Worried about the pain? Can You Give Birth Without Pain ? Explained

Worried about the pain? Can You Give Birth Without Pain ? Explained

Childbirth, also known as labor and delivery, is the ending of pregnancy where one or more babies exits the internal environment of the mother via vaginal delivery or Caesarean section. In 2019, there were about 140.11 million births globally.  In the developed world most deliveries occur in hospitals, while in the developing world most were at home births.

The most common childbirth method is vaginal delivery  It involves four stages of labor: the shortening and opening of the cervix during the first stage, descent and birth of the baby during the second, the delivery of the placenta during the third, and the recovery of the mother and infant during the fourth stage, which is referred to as the postpartum.

The first stage is characterized by abdominal cramping or back pain that typically lasts half a minute and occurs every 10 to 30 minutes. Contractions gradually becomes stronger and closer together.  Since the pain of childbirth correlates with contractions, the pain becomes more frequent and strong as the labor progresses. The second stage ends when the infant is fully expelled.

The third stage is the delivery of the placenta. The fourth stage of labor involves the recovery of the mother, delayed clamping of the umbilical cord, and monitoring of the neonate. As of 2014, all major health organizations advise that immediately following a live birth, regardless of the delivery method, that the infant be placed on the mother’s chest (termed skin-to-skin contact), and to delay neonate procedures for at least one to two hours or until the baby has had its first breastfeeding.

A vaginal delivery is recommended over a cesarean section due to increased risk for complications of a cesarean section and natural benefits of a vaginal delivery in both mother and baby. Various methods may help with pain, such as relaxation techniques, opioids, and spinal blocks. It is best practice to limit the amount of interventions that occur during labor and delivery such as an elective cesarean section, however in some cases a scheduled cesarean section must be planned for a successful delivery and recovery of the mother.

An emergency cesarean section may be recommended if unexpected complications occur or little to no progression through the birthing canal is observed in a vaginal delivery.

Each year, complications from pregnancy and childbirth result in about 500,000 birthing deaths, seven million women have serious long-term problems, and 50 million women giving birth have negative health outcomes following delivery, most of which occur in the developing world. Complications in the birthing parent include obstructed labor, postpartum bleeding, eclampsia, and postpartum infection. Complications in the baby include lack of oxygen at birth, birth trauma, and prematurity.

Pain during labor is caused by contractions of the muscles of the uterus and by pressure on the cervix. This pain can be felt as strong cramping in the abdomen, groin, and back, as well as an achy feeling. Some women experience pain in their sides or thighs as well.

While the experience is different for everyone, labor usually feels like extremely strong menstrual cramps that take your breath away and make you unable to talk. As labor continues and the pain worsens, the pregnant person tunes out stimuli and adopts a tunnel vision, focusing on the labor and getting the baby out.

Labor pain is one of the most severe pains which has ever evaluated and its fear is one of the reasons women wouldn’t go for natural delivery. Considering different factors which affect experiencing pain, this study aimed to explain women’s experiences of pain during childbirth

Only about one in 100 women have the variant, which reduces the ability of nerve cells to send pain signals to the brain, researchers at the University of Cambridge found. The gene then acts as a natural epidural, it and may explain why childbirth is a less painful experience for a small number of women

While slightly more than half said having contractions was the most painful aspect of delivery, about one in five noted pushing or post-delivery was most painful. Moms 18 to 39 were more likely to say post-delivery pain was the most painful aspect than those 40 and older.

Labor pain has two components: visceral pain which occurs during the early first stage and the second stage of childbirth, and somatic pain which occurs during the late first stage and the second stage

Many women described pushing during labor as a relief, while others found it painful. “There is a ton of pressure, and once you start pushing it hurts so bad to stop.” “My contractions were manageable but the rectal pressure was intense! It was relieving to push and incredibly relieving to push him out.”