Methods for pain management

ChynaDholl · May 2012

The only thing I can think of right now (aside from getting a doula which we will be doing) is the Bradley method and Hypno-birthing. I need to research it but the name hypno-birthing is off putting to me because I don't believe in meditation of hypnosis and after looking at the Bradley method, it won't work for us because DH will have to be spending too much time with our 2 yr old during labor (hence the doula). I'm sure there are more natural methods of pain management that I can't think of right now. Any suggestions? TIA

turtlebug12 · May 2012

Most of the bradley positions you learned are to help you cope with pain, and changing positions should also move baby down. You could also try a rice sock and have the nurses heat it up for you if you want a warm compress on your back/tummy/etc. Massage is also good, we plan on bringing some avocado oil and one of those plastic massagers (so my DH hands don't tire out) for labor, because i already have a lot of low back pain and massage helps. I have also heard people bring a few tennis balls in a sock and use that for massage, you can lean on that in your bed and put pressure on your back where you want it. Hope this helps

ChynaDholl · May 2012

DH is in the Army and we're going to be moving to a new duty station mid summer so we won't know anyone there. We would have to find someone to watch both children and our 2 year old DD doesn't stay with anyone else so she would scream the entire time (literally). I think that's asking a lot of someone we just met but we'll see how things work themselves out. We also don't know yet if he will get deployed around the time the baby is to be born or not so I'm trying to find something to do that I can manage on my own if needs be.

Thanks for responding

ChynaDholl · May 2012

Thanks turtlebug

. I will have to put those on my list! I have seen and heard about the tennis ball but don't know if DH would know what to do with it when time comes lol but we shall try this time around. I'm hoping military hospitals are accomodating of natural labor though.

RockyMtnMama · May 2012

When we took Bradley classes, one woman brought her doula the entire time since her DH was deployed.

Also, hypno-birthing is really a relaxation technique and has some key stimulus to help you refocus/relax during labor. If you think of it that way, are you more likely to try it?

Did you have your first without pain meds? What worked for you then, you'll probably have a faster and easier time this time around.

ChynaDholl · May 2012

Like I said, i still have research to do on what it actually entails but right now, I can't get past the name lol (silly I know). Maybe I can coax myself into thinking it's just relaxing and get past my mental block.

My first was actually a c/s then I did a VBAC with my (will be) 2 year old. I had planned on going natural with her with a MW at home but even so, by the time I got to the hospital, it was too late for meds even if I had wanted them. I was pretty much screaming the entire time because the nurse I had, was holding me down on my back the entire time and DH didn't know any better so he was listening to everything she said.

RockyMtnMama · May 2012

ChynaDholl:

Like I said, i still have research to do on what it actually entails but right now, I can't get past the name lol (silly I know). Maybe I can coax myself into thinking it's just relaxing and get past my mental block.

My first was actually a c/s then I did a VBAC with my (will be) 2 year old. I had planned on going natural with her with a MW at home but even so, by the time I got to the hospital, it was too late for meds even if I had wanted them. I was pretty much screaming the entire time because the nurse I had, was holding me down on my back the entire time and DH didn't know any better so he was listening to everything she said.

Maybe with your previous birth experiences being a little wild that you should look into and/or read Birthing from Within. It deals with facing past childbirth fears, building your strength for the birth, and teaches you some relaxation techniques. My friend took a class and loved it. I only read the book, but it has some good advice.

Celyn · May 2012

There are a lot of modalities. If meditation isn't your thing, Mindfulness in Birth probably isn't your route either. Old school Lamaze relies in it a bit too. I agree with the PP that Birthing from Within might be worth looking into, although distraction, meditation and visualization are a large part of that practice as well. What I find most useful about it, is the permission to be whomever you need to be to birth your baby. It's a bit animalistic that way, and that's a good thing for most labors.

What sort of coping skills do you usually use when you're in pain or under stress?

ChynaDholl · May 2012

RockyMtnMama:
ChynaDholl:

Like I said, i still have research to do on what it actually entails but right now, I can't get past the name lol (silly I know). Maybe I can coax myself into thinking it's just relaxing and get past my mental block.

My first was actually a c/s then I did a VBAC with my (will be) 2 year old. I had planned on going natural with her with a MW at home but even so, by the time I got to the hospital, it was too late for meds even if I had wanted them. I was pretty much screaming the entire time because the nurse I had, was holding me down on my back the entire time and DH didn't know any better so he was listening to everything she said.

Thanks for the suggestion and I will def look into it

Maybe with your previous birth experiences being a little wild that you should look into and/or read Birthing from Within. It deals with facing past childbirth fears, building your strength for the birth, and teaches you some relaxation techniques. My friend took a class and loved it. I only read the book, but it has some good advice.

ChynaDholl · May 2012

Celyn:
There are a lot of modalities. If meditation isn't your thing, Mindfulness in Birth probably isn't your route either. Old school Lamaze relies in it a bit too. I agree with the PP that Birthing from Within might be worth looking into, although distraction, meditation and visualization are a large part of that practice as well. What I find most useful about it, is the permission to be whomever you need to be to birth your baby. It's a bit animalistic that way, and that's a good thing for most labors.
What sort of coping skills do you usually use when you're in pain or under stress?

Normally, I have a very high tolerance for pain so I just go about my business and ignore the pain which is why being confined to the bed was not working for me I guess. I will def look into the Birthing from Within and see what's available in the area we'll be moving to. Thank you!!!

LindseyJW · May 2012

were you on this board when you were expecting #2? I think i remember your SN!

anyway, i was on the board then, expecting my hbac baby. i took a HypnoBirthing class in my 2nd trimester and since my hbac baby was born in september 2010, i have become a certified hypnotist and a HypnoBirthing practitioner.

if there are any specific concerns you have about the program, i'd be happy to help you work through them. it's an awesome program and the techniques Really Do Work!

i recently had a hypnotherapy client tell me after a session "wow, that wasn't scary at all!" i'm not sure what she expected, but she certainly didn't expect to feel as relaxed, refreshed, rejuvinated and inspired as she did. hypnosis is an amazing healing modality and learning how to induce self-hypnosis is a wonderful life skill.

feel free to email me at Lindsey AT SunflowersHealingandWellness DOT com

ChynaDholl · May 2012

Lindsey, yes ma'am lol .... I was supposed to do a home birth VBAC with DD but we ended up at the hospital because her head was still high when the MW came to the house.

I think growing up in my culture and being taught that hypnosis is essentially "emptying the mind" which is a bad thing (especially with my experiences), I have developed a mental block against it. So it's not so much the physical part of it I have an issue with but the "spiritual/religious" aspects, if that makes sense.

Thank you and if I have any more questions after I try to do some research on it, I will most definitely email you ^_^

LindseyJW · May 2012

ChynaDholl:
Lindsey, yes ma'am lol .... I was supposed to do a home birth VBAC with DD but we ended up at the hospital because her head was still high when the MW came to the house.
I think growing up in my culture and being taught that hypnosis is essentially "emptying the mind" which is a bad thing (especially with my experiences), I have developed a mental block against it. So it's not so much the physical part of it I have an issue with but the "spiritual/religious" aspects, if that makes sense.
Thank you and if I have any more questions after I try to do some research on it, I will most definitely email you ^_^

there is absolutely no religious aspect to it. well, there is a prayer to God that is distributed in the second week's class.

we do empty the mind, but it's really more allowing your mind to calm and clear. the hypnotist does not do it, you do. there is no mind control, it's all about learning how to bring yourself into a deep state of relaxation.

check out the website www.HypnoBirthing.com. there are some FAQs there.

congrats on your new pregnancy! hope to hear from you!

fryrat · May 2012

One thing I am doing, since I don't know 100% who will be at my birth, is making a list of helping hands. I'm not sure DH will know what to do when the time comes, so it will be a simple list of things like lower back massage, words that he can say to help me relax, etc. That way, if he is not there, whomever is, will be able to fill in.