natural pain relief?
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Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=30225
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Topic: natural pain relief?
Posted By: T_Rex
Subject: natural pain relief?
Date Posted: 30 November 2009 at 1:40pm
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I'm sure there are posts about this already, but the search function keeps coming up with an error for me.
I'm planning on a home birth so I'll have to rely on natural pain relief methods. My MW is trained in acupuncture (not sure how I feel about that - I hate needles!), and I'll have birth pool so I can use water as well. Any other ideas? What worked for you? Especially in terms of things to focus on mentally? How do you keep yourself in the right mindset to cope? Thanks  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Replies:
Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 30 November 2009 at 2:00pm
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I didn't have a homebirth, but both mine were drug free, this time with Ty I used the bath before going to the birthing unit , pressure on my back (DH rubbing it ) and I visualised myself holding the baby .
I also had a pic of Caitlyn , to remind myself that its all worth it, and one of Ty's scan pics, to remind myself that all this pain and work is to get my little man out and into my arms . I found the pictures were the most important things in keeping me focused . Hope that helps ! ------------- 
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Posted By: Mamma2N
Date Posted: 30 November 2009 at 2:58pm
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Hi T_Rex!
The one thing I remembered to do throughout my labour was to control my breathing - so slow and steady.. This meant I was concentrating on that rather than the pain. I also kept telling myself throughout each contraction ''this pain is bringing me one step closer to my baby''. Sounds like you are in the perfect mindset going into labour - I firmly believe that with a positive attitude likes yours, you will be fine! Good luck - not long to go now! (oh and the gas helped alot too) 
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Posted By: crafty1
Date Posted: 30 November 2009 at 3:24pm
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I used some of the things already mentioned above and also found affirmations to be really good. Google labour or birth affirmations and you'll see what i mean. It's a matter of keeping the goal in mind i found. I also found that i just focused on each contraction, because then when it's over you get a break. So i just thought about the 45 secs or whatever it took, not the bigger picture. In between i thought happy thoughts about how cool it was going to be to meet my baby soon and how wonderful it was to be in labour at last. Those photo ideas are good i'm going to use that this time for sure!
Probably the most important thing for me was that i had told myself the entire pregnancy that this was the plan and i'm a stubborn old cow so that was that really. Just before it was time to push i did start to have doubts as i was worried that they'd tell me i had hours to go and it was starting to hurt like buggery but it turned out that that was transition. I wish someone had told me that at the time though as that would've kept me more positive at that point. My MW sucked though and was pretty much superflous. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: crafty1
Date Posted: 30 November 2009 at 3:39pm
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Oh i was also taking 4 hourly Panadol for the duration (maybe 16 hours all up). Not natural i know but also not harmful to bub and Panadol is actually a really good base pain relief but works best if taken 4 hourly. I started taking it when the contractions started to hurt even a little bit and that would've taken the edge off a bit of the pain even though by the end you wouldn't notice it.
People really underestimate how good it is, but even if it makes the first few hours easier, that is more energy you have the for the harder bits. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: FreeSpirit
Date Posted: 30 November 2009 at 3:55pm
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Massage, hot water bottle, aromatherapy, hypnotherapy, staying active during contractions (I would stand and sway/roll my hips) all helped me survive labour! ------------- http://www.babysfirstsite.com"> 
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Posted By: kakapo
Date Posted: 30 November 2009 at 4:30pm
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Yay T-Rex, glad you're going to have the opportunity to try for a homebirth afterall I had a natural, drug-free, relatively quick (5hrs) labour last time. To start with I rocked on my swiss ball, then MW applied heat packs to my lower back, then I got into the birthing pool and used the water and gentle massage right up until transition. Had an hours rest at transition (lying on the bed, sleeping between contractions - however many seconds at a time!). Then second stage was over with in 15 minutes. I felt like I went into a bit of a 'zone' during labour - my mind shut up and didn't think much at all. Took me ages to answer questions ....I really appreciated that both MW and DH didn't talk much at all and distract me. When I was thinking, it was "relax and open" or something along those lines lol All the best - can't wait to read your birth story |
. It became second nature, trying to relax as much as possible, that I had to literally snap out of it when it came time to push - wake up and do some work!
.Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 30 November 2009 at 4:58pm
| All these ideas are great! After a hideous hospital birth with lots of intevention last time, its good to be reminded that it is possible for it not to be like that. I am planning a home water birth, and cant wait! |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 30 November 2009 at 5:26pm
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Also remember when it comes to the business end of the labour, the actual pushing part you can make this faster by concentrating your breathing & pushing down out through your butt not your mouth.
My first MW said to me this could take either 10 mins or 2 hours. I managed first time around 22mins & second time around 8 mins. It's all mind over matter & making the pushing really count. My first labour I counted through the contractions when they got harder. As they got longer I knew those were the ones that counted & that spurred me on. Heat packs on your back & hard massage & also ice cold flannels on your forehead. Make sure that you have 2 support people & they know they are there to support you the whole way through. I had a great team of my Mum & DH. Also make sure you stay active even now. It is very doable totally naturally, the power of your body is utterly amazing! ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 30 November 2009 at 5:49pm
I totally agree. I had a super short labour and my stage 2 (pushing stage) was only about 10 minutes, if that. I didnt have any drugs, totally natural labour and birth. Dh rubbed (hard) my lower back and butt during contractions, he also put heat packs on my back for relief which worked a treat and the MW put cold facecloths on my forehead. I didnt make it to the shower but thats where I wanted to go if my labour was longer. Your body is an amazing machine and if you put your faith and trust into it it will do amazing things. ------------- Our Angel July 08  Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived 
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Aliasmum wrote:Posted By: rachelsea
Date Posted: 30 November 2009 at 6:27pm
I agree, you have a really positive attitude which is really important 
I used a medicine ball (at the hospital) to rock on during contractions. I also found watching the heavy rain out the window really theraputic, but you can't plan for that for the last hour or so, when the contractions were really strong, I found it most comfortable leaning over the bed (which the MWs had pumped up to it's highest setting) with DH rubbing my lower back.
Also, to cope with the pain I found it better to have something to focus on visually. With your eyes closed you tend to focus on the pain which is not what you want! I love Kelly's idea of looking at a photo (will try and remember that one for next time!) I stared at a random spot on the wall or the bed lol. Good luck! (not that you need luck of course  )
(edited for typos) ------------- DD 4yrs DS 2yrs http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 30 November 2009 at 9:02pm
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I used a few already mentioned above, especially the pressure on my lower back.
I was in the bath for ages before we went to the hospital that helped heaps. I was doing the slow breathing, in thru nose out thru mouth and found sitting backwards on the loo for the last hour or so amazing., with dh pushign on my back. I had a total of 3.5 hours active labour with 15 min second stage. When pushing I focused completely on the pushing nooyelling or making noise. I am thinking about a waterbirth this time ( at home ) let me know how your experience goes.
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Posted By: T_Rex
Date Posted: 01 December 2009 at 8:52am
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Some great feedback ladies, thanks
I think my attitude comes from a wealth of farming experience, so I know that *normal* birth is nothing to be afraid of, and I've studied birth in some detail at uni, so I know the physiological details and stuff. But watching and learning about it must be quite different to actually experiencing it, so that's where your lovely ideas come in. Lol Rachel - at this rate there is a good chance I'll get that rain! So much for the first day of summer! And misscheeky, I'll be sure to let you know how it goes ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: RinTinTin
Date Posted: 01 December 2009 at 9:21am
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Go T_Rex! I can't add anymore to what the other ladies have said but I'm quite looking forward to reading your story. Home birth is something I considered but the logistics of getting the MW to me weren't going to work. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Roses are Red
Date Posted: 01 December 2009 at 9:43am
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With both my children I had short 15 min 2nd stages. I hadnt really thought of why they were so short but reading this I can see why.
I concentrated solely on pushing and feeling the baby moving down the birth canal, I made no noise just concentrated, I found it easy to do that because I knew the sooner I pushed them out the sooner the pain was gone and I would have my baby in my arms. Good luck with your labour and like others on here I look forward to reading your birth story, I have been lurking on your due thread since it started ------------- 
Angel March 2011
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