Coping with the pain

Let's be honest — labor can be very painful. The pain that you experience is brought on by a few factors: strong uterine contractions, tension in your ligaments, position and pressure of the baby, and your stretching cervix, vagina, and pelvic floor muscles. These changes in your body can be surprisingly intense, especially if this is your first baby.

I hope to instill in women the knowledge that labor isn't something to be feared, even though it is accompanied by pain. What's most important to remember is that your body isn't suffering or sustaining injury. This is a natural process that your body is made to do. You are strong! Instead of fearing labor, face it head-on.

Labor pain can be dealt with in a variety of ways:

1. Try a variety of positions. Your husband, partner, relative, friend or doula can help you with these. During contractions, you may find comfort in the arms of a loved one, dancing and swaying back and forth. Try using a birth ball (sit on it or lean over it; you may enjoy a back rub while in these positions). Sit upright in a chair or glider. Squat using a support person for balance. Get on your hands and knees. Walk around. Different positions help move the baby further down your pelvis and can help progress labor.

2. Relax. This may seem impossible, but you can prepare through classes such as Lamaze, Hypnobirthing and Hypnobabies. Have someone with you who is knowledgeable and familiar with the techniques you've practiced. If you fear labor, your body is more likely to be tense, which can slow down labor or make the pain more prominent. Remember, surrender yourself to the process and embrace that your baby is on his way.

3. Don't forget to breathe. You can practice a variety of breathing techniques with your doula or in a birthing class. Knowing how to breathe efficiently through the different stages of labor will preserve your energy, relax your pelvic floor muscles, and prevent hyperventilation. Keeping your jaw loose and relaxed will also keep you from tensing up, and allow easier descent of your baby.

4. Request pain medication, most often in the form of an epidural. An epidural is a form of regional analgesia that is inserted into your lower back in the spinal canal. When done correctly, it provides numbing and relief from your abdomen down to your toes. Pros: Relief from pain; ability to relax and sleep; can bring relief during an especially long or difficult labor; medication already administered should the mom need a cesarean or instrumental delivery (vacuum extractor or forceps). Cons: Inability to move around during labor; need for a urinary catheter; sometimes mom experiences a headache or numbing only works on one side; can sometimes slow down labor; pushing positions are often restricted to mom in the bed on her back. Although the risk is very low, women have experienced seizures, cardiac arrest, infection, neurological injury, paraplegia, and even death from receiving an epidural.

Most of all, stay positive and feel confident in your body.