Pain management videos/books « Back to Group Discussions

[1234babies]

Does anyone have any suggestions for videos or books on pain management during the birth?  We live way out of town and have weird work schedules that do not fit birth class schedules.  I have 3 children already so I know what to expect, and I know that  with the first really painful contraction I typically forget any great strategies I had planned, but I feel like maybe I could use a refresher course and do it a little better this time.  I'm already committed to a non-medicated, midwife birth, so I don't really need videos convincing me that this is the way to go.  Anyone have any ideas? 

[Jenny01]

Maybe try The Birth Partner - I have it, but haven't gotten through the whole thing yet.  Its got lots of lists and resources in it for labour support.

[kellybeth]

Originally Posted by Jenny01 

Maybe try The Birth Partner - I have it, but haven't gotten through the whole thing yet.  Its got lots of lists and resources in it for labour support.

ditto! we have the book and my hubby has learned a lot from it. we also have husband coached childbirth which has some good stuff in it, although the title i could do without.

[Gillmoro]

I second the suggestions above.  I really liked "GIving Birth: How it Really Feels" by Sheila Kitzinger last time around.  It has some good visualization techniques in it.  Also, "Birthing From Within" has tons of pain coping stuff in it.  I read it last time and thought I wouldn't get much out of it because it was a little too new-agey for me but I ended up using a lot of the techniques in labor.  You could also buy the home-study Hypnobabies course and listen to meditations everyday if that is helpful for you, though it is a bit pricey.  And "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" has lots of reassuring birth stories in it with different mom takes on coping with pain.   

[HouseofPeace]

Originally Posted by Gillmoro 

I second the suggestions above.  I really liked "GIving Birth: How it Really Feels" by Sheila Kitzinger last time around.  It has some good visualization techniques in it.  Also, "Birthing From Within" has tons of pain coping stuff in it.  I read it last time and thought I wouldn't get much out of it because it was a little too new-agey for me but I ended up using a lot of the techniques in labor.  You could also buy the home-study Hypnobabies course and listen to meditations everyday if that is helpful for you, though it is a bit pricey.  And "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" has lots of reassuring birth stories in it with different mom takes on coping with pain.   

i definitely found "Birthing from Within" a bit odd and not a style i enjoyed, but ended up using lots of aspects of it in a hypnobirthing form.  it really helped me settle into the pain and actually really enjoy labor last time.  but i didn't read it after week 32-  i think i studied it intensely right about now, along w/ some Michael Odent, and then just walked away from birth books for the rest of the pregnancy.  i'm not someone who takes coaching well, so i really have to have a plan for myself to face/embrace the fear and pain.  and then, once you've decided against the drugs, you go into it and keep going.  i had a masseuse at my last birth- BRILLIANT- her pressure points really really helped w/ the truly painful contractions.  my poor husband cannot do that part- and when he says his hands are tired, i'm not exactly sympathetic.  but maybe getting some good massage training in for you both would be a simple pain relief approach.

[lovebeingamomma]

Have you used a doula?  I had two drug free births that just plain sucked, then I used a doula for my 3rd and mentally/emotionally it was waay better.  Having a homebirth this time and still hiring a doula.  I don't think many books video's will really benefit you because it all goes out the window when you're in labor (and a lot of those books will tell you things you already know since you've already given birth), a doula is there to remind you of the things you already know.  Just my opinion. 
 

[Brambleberry]

 also wasn't a super big fan of the writing style of "Birthing from Within," but the pain management techniques are definitely very useful.  But I found that you really do need to practice them or they go right out the window like lovebeingamomma said.  There was one technique that I had actually practiced a bit when I had headaches and that was the only one I remembered when I was in the thick of it.  But that one technique worked really well.  I need to do some brushing up myself.

[1234babies]

Thanks for the suggestions!  I'll definitely give some of those a try.  The masseuse sounds great too.