Can we talk "natural" pain therapies for labor?

[Kim]

I am currently 12 weeks pregnant with #3. First two births were completely natural: DD#1 was born posterior, 14 hours of back labor and DS#2 was born after 7 excruciating hours. No drugs, used a laboring tub, and CNM's + doulas.

This time around I feel like I know what I'm getting into (again) and I'm not very excited about it.

I've been reading about nitrous oxide (entomox or laughing gas) during birth and am sort of fascinated by the idea. Here is pain relief, or at least anxiety relief, that can be self-administered.

Besides that, there is acupuncture/acupressure or maybe a TENS machine or...?

What works? What have you tried? Tell me all about it!

[Honey693]

I've had nitrous for dental work and I can't see it working great during labor. It made me kind of woozy and spinny, like after you have a few glasses of wine. I can't imagine wanting to feel like that in labor.

[Kim]

I had no idea that it was ever used until a CNM mentioned that it is used in something like 95% of births in the UK and Europe. It's sometimes referred to as "gas and air".

Personally, I have used it for several dental occasions and found it to be *wonderful*.

Just don't know anyone who has actually used it. Would love some opinions.

[HeatherB]

I remember considering TENS for my first HB, but wasn't sure where to get it around here. Definitely seems some of these things are more common in the UK and Europe.

I'm not entirely sure I would've wanted them, in the end, though. I went with deep relaxation and warm water, and while none of my natural labors have been *easy* (or short), I've gotten to a point where, 26 weeks into #4, I'm actually looking forward to it. Crazy, eh?

[Tresa]

My labors weren't unbearable until my water broke toward the end, then I was making deals with god to just take me now. You sound like a pretty stubbornly natural birther...but don't let anyone rupture your membranes if they don't go naturally.

[mrsberman]

I'm one of those random people nitrous oxide doesn't work for. When I was nine I needed a tooth pulled and after several children's doses and two adult doses I was still wide awake and alert. It made everyone so mad.

[limette]

I don't know anyone that had gas (nitrous) and had it work for them. It is a very common first pain killer attempt in labor here and it doesn't work.

Well it does make one a bit loopy, which makes it harder to deal with the pain but that's about it. I started blabbering on about Santa and chimneys when I had it.

I've had two posterior (back) labors now and frankly nothing works for me. Gas, demerol, epidural, bathtub, massage, hypnobirthing, sterile water injections (worse than labor) nadda.

My midwife thinks sterile water should be used as a torture device as it is horribly painful and leaves no evidence.

[larablue]

sterile water injections? where is the water injected? and why should it help with labour pain?

I went with the hot tub and that was alright.
When I miscarried I found the pain much harder to bear- I think it might have to do with the knowledge that what follows the pain was a dead embryo rather than a lively baby.

I used relaxation techniques and much visualization during the labour pain and I found it helped.

[NorthernPixie]

Hmm, everyone's different and I guess you just can't know until you're in it!

I know people who have had great success with TENS provided it was used right away and kept on, sterile water injections (in the lower back I believe - my sister described it as 30 seconds of excruciating pain and then bliss for her back labour), and nitrous (available only in hospitals here I think). I've not tried any, but that's what I've got to offer!

[Melly24]

Entonox is very common here. It's the first form of pain relief given, or it's offered to you while you wait for epidural.

I've had it twice before. The first time (not labour/birth) it relaxed me and made me quite loopy.

The second time was during labour with DD. I threw it away after a few intakes as it did nothing for me, except made me hear my own voice funny. Like I was talking down a deep hole. They say the trick is to inhale as soon as you feel a contraction starting as the effects only last a few seconds. Some say the act of having something to focus on other than the pain of labour is how it helps with pain.

[limette]

Sterile water is injected into several pressure points in your back (for back labor). It's supposed to block the nerves or something.

It was the most horrible pain I've felt in my life and dh had to take dd1 outside during the injections and even then, they could still here me screaming. Took a lot longer than 30 seconds and did nothing for the back pain. Some people say it works wonders, it didn't for me and one of my other midwives said it did nothing for her either.

[jessieb503]

Hypnobirthing!! I'm almost done with the training and do the meditations daily. The mama's I've known who have done it were very happy with the results.

I'm not expecting a totally pain free birth but feel like I have a lot of tools to help.

[my kidlets and me]

I hated the nitrous oxide for my first birth - made me nauseous. But for my third, it was wonderful...it feels a little like you're drunk, and takes the edge off the contractions. Probably the worst part was the slightly claustrophobic feeling of breathing through a mask. But if you don't like the N.O., it's gone in a couple of breaths.

[Kim]

i love this. thank you all for the replies!

I wonder if there have been studies done to show the difference, results, and effects of nitrous vs. wine/champagne/beer vs. medical marijauna for labor pain?

I am not expecting total pain relief per se, but at the very least it would be fantastic to be able to "take the edge off". Actually, wouldn't it be great if there was something that would just ease the anxiety? Like, 'oh my god I feel like I am splitting in half but...whatever'.

Seriously considering a bottle of wine if I can keep it down during labor.

[mrsberman]

I agree with the wine bit. I've heard a glass or two helps relax you enough to manange things. The strerile water sounds interesting, but I'm not sure I would want pain to make the pain go away. I tried stadol with my first birth and it made me loopy and see things. I think I try hypnobabies this time and use relaxation techniques to manage the pain.

[Veritaserum]

I don't know anyone who has used gas and air here because I'm in the US and it doesn't seem to be used here for birth. I highly recommend Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis as a very effective way of reducing fears/anxieties as well as making birth more comfortable. I had narcotics and an epidural (at 4cm) with my first baby ('cause I was in pain and suffering), but I was more comfortable with my hypnosis births. I was also MUCH calmer, more aware, and more focused. It was great!

[nia82]

Does hypnobirthing work for controlling personalities? I have never achieved any type of self-hypnosis or anything, I will start thinking Am I really not thinking? It's sort of impossible to not over think everything...

I'm going with a birthing center this time, no pain meds there at all, but tubs, counter pressure, homeopathics... My water did break before labor with DS and it was excruciating back labor, but I knew hot water would help which wasn't available at the hospital. I think a great birth attendant who knows where to apply counter pressure, which positions might help etc will be of enormous help.

[Veritaserum]

Originally Posted by nia82

Does hypnobirthing work for controlling personalities? I have never achieved any type of self-hypnosis or anything, I will start thinking Am I really not thinking? It's sort of impossible to not over think everything...

Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis worked for me. I chose it because I am a control freak. This thread talks about it (see posts 15, 17, 22, 23, and 26):

http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1250738

[jessieb503]

'Does hypnobirthing work for controlling personalities? I have never achieved any type of self-hypnosis or anything, I will start thinking Am I really not thinking? It's sort of impossible to not over think everything...' (I don't know how to do the quote thing...)

This is exactly WHY I am doing hypnobirthing. I am such a control freak and need to get out of my head. All it takes is daily practice.

[chaoticzenmom]

I was able to take the edge off of my 2 unmedicated labors by aromatherapy. I had a washrag that I used. I would put it into the warm water, place some drops of lavender on it and inhale the smell. That's how I relaxed during the pregnancy, so it really helped me during labor.

Being in the water helped and so did giving up power "ok, this is what's got to get done, just do it and let it hurt." Or maybe that's taking the power...either way, it helped.