Pain In Childbirth

The pain of childbirth may have benefits on which women who opt for painkilling epidurals miss out, a senior male midwife has said.

Dr Denis Walsh, associate professor in midwifery at Nottingham University, said pain was a "rite of passage" which often helped regulate childbirth.

He said it helped strengthen a mother's bond with her baby, and prepared her for the responsibility of motherhood.

But an obstetrician said epidurals were an important option for some women.

Dr Walsh, who wrote on the subject in the journal Evidence Based Midwifery, agreed that in some cases epidurals were very useful.

But he said epidural rates had been rising over the last 20 years, despite the fact that alternative, less invasive ways to manage pain in labour were available.
He said pain in labour was known to have positive physiological effects, such as helping to establish a rhythm to childbirth.

It also triggered the release of endorphins which helped women to adjust to pain.

Dr Walsh said epidurals were known to increase the risk that hormone treatment would be needed to boost contractions, and that devices such as forceps would be needed to complete the birth successfully.

He said: "I am concerned that if we increase epidural rates we do not know the long-term impacts of that."

But he warned that a culture had emerged where most hospitals effectively offered women epidurals on demand.
Official figures show the number of mothers receiving an epidural rose from 17% in 1989 to 1990 to 33% in 2007 to 2008.

Dr Walsh said the NHS should encourage alternative ways to deal with pain such as yoga, hypnosis, massage and birthing pools.

Week 33 of Pregnancy

You

The weight of your uterus is now 1 kg more than the beginning of your pregnancy, it contains 1 liter of amniotic fluid.

You can experience again a frequent desire to urinate because your baby is down and press again your bladder.

Your breasts are heavy and start to take volume.

The ligaments of your pelvis relax, so you can feel some small twinges.


Your baby

It measures 42 cm and weighs 2.1 kg.

His immune system and brain are mature, it could come now, but it should be put in incubators because it is still fragile.

He swallows a lot of amniotic fluid.

He accumulates meconium in his intestines that will be quickly removed at birth.


Good to know

If you work, you must leave at the end of this week for your maternity.

Remember to send your social security certificate to your work in order to receive your benefits.

28th Week of Pregnancy

You 

The uterus is measuring 28 cm now. It pushes your other organs magnifying making up the diaphragm and expanded last ribs. 

You may experience bloodstream varicosities problems and veins may appear on your legs because the return of blood to the heart is less well. Have some cold water on your legs. 

You may be inconvenienced if your baby was returned because it will be kicking in your chest. 

Your heart rate has accelerated (12 beats per minute). 

You will feel tired earlier in the day because you burn calories more quickly. 


Your baby 

It is possible that he’s already upside down. It measures 35 cm and weighs 1.150 kg. His body takes a more rounded. 
His lungs are approaching maturity, blood vessels are developed. The respiratory movements are well coordinated, and the pace is constant. 
It now able to regulate its temperature itself with fatty deposits. 
Hair and nails continue to grow. 
If it is a boy, the testicles are descended into the scrotum. 


Good to Know

Elevate your legs at night to facilitate the bloodstream and walk during the day to avoid varicose veins during pregnancy

You can slowly begin to prepare the room for your baby.

27th Week of Pregnancy

You

You took 400 g during this week.
Your uterus continues to grow, your stomach is under pressure. This results in burns and lift acids.
It may shrink regularly several times a day as it prepares for delivery. Your stomach is tough and you can feel some small contractions, they are not painful.
Your other organs, except liver, have also grown.
Under the effect of hormones you may have bleeding at the gums. Brush your teeth twice a day.


Your baby

This week your baby is viable but it is better to keep warm because it is still very vulnerable. It measures 34 cm and weighs 1 kg.
His head now has a good proportion compared to the rest of his body and his face is that it has almost at birth.
He has an eyelashes and eyebrows, he can open his eyes because the membrane covered eyelids was split.
The connections between neurons are made and the nerves in the brain will become coated with myelin (action will continue for almost twenty years).

Good to Know

It's time to start being prepared for childbirth, it is better to start early. They will help you learn to breathe and to do good muscles work.

Adopt a normal pace of life so as not to cause premature delivery and do not practice too violent activity.

Week 24 Of Pregnancy: 26 Weeks Of Amenorrhea

You
You took 6 to 8 kg and your waist size has increased from 8 to 10 cm, continue to monitor your weight (no more than 400 g per week), your belly is increasingly imposing.
The uterus is about 24 cm tall. You can feel some contractions because your uterus is preparing for childbirth.
Increasing your blood volume can cause dizziness, do not rise too quickly.

Your baby
It now measured 30 cm and weighs 650 g. It moves a lot and he happens to knock the walls of the uterus.
It reacts to touch and sound, his hearing has been developed, it perceives the noise inside (heart beat, respiration) and external (voice, music…)
Her eyes are starting to open up, they are blue.
His lungs continue their development.

Good to Know
Begin slowly to establish a list of equipment you need for the arrival of your baby.
Stretch your hands on the belly and legs folded when you have contractions.

Pain Relief During Childbirth

Giving birth is rightly regarded as an extremely uncomfortable and painful experience for many mothers, and while for some women labor goes quickly and relatively easily, for others it can turn into a real ordeal. Where our grandmothers had to go through the pain barrier more or less unaided, there are quite a few options available for todays pregnant women that can lessen or even completely remove the pain, allowing the joyfulness of giving birth a much greater chance to be appreciated.

- Birthing Pool

Being in water during the early stages of labor can greatly relieve the contraction pains in some women, as the bouyancy takes some of the pressure off the muscles of the lower back. Some women prefer to stay in the water right through to the later stages of labor, and some even choose to complete the birth in a birthing pool.

Birthing pools have become increasingly popular in recent years, as they are seen as a natural way of reducing pain, in line with today's widespread preference for keeping things simple and as close to nature as possible.

- TENS

A TENS machine is a small electronic device which you attach to your lower back with electrode pads. The machine passes a very slight electric current through the pads, which is intended to interfere with the pain signals, reducing the extent of the discomfort. The level of current can usually be increased during contractions, and then lowered back down as the pain subsides again. Some women find TENS machines to be highly effective, while for others the effect is minimal. The devices can usually be hired from the hospital, but are relatively cheap to buy yourself if you want to be sure that one will be available.

- Gas and Air

This is also known as entonox, and is a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen that is breathed in via a pipe whenever the mother-to-be feels the need. It is a very light method of pain relief, and is enough on it's own for some women, especially in straightforward births. The effect is more of a distraction from the pain than an actual reduction, but doesn't feature the drawbacks of the two more heavy-duty pain relief drugs below.

- Epidural

An epidural is an injection of pain relief drugs direct into the lumbar region, and is extremely effective at blocking pain. The initial injection must be performed by a doctor, although the drug levels can then be subsequently topped up by the midwife for as long as it is required. Early epidurals also interfered with movement, and so the entire birth had to be carried out lying down, but more advanced versions of the drugs used now allow the mother to walk around a little to relieve discomfort.

- Pethidine

This is the strongest pain relief option available in most cases, and is extremely effective in stopping pain over a 3 to 4 hour period. Unlike an epidural, it can't be used indefinitely, and only two doses are usually allowed, meaning it is less than ideal for labors lasting longer than 8 hours or so. The drug can also pass through to the infant, in some cases delaying the start of breathing. Antidotes are, however, available should this occur.

Although the choice of which method of pain relief to use is usually left up to the mother, most midwives recommend starting with the less invasive choices such as TENS and gas and air, only moving up to drug treatments if necessary later on.



Simone writes for a parenting information site where you can read more about pregnancy and birth, plus advice on choosing baby products such as cots and cribs.

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