How can I ease and independently relieve pain from contractions and pushing during childbirth in order to better endure them? Pain relief for childbirth: with and without drugs. Is there pain relief during childbirth?

It is clear that during childbirth the baby must somehow leave the mother's womb. The uterus contracts, and the baby gradually comes out through the dilated cervix and vagina. Pain during childbirth can occur due to stretching of the cervix, vagina, perineum, compression and rupture of soft tissues. Some women in labor suffer so much that their heart function and breathing may be impaired. In addition, prolonged pain often leads to premature fatigue, cessation of uterine contractions, and hypoxia (lack of oxygen) of the fetus.

The question of whether it is necessary to resort to pain relief during labor is something that every woman must decide for herself. Modern methods of anesthesia (medicinal anesthesia, epidural anesthesia, etc.) are considered quite safe for both mother and child, and make the process of giving birth more comfortable.

However, many experts are against labor pain relief. First, there is a risk (albeit small) side effects. Secondly, the natural course of labor is disrupted (the administration of drugs can slow down or weaken labor).

On the other hand, everyone’s pain sensitivity threshold is different. Under the influence of “uncontrollable” long-term pain, some women in labor may experience increased arterial pressure, pulse quickens, weakness occurs labor activity. This is harmful to the health of mother and child. In such cases, it is wiser to resort to anesthesia rather than suffer from unbearable pain.

However, it is best to prepare for childbirth in advance. With the help of so-called psychoprophylactic preparation, you can increase the threshold of pain sensitivity and ease the course of childbirth. It is believed that a woman who is psychologically ready for childbirth, has a good understanding of all stages of the birth process, knows how to breathe correctly, knows methods of self-relief of pain and is focused on results can easily do without pain relief. In such cases, childbirth is associated not with “torment”, but with the expectation of a miracle, great happiness - a quick meeting with the most beloved and wonderful person you have been waiting for for so long.

There are several ways to reduce pain during childbirth.

Psychological preparation

The pain of childbirth is aggravated by ignorance. So learn more about the birth process. You can obtain relevant information from pregnancy schools, antenatal clinics or from specialized literature. Women who are psychologically ready for childbirth find it much easier to give birth.

Water birth

A warm bath relaxes, distracts, has a good effect on labor and even improves blood supply to the fetus. Staying in warm water can significantly reduce the pain of a woman in labor during the first stage of labor, when the cervix dilates. However, before you fill your bathtub, seriously consider the pros and cons of this type of birth.

Reflexology

Some clinics use acupuncture for pain relief. It relieves pain during labor and normalizes labor. In Russia, this method is not yet very popular, most likely due to the lack of professional acupuncturists.

Drug pain relief

They tried to anesthetize childbirth many years ago. For this we used narcotic drugs, such as morphine, tincture of opium, and nitrous oxide. The main disadvantage of these methods was the negative impact of narcotic painkillers on the fetus. In particular, they can cause weakened breathing in an infant.

In modern obstetrics, the most commonly used narcotic analgesic is promedol. It has a good analgesic effect and has less effect on the child than other drugs.

Often, due to painful, prolonged contractions, women in labor spend a sleepless night. Accumulated fatigue can interfere at the most crucial moment. In such cases, sleep-inducing medications are prescribed.

Before giving a woman painkillers, be sure to consult with an obstetrician-gynecologist or anesthesiologist.

Epidural anesthesia

This is a relatively new method of pain relief. The doctor places a thin needle between the vertebrae and injects an anesthetic substance under dura shell spinal cord. Painkillers are used in this case local action: lidocaine, marcaine, ropelocaine and others. After administration of the drug, all sensitivity below the level of its administration is temporarily blocked.

Epidural pain relief has its downsides. On the one hand, good pain relief is provided, but on the other hand, the woman cannot push effectively. Therefore, immediately before the baby is born, epidural anesthesia is suspended. In addition, in rare cases, epidural anesthesia can cause headaches and back pain, which haunt a woman for quite some time. long time after childbirth.

Sometimes epidural pain relief is necessary medical indications, for example, in case of abnormal position of the fetus, the birth of twins, as well as in case of some complications of pregnancy or childbirth.

Women experience pain differently. For some, special breathing techniques are enough to successfully overcome pain during childbirth; for others, pain management is recommended.

The choice of medications that help overcome pain during childbirth is large. We recommend studying possible options in order to do it later right choice: Discuss all your options with your obstetrician well before your due date so you have all the information you need when you need it.

It should also be remembered that in each individual case, the choice of painkiller depends on certain conditions and characteristics of childbirth and the woman’s health condition. The doctor will assess your condition, comfort and health during childbirth and help you decide on the method of pain relief.

You should not feel guilty about asking your doctor for pain relief. Only you know best how you feel, so only you can make decisions regarding pain relief during childbirth. Moreover, there is no need to worry about the safety of the pain medication. All drugs used for pain relief during childbirth are safe - both for you and for the baby.

Medicines for pain relief during labor and childbirth

There are three ways to relieve pain during labor and childbirth:

Local anesthesia is used during childbirth to numb a specific area or after birth if stitches are needed.

Regional anesthesia (epidural, spinal) is used by an anesthesiologist (a doctor who administers pain medication) during labor to reduce discomfort. With both epidural and spinal anesthesia, a painkiller is injected into the lower back, near the nerves, blocking pain over a large area of the body while keeping you awake. Regional anesthesia significantly reduces discomfort and painful sensations during childbirth. It is also used if a caesarean section is necessary.

General anesthesia means insensitivity to pain total loss consciousness. General anesthesia is safe, however, it is used extremely rarely, only when emergency conditions, because it does not allow the mother to see the child immediately after its birth.

In addition, pain medications may be injected into a vein or muscle to numb the pain. In this case, pain sensations are not completely blocked, however, you will feel much less pain. This method is used mainly at the beginning of labor so that you can rest and gain strength before giving birth, since the drugs affect the entire body and can cause drowsiness in you and the baby.

What is the difference between epidural and spinal anesthesia?

Spinal anesthesia involves injecting a drug into the middle of the dura mater, which is located next to the spine. For epidural anesthesia, the drug is injected into spinal column, outside the bursa surrounding the spinal cord.

Spinal anesthesia requires less drug than with an epidural; Moreover, spinal anesthesia acts faster, however, it more often causes headache and low blood pressure.

How is regional anesthesia performed?

If you ask for regional anesthesia, you may have an epidural or spinal anesthesia, as well as a combination of these types of anesthesia. Your doctor will choose the type of regional anesthesia based on general condition Your health and how the birth proceeds.

After the anesthesiologist takes your medical history, he will numb a small area in your lower back with a local anesthetic. The anesthesiologist will then insert a special needle into the numb area to find the desired position and administer an anesthetic. After administering the drug, the anesthesiologist will remove the needle. In most cases, the doctor will leave an epidural catheter—a small plastic tube—at the site where the needle was inserted to administer medications during labor, if needed.

During the procedure, the woman can sit or lie on her side.

At what point during contractions is regional anesthesia performed?

The optimal time for regional anesthesia depends on the progress of labor, your condition, and the condition of the baby. Your obstetrician-gynecologist will choose best time for anesthesia.

Will anesthesia affect the baby?

Numerous studies have shown that regional anesthesia, both epidural and spinal, is safe for mother and baby.

How quickly will the anesthesia take effect and how long will it last?

Epidural anesthesia begins to take effect 10-20 minutes after administration. The analgesic effect lasts as long as you need it, since the drug can be administered through a catheter at any time.

Spinal anesthesia takes effect immediately after administration. The analgesic effect lasts about 2.5 hours. If labor is expected to last longer than this time, you will have an epidural catheter inserted to continue the drug.

Will you feel anything after the anesthetic is administered?

Although you will feel significant relief from the anesthesia, you may still feel pressure from the contractions. You may also feel pressure when being examined by a doctor.

Will I need to stay in bed after receiving regional anesthesia?

Not necessary. The anesthesiologist can provide pain relief so that you can sit in a chair or walk. Sitting and walking can promote labor. If you want to know more about this, ask your doctor about walking with an epidural. However, it should be remembered that this type of anesthesia is not possible in all cases.

Will regional anesthesia slow down labor?

For some women, contractions and labor slow down a little after regional anesthesia—not for long. Most women, however, find that regional anesthesia helps them relax, improves contractions and allows them to rest.

Fear of pain during childbirth is rooted in a woman’s soul from the very beginning, and even after giving birth once, she can continue to be afraid. It is clear why it occurs; everyone says that there is nothing more painful than childbirth. Someone compares the pain of childbirth to breaking 20 bones at once, someone says that it was the greatest pain in his life.

If you are expecting a child, you, of course, try your best to be positive. Thanks to the availability of information, it becomes clear that it is natural process, which should not cause much pain. By the end of the term, you calm down and the desire to end the pregnancy becomes stronger than these fears. But the question of whether childbirth is easier still remains. Even the most confident person should have hope that if it suddenly hurts too much, they will help him.

Do they take painkillers during childbirth?

Of course, it is possible to make childbirth easy and painless, and almost 90% of women in labor now use analgesics during childbirth in one form or another. You can do it in such a way that the woman will simply oversleep them, and she will have to be woken up at the most crucial moment.

Pain relief during childbirth has even become a source of additional income for maternity hospitals; almost everywhere you can get this service for a fee (we are talking about epidural anesthesia). At the antenatal clinic you may be given a list of things you need for the maternity hospital; it may still include medications, designed to ease contractions.

Now you have plenty of chances to think through childbirth, although from the point of view of what is best for mother and child during physiological childbirth, birth without drugs is, of course, preferable.

How can you relieve pain during childbirth?

There are several options to make childbirth painless. They differ in effectiveness and safety. Another question is whether this is necessary. Sometimes loss of pain sensitivity is vital. For example, if contractions are strong, frequent, but ineffective, and the cervix does not open.

For this process The following methods are used:

Physiological. This is a relaxing lower back massage, calm music, special breathing techniques and exercise, bath and shower.
Spinal and - a special injection during childbirth in the spine with the introduction of drugs to the spinal cord. The most reliable and modern method. This injection during childbirth begins to act literally after 5 minutes, completely relieving pain.
Other drugs are also used during childbirth, which are administered intramuscularly, intravenously and in other ways. These are mainly antispasmodics, narcotic analgesics and drugs affecting the central nervous system. Nitrous oxide (an anesthetic) is even used, which the woman breathes through a mask, independently adjusting the degree of pain relief.
Acupuncture and other physiotherapeutic methods of influence. Not used in all maternity hospitals.

It also happens: at the end of the second stage of labor, very intense, frequent contractions occur for about 40 minutes - 1 hour, leading to complete dilatation of the cervix. The fatigue that has accumulated over the past hours makes itself felt and appears. strong feeling pressure on the bottom, the baby presses his head on the cervix and sacral plexus, the head is pressed tightly against the entrance to the pelvis and there is very little time left before the baby is born.

A woman who says a firm “no” to any medical interventions may simply break down at this time. It is at such moments that a woman in labor most often screams - give me a caesarean section, do at least something, stop this! But right now it’s too late to do anything. If a woman in labor is given a medicine that really relieves pain, the baby may have complications after birth, for example, respiratory depression.

And then the necessary injection is given as a placebo. For example, no-spa is introduced, which generally has no effect on the uterus. This injection is given only to calm the mother while she waits for it to take effect - she will have time to give birth.

How to relieve pain during childbirth yourself

The degree of severity of pain during childbirth largely depends on how the woman in labor perceives the birth act. If you resist contractions and clamp down, then your body quickly gets tired and you begin to feel pain. It often happens that a woman initially expects pain during childbirth and thereby provokes its appearance. It's a vicious circle - the more you resist the contractions, the more more pain, the stronger the pain, the more you clamp down. The uterus is working with all its might, but the cervix cannot open - you prevent it from doing this with your fear.

The pain syndrome increases due to the accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles of the uterus and its resistance to itself: some muscles work to open, while others spasm and do not allow it to open. Due to the fact that currently almost all expectant mothers have the opportunity to attend childbirth preparation courses, you have the opportunity to learn in advance how to relieve pain during childbirth yourself.

During the courses you will learn everything about special breathing and relaxation techniques during childbirth, about exercises that help, you will tune in to the fact that giving birth is not painful, and should not be painful. It’s good if your partner, not necessarily your husband, is with you during the birth. Even your mother, aunt or friend can act as an assistant during childbirth. She needs to take these courses with you. Here they will teach you how to do a relaxing massage during childbirth, breathe with the woman in labor, support and guide her at the right moment.

Yes, childbirth cannot be completely painless. Of course, there will be discomfort. You can partly influence how much discomfort and pain you will feel. And remember that if you suddenly fail, there is alternative ways relieve pain, analgesics are used during childbirth, if you need it, they will help you.

Each stage of labor has its own types of breathing, but the basis for all is the same: abdominal breathing. To train it, place your hands on your stomach and try to breathe so that your chest remains motionless, and your arms (and stomach) rise and fall. And remember, during childbirth, all inhalations should be through the nose, and exhalations through the mouth, while the lips should be folded into a tube (this increases the resistance to the blown air, and, therefore, stretches the exhalation).

So, the long-awaited contractions began, at first they were weak, not yet painful, but already unpleasant. At this time, Breathing is usually not yet required, but when the strength of the contraction increases, and the first painful sensations, this is where the first type of breathing will help - delayed. Usually a person makes up to 17 breathing movements per minute and the inhalation is always shorter than the exhalation. To relieve pain from moderate contractions, you need to breathe deeply and slowly. To begin with, slow and deep breath for 3 seconds – exhale for 7 seconds. (It is better to train with a watch with a second hand in front of the gases). This will result in 6 breathing movements per minute. The stronger the contractions, the slower you need to breathe: inhale for 5 seconds – exhale for 10 (that’s 4 breathing movements per minute). And then even less often: inhale for 6 seconds – exhale for 12 (that works out to about 3 breathing movements per minute). However, the latter option requires some training.

When contractions become strong and painful, slow breathing no longer helps. It is replaced by the following type of breathing - wave breathing. The contraction proceeds in waves, at first it increases, then it lasts for some time, then the strength of the contraction decreases. Breathing should repeat this wave: at first the breathing is slow and deep, then the strength of the contraction increases, and breathing becomes frequent and shallow (the so-called doggie breathing), then the contraction subsides, and breathing gradually becomes slow and deep again. In the breaks between contractions, you need to relax, but if the breaks have become short, and the contractions are strong and painful, you need to breathe in a slow type of breathing between contractions (so as not to “miss” the beginning of the next contraction), for example, inhale for 3, exhale for 7 seconds.

Dog breathing can be replaced by other types if desired. First - breathing with a candle(slow, deep breath in through the nose and exhale sharply through the mouth). You can still do respite(inhale - exhale as when breathing “dog” - blow out - slightly stretched, but quickly exhale). You can also " build pyramids"(inhale – exhale – blow out, then 2 “inhale – exhale” – blow out, 3 “inhale – exhale” – blow out and in the reverse order). This also distracts from pain. Don’t forget that you need to breathe with your stomach, and also that you need to inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth (an exception is dog breathing - here you can breathe either only with your mouth or only with your nose).

This type of breathing dries out your nose and mouth. The mouth can be rinsed with water, and the nose or lubricated Vaseline oil or you can use Aquamaris spray (both must be prepared in advance and taken with you to the birth block).

Note! If after the end of the contraction you feel very dizzy (“out of breath” - there is excess oxygen in the blood), then you need to create a slight hypoxia - cover your nose with your hand or a blanket and breathe for a few seconds.

It is also important to move more during contractions. When muscles work, they require more oxygen, which means the speed of blood flow increases (and the heartbeat becomes faster), and, therefore, blood flow increases everywhere, including in the placenta.

If you really want to scream, don’t waste precious energy on it. In this case it is better sing. It is better to sing vowel sounds: “A”, “O”, “U”, etc. Take a deep, slow breath through your nose and as you exhale, make a vowel sound. You can also buzz (pull the sound “Zh”), hum (sound “M”) or itch (sound “Z”).

At some point, pushing joins the contractions. You can’t push right away - you need to call a doctor, he will evaluate the dilatation of the cervix and either allow you to push, or you will have to “breathe” through several attempts. You will also have to “breathe” at the moment of birth of the face (at this moment the midwife will say that you cannot push). For removing pressure can be used doggie breathing or sobbing(deep breath, then many small exhalations, or vice versa, many small breaths, then smooth exhalation).

And so the doctor allowed me to push, and the most important period of childbirth begins - pushing. During this period, the main thing is to completely obey the midwife. But even here you need to breathe correctly. Breathing while pushing: take a deep breath through the mouth, hold your breath (at this time you need to look at the navel and push on the perineum (as with constipation)). SLOW exhale. The most important thing here is not to exhale sharply or scream. Otherwise, all the force of the attempt will go into a cry, and the attempt will be ineffective. If everything is done correctly, then in one push you need to push 3 times.

It is better to train all these types of breathing every day. If you devote at least 15 minutes a day to breathing training, then, firstly, it will become familiar to the body and will be remembered by itself during childbirth, and, secondly, it will train the baby. It is important for the baby that the mother practices holding her breath during pregnancy. This will help the baby better adapt to hypoxia during labor.

Another component of pain is fear of it. If you expect pain, it will seem very strong. You can’t set yourself up for pain. When you know that pain can be reduced, fear also decreases. Expectant mothers, remember that the baby is also scared during childbirth, he does not know what will happen next. Don’t forget to talk to him during childbirth, let him hear your voice - he will be calmer, because now you are the whole universe for him... Health to you and your babies. Have a calm pregnancy and easy birth.
py. sy.)) that’s how it’s written - that’s how I breathed. really good... and I had time to talk on the phone))) so don’t waste time shouting, it’s better to breathe carefully. don't rush it, lalya. and everything will be alright)) if you have any questions, ask))))))))

Pain during labor is quite natural. Proper breathing, comfortable posture, and massage will help you cope with them. Sometimes doctors resort to medications or blockades.

From generation to generation, mothers and grandmothers tell their daughters that giving birth is painful. Yes, the process itself is unpleasant and painful, but modern medicine And folk methods can significantly alleviate the condition. Female body very strong and can withstand the tests that nature sends to him. To be prepared for all this, it is important to know how to relieve the pain of contractions. There are special controls, breathing techniques, medication support and much more.

How to ease the sensations during contractions

What kind of pain does a woman experience during contractions, determine it individual characteristics and magnitude pain threshold. In addition, the size and location of the fetus in the womb, as well as the number of births previously experienced, if any, are of great importance.

There are several techniques to suppress pain. It can be medications or conservative methods. For special exercises and other methods require little preparation. Unlike medications, massage and proper breathing will not harm the baby, and you can try hard for this. But under some circumstances, these gentle methods may not be enough.

What methods to resort to should be decided during pregnancy, then childbirth will be easier, and you should worry about it expectant mother will not be. After all, part of the sensations that she experiences during labor are directly related to her emotional state.

What to do to relieve labor pain

Medicines are not always the only way suppress discomfort and pain during labor and childbirth. For expectant mother the main thing is a positive attitude. A woman must remember that everyone has gone through this and there is nothing as terrible as it seems. Passing through such a difficult test she gives new life, and very soon she will be holding her baby in her arms.

Will also help relieve pain simple rules and methods:

massage or self-massage;
toilet room every hour;
cold compress on the neck or face;

Massage or self-massage will not only help you relax, but also relieve stress and tension. Doctors recommend that a woman in labor go to the toilet every hour for a reason: full bladder puts pressure on internal organs and makes contractions even more painful.

A cold compress on the neck or face activates the receptors and relieves discomfort. But take it off muscle tension You can also use a shower. Water relaxes and calms. If the doctor does not prohibit it, you can drink water and also eat nutritious snacks: they will help replenish the energy that a woman loses several times faster during childbirth.

In addition, the support of loved ones is of great importance. IN Lately Partner births have become popular. Opinions differ about their appropriateness, but one thing is for sure: if her mother or her beloved man is next to the woman in labor, it will be much easier for her to cope with stress and pain.

During contractions, discomfort occurs throughout the body due to muscle strain, but the lower back and lower back suffer the most. In this case, massage helps a lot. Pressure on the sacrum relieves spasm and alleviates the condition.

It is equally important to breathe properly. This is taught even before birth in classes for expectant mothers, so you shouldn’t skip them. They also tell you what the pain is like. Breathing should be slower than usual, calm, and at the peak of the contraction - intermittent and frequent.

Movement and positioning of the body will not only help suppress pain, but also speed up the process of delivery. We need to help the woman change her position to one that is as comfortable as possible for her.

Correct body position can speed up the process of cervical dilatation and relax a tense body.

When moving or walking, the baby's head puts more pressure on the neck and causes it to open faster. When contractions become more frequent, it is better to take vertical position: This will give the woman a break and gain strength.

Among the postures that facilitate labor are the following:

position on all fours;
leaning on the headboard with the support of another person;
kneeling position supported by a chair or bed;
sitting on a special ball for pregnant women.

It is important for a woman to take exactly the position in which she will not feel pain and feel comfortable. She may need to change positions several times, so she simply needs the help of medical staff or loved ones. It will be easier for those who are not having their first birth: they are already familiar with all the sensations and know in advance a comfortable position that will help cope with colic.

Drug pain relief during contractions

Among the medications, it is worth highlighting drugs that suppress pain, as well as those that help to calm down and relieve psychological stress.

Tranquilizers and barbiturates

They do not relieve pain during contractions, but they help cope with tension and suppress anxiety. For many women this is enough, because part of them discomfort intensifies due to panic and fear.

However, such drugs can negatively affect labor. A woman may lose control over what is happening, and the baby may lose activity during the birth period.

Painkillers or sleeping pills

They are used for increased sensations when a woman is unable to endure and cramping pain in the abdomen leads to loss of consciousness. But you need to take them in advance, and not wait until it becomes unbearably painful. It is best to administer the drug when preparatory contractions begin.

Such medicines safe for the child and mother, they relieve pain from contractions and also relax the abdominal muscles, but do not weaken labor.

The only drawback remains the risk of respiratory depression in the mother or child during large doses medications, as well as excessive weakness and drowsiness of the woman.

Epidural complex

The most common method. Several types of anesthesia are considered:

epidural block;
spinal block;
spinal-epidural combination.

Epidural or peridural anesthesia involves the introduction of a drug into the cavity between the hard meninges and the walls of the spinal canal. With a spinal block, the analgesic effect occurs due to the effect on the roots of the spinal cord. The drug is injected into the cavity between the soft and arachnoid membranes.

To speed up the process of pain relief, as well as for stronger anesthesia, techniques are combined and a combination of spinal and epidural blockade is often used.

The advantage of this method is the speed of cupping pain syndrome: the pain goes away within a few minutes after administration of the drug. The woman retains mobility, which is necessary for successful natural birth, and then the contractions pass without pain. It is worth noting that the child receives a small part medicinal substances, but they can't harm him. Among the disadvantages of such anesthesia, the following points should be highlighted:

decreased blood pressure;
nausea or vomiting (extremely rare);
headache;
decreased heart rate in a child.

During anesthesia, the catheter through which the medicine is given remains in place, and the anesthesiologist can, if necessary, add the necessary amount of pain medication while monitoring the condition of the woman in labor.

Be that as it may, the question of how to reduce pain during contractions needs to be discussed with your doctor individually, and it is better to do this before giving birth.