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Reliable information on
pregnancy topics
by Heisje de Jong,
Certified Lactation Consultant
 Welcome
(home page)
Your
pre-conception diet
Home pregnancy tests
Early signs of pregnancy
Diet for your pregnancy
Things to give up
Lifestyle changes
Childbirth classes
Breastfeeding - preparation
Complications during
pregnancy
Prenatal testing
Pregnancy Week-by-Week
When to contact your doctor
What to ask your obstetrician
Hospital or home delivery?
And your Packing Guide!
 Pain relief in labor
& birth
Medical intervention
during
labor and delivery
Post partum exercises
Breastfeeding
About Heisje de Jong
Useful links
Contact Heisje
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Why do we experience pain in labor and birth? Let us have a look
at some sources of pain.
FEAR AND ANXIETY
Fear and anxiety can actually
cause pain. Not knowing what to expect aggravates the fear. Therefore,
try to get as much information as possible. Talk with your doctor
about your fear and questions. Take childbirth classes. These
classes usually provide you with lots of information and you
will meet other mothers to be to share your concerns with. This
will put you more at ease and will make you feel more relaxed
and comfortable.
CERVICAL DILATATION
Holding your breath and fighting
the pain can hinder dilatation and can make labor more painful.
Lying immobilized on your back can also aggravate the pain. Changing
positions and remaining mobile during labor can reduce pain.
Breathing exercises and relaxation techniques can help you cope
with the pain.
CONTRACTIONS
Contractions are tightenings
of the uterus. The peak of the contraction, when the uterus is
working hardest and most effectively, is most likely to be painful.
Using your breathing and relaxation techniques will be of help.
Try not to remain in one position. A firm back massage will also
help to relieve the pain.
DO YOU NEED PAIN-RELIEVING
DRUGS DURING LABOR?
You should make your own informed
decision as to whether you want drugs during your labor. No one
should force pain relief on you. If you have been to childbirth
classes, the fear and tension that can help promote pain in labor
should be diminished. However, you may find that despite using
breathing and relaxation techniques you still feel the need for
pain relief.
There is a variety of pain-relieving
drugs available and different drugs suit different women. Pain
relieving drugs pass however through your bloodstream to your
baby. Some affect the baby more than they affect others. Certain
drugs can cause breathing difficulties in your baby or make him
limp and drowsy at birth. This can also influence the early mother-baby
bonding and breastfeeding. You may want to try natural forms
of pain relief such as massage, a hot bath or shower or acupuncture
before accepting chemical pain relief. If you decide during labor
that you need to use drugs, do not feel you have failed. No woman
is the same and no birth is the same. You should go through labor
to see what you can achieve, not what you can endure.
ANALGESICS
Commonly used drugs for pain
relief in labor are Demerol (also called Pethedine) and Nalbuphine
(also called Nubain). These drugs are usually given by intramuscular
injection. They are effective pain relievers. Fairly common side
effects of these drugs are drowsiness, dizziness, and nausea.
They may also make your baby sleepy at birth making it more difficult
to breastfeed after birth and to bond with him. They can also
cause breathing difficulties in your baby.
EPIDURAL ANAESTHESIA
The most popular form of pain
relief nowadays is a regional anaesthetic known as an epidural.
The anaesthesia is injected into the space between the spinal
cord and the dura, the outer membrane around the spinal cord.
A fine plastic tube is left in place so top up injections can
be given. When the epidural is administred you may be asked to
sit up and curl forward or to lie on your left side curled up
like a ball. An epidural can provide complete pain relief from
the waist down and can be used for a caesarian section as well.
A big advantage of epidurals over analgesics is that you don't
become drowsy. You are completely awake while you do not feel
the pain.
There are however some drawbacks
to epidurals.
· Hypotension. An epidural can cause your blood pressure
to drop. Sometimes other drugs need to be given in order to raise
your blood pressure again.
· You will probably need a catheter to empty your bladder
since you have no feeling in your bladder. You will also get
an IV.
· Your mobility is restricted since you have to remain
in bed.
· Increased likelihood of forceps, vacuum or caesarian
delivery because you do not feel the contractions and do not
feel how to push effectively.
· Some mothers complain of headache or backache after
an epidural.
· Baby can be drowsy at birth and have a poor sucking
reflex.
Accepting or rejecting pain relief
during labor, the choice should be completely yours. Make sure
that whatever form of pain relief is offered to you, is explained
clearly. The effects, as well as the possible side effects. The
anaesthesia nowadays, used only when necessary, seems to be fairly
safe for the baby.
AscotReview, award-winning Shopping Directory
JCPenney Department
Store - the total resource for *all* your baby & family needs
Your most Reliable department store with a huge variety of quality
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Clothing: bottoms, tops, dress up, sets, outwear, sportswear,
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dolls, educational, games, hobbies, musical instruments, nintendo,
playsets, playstation, plush, preschool, remote controlled, sega,
video, handheld
Sears Room for
Kids, furniture, bedding and fun things for kid's rooms
The best place to shop for all things kids! Kid's bedding, kid's
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baby bedding, safety products. (90-HP-7)
Eddie Bauer,
fine kids' clothing, men's and women's apparel, footwear, travel
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Jordan Marie
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Whether shopping for a child or purchasing a gift for a friend
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Spiegel, home
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Carter's fine collection of baby and
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OshKosh B'Gosh
- quality stylish baby, toddler and children clothing, bedding
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MotherWear, fashion
for the young & nursing mother - nurse your baby anytime,
anywhere
Motherwear is your one-stop resource for nursing clothes that
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All about baby and toddler at Babystyle - fine
quality at prices you will love
Babystyle is an online retailer providing shopping solutions
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targets one of life’s biggest changes -- a new family member!
As a one-stop shop, their baby department offers everything including
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iMaternity, your
maternity everything store
iMaternity provides you with high quality products, excellent
customer service and the most competitive prices around. In their
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plus much, much more that's sure to make you look your best while
in the workplace. Casual wear is essential in every wardrobe
and they've got everything from active wear to tank tops, pantsuits
to rompers to get you ready for a quick trip to the gym or the
weekend excursion out of town. Treat yourself to comfortable
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planner, baby name finder, pregnancy glossary and more
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