Pregnancy & Baby Index: Pregnancy - Birth: Labor and Delivery: Pain Management: How can water help relieve the pain of labor?
How can water help relieve the pain of labor?
Nina McIndoe
Water has probably been used since the beginning of time to relieve pain during labor. But recently it has become popular once again to use water in labor and birth. Certified Professional Midwife Nina McIndoe explains explains how water can help during labor.
Your question
How can water help relieve the pain of labor?
The expert answers
Although it has surely been used since the beginning of time by
laboring women, we are just recently rediscovering water as a
very effective pain relief tool in labor. I personally lament
the fact that I gave birth to my own babies between these two
ages of enlightenment. As a midwife, I have seen over and over
again the wonderful effect that water has on the course of labor.
Before we started using tubs and doing underwater births, we
discovered if we encouraged mothers to get into the shower
or bathtub during labor she usually handled the discomfort of her
labor more easily and her labor seemed to move along at a quicker
pace. It didn't take long for us to "send them to the showers."
Very often, the next thing we would hear was "I have to push"!
Labor can be difficult and painful for many women, but the good
news is that our bodies do not leave us bereft. Our bodies offer
a reward for the exertion of labor -- narcotic-like painkilling
chemicals called endorphins, or bets-endorphins, that circulate
in the blood stream. These natural opiates are also released
during other forms of physical exertion such as running, cycling
and sexual intercourse. Not only are these chemicals released by
the contractions of labor, but according to research with
weightlifters, the grimacing and grunting that many women do
during birth release endorphins as well. The drugs commonly used to aid in childbirth actually interfere with your body's
ability to release these chemicals.
Most women relax as soon as they enter warm water. It lowers
adrenaline and encourages endorphins. Also, positive sensations
like warmth and stroking touch, sensations that give comfort,
travel to the brain faster than negative sensations like the
discomfort of contractions. Therefore the warmth from the water
and its relaxing benefits override the negative effects of any
of the pain and fear of labor.
Sometimes pain is caused through
fear which creates tension and blocks endorphins. The use of
water helps to break this fear-tension-pain cycle. The water
supports the weight of the baby and eases the many aches and
pains of labor and late pregnancy. The support of the water
allows the mother to adopt any position which she finds
comfortable and enables her to change positions easily. Many
midwives use the tub in prodromal labor because often a mother
can sleep in the tub when she cannot get rest any other way.
Immersing yourself in deep warm water is the best!
Studies have
shown it to be as effective at pain relief as an epidural, with
no side effects! Our apprentice affectionately referred to her
birth tub her wetpidural. Any use of warm water will help, even
a normal bathtub, a shower or warm wet washcloths applied to the
belly or back. I have know of many hospital births to go very
well when the mom spends long periods of time in the shower.