Babies Tale

Once settled in at the hospital, you will find a routine for handling contractions, perhaps based on what you learned in childbirth classes. For example, the following is a routine that many women learn and use successfully with their contractions.

1. Greet the contraction with a long sigh. As you breathe out, release all bodily tension.
2. At the same time, focus your attention in some way [for example, focus on you partner’s face or a picture or object of your choice, close your eyes and "see" your cervix opening as your uterus contracts;" see" a peaceful, relaxing place and picture yourself there; focus on music of your choice, or the soothing voice of your partner; or focus on the feel of your partner holding or stroking you].
3. Breathe slowly and easily.
4. Maintain relaxation throughout the contraction. Stay limp. It may help if you focus on one part of your body with each breath out. Try to release tension in that part as you breathe out. Then focus on another part with the next breath.

You can follow this routine with every contraction and in any position-lying down, sitting, standing, on hands and knees. You can do it in the tub or shower, in bed, in the car, in a chair, in the hospital corridor, or in your room. You can lean on your partner, the wall, or your bed.

These techniques are often effective in keeping pain within manageable limits for part or all of your labor. Women who use them generally need less pain medication than others. Indeed, some women do not need to use any pain medication when using these techniques.

Some women learn several types, or levels, of breathing to use progressively during labor. Besides the slow pattern just described, they may learn a lighter, faster, but still relaxing pattern and other variations.

Besides using a routine for each contraction, you should try and change position every twenty or thirty minutes, go to the bathroom every hour or so, and sip liquids or suck on ice after every contraction. These measures may be comforting.

You may find that hot packs on the lower part of your abdomen, your groin, and your perineum [external genital-rectal area]; cold packs on the lower part of your back; and a cool, moist washcloth rubbed over your face and neck will all feel wonderful. Being rubbed and touched, especially in tense, sore areas, such as the shoulders and lower part of the back, helps a lot if you feel a bit out of control. It helps if your partner holds you lightly or gently but firmly holds your head in his hands.

During intense periods, like the “transition” phase [from about seven to ten centimeters of cervical dilation] you may feel almost out of control. You may feel that your body is running away with you, and you are being swept along in a tide of intense sensations. Fighting these sensations is pointless.

However, you may feel an urge to push but be told that you are not yet fully dilated. It is important that-for the time being-you resist the urge. Pushing too soon could injure the cervix and perineal tissues and lead to heavy bleeding. What helps the most is knowing that there is nothing wrong. Let it happen-accept that your body is in charge, and don’t try to stay “in control”. Let your loved ones help you, moan and complain if you want to, you know that it will not last long.

Leave a Reply