go drug-free with this one too.
It hurts at the time but once that baby is in your arms, you forget - seriously, you do. They injected a local when they stitched me and I didn't even feel it because I was so preoccupied with looking at my baby.
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Pain Relief
Pain Relief with Bowen Therapy
What Type Of Stomach Pain Do You Get?
A stomach pain is a fairly common experience. Everyone has felt it, maybe as a result of indigestion or intestinal gases, or maybe because of a specific medical condition such as an ulcer, pancreatitis, gallstones, hyperacidity, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Even beyond the aforementioned there is still a lengthy list of gastro-intestinal disorders that may manifest themselves as a stomach ache. When a person has one of these medical conditions, he can obtain relief from stomach ache by taking the medication prescribed by his doctor, or by undergoing the medical procedure that will treat the disease.
Another kind of stomach ache is that which is not associated with an underlying disorder and which has no obvious cause. This is called functional or non-ulcer stomach pain. It is also very common, and may last for many hours and recur again and again. In this scenario the stomach discomfort can be a part of feeling bloated and completely full after only eating a small portion of food. The pain can be as intense and distressing as ulcer pain, and the person will want immediate relief from it.
Pain relief can come in various forms that can include a change in eating habits, over-the-counter and prescription medications, as well as natural or herbal supplements. Which one will work best is usually determined on an individual basis, however, as with any medical issue, especially if it is chronic, the best place to start is with your physician. If one doesn't work very well, there are others that can evaluated. However, if after attempting various forms of relief, if the stomach pain persists, you will absolutely need to consult with your doctor.
Non-prescription medications for stomach pain include antacid and gas remedies. These antacids can easily be purchased in the form of pills or liquids. This type of stomach pain medication provides needed relief by neutralizing stomach acid build up. Meanwhile, gas remedies have the active ingredient Simethicone, which reduces gas.
A big part of a lot of the stomach pain issues out there are related to lifestyle and eating habits; that if modified, will reduce if not eliminate many of the problems. Especially useful is the avoidance of foods that trigger stomach pain. For example fatty or spicy foods, caffeinated drinks, alcohol, and carbonated beverages are among some of the more common foods that trigger stomach aches. It is also helpful to eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day, rather than having the traditional three big meals. This prevents having an empty stomach, which can lead to stomach pain.
Other diet and lifestyle modifications than can help reduce stomach ache are:
* Eat slowly and leisurely. This helps ensure that food is chewed well and digested thoroughly.
* Try not to take in a lot of air. This means to avoid eating rapidly, using a straw, chewing gum, and smoking. Inhaling too much air while eating can lead to belching and gas problems.
* Do not lie down immediately after a meal. Stay upright for about two hours after eating.
* Right after a meal, do not exercise or exert yourself physically. Wait until your stomach has settled.
* Reduce stress. Stress can cause a variety of health issues with stomach pain being only one of them. A great of stress issues can be effectively managed by regular exercise, and regularly taking time away from stress zones and just engaging in some type of relaxing activity.
* Be active and exercise regularly.
Of course there are alternative methods to relieve stomach pains such as caraway oil and peppermint. Even hypnotic and other various relaxation techniques are used by some to eliminate stomach pain that is non-ulcer related.
As with any type of health concern you should consult with your doctor before using any type of medication, especially if the stomach pain is or has become chronic.
Here are a list of other products on Iron Man Triathlon, come check these out:
