Let's start off with my favorite comedian to help get the blood pumping and endorphins flying. Laughter is good! He is going to introduce the topic of this unit- PAIN! (WATCH VIDEO).
The pain from acute gastroenteritis or a broken femur is quite different than labor pain. To help you remember this, think of the acronym P.A.I.N.
P- purposeful
A- anticipated
I- intermittent
N- normal
Labor pain and contractions are purposeful, every contraction is bringing you closer to the birth of your baby.
It is anticipated. Since you found out you were pregnant, you knew that you were, in fact, going to be parents! There is no woman who has been pregnant forever.
Intermittent. This is my favorite. This is what makes an un-medicated birth possible (if that is your desire). There are breaks between contractions that allow time to recoup and relax. The pain of labor is not constant.
Normal- It is normal to have discomfort in varying degrees.
Go to page 16. On the left hand column, headed Birth is Natural, the characteristics of labor pain are reviewed. (READ)
Now let's consider pain vs suffering. What do you think of when you think of pain? A wasp sting, stubbing your toe, hitting your thumb with hammer, a tough work out, even. What about suffering? I think of agony, loss of control, and hopelessness. In labor, you may experience pain, but it is my hope that through education, preparedness, practice and support, you will not suffer in labor.
Back to page 16- now the right side column explains the Fear>>>>Tension>>>>Pain cycle. (READ). You are already breaking this cycle by being here at your computer. Go ahead, reach your right arm up in the air, bend it at the elbow, and pat yourself on the back. The plan is to learn, practice and have support.
So learn, we will. Let's talk about another observation in relation to pain. One of you get up and play "theater": your scenario is - "you have just stubbed your toe". (Keep in mind you are going for an Emmy Award with your acting.) (STUB TOE)
The observer should jot down what the actor's reactions are to this pain.
The actor my have sworn, yelped, and/or bit his lip. He may have been jumping around, hopping on one foot. He may have held his leg or rolled on the ground. Possibly cried, rocked, and/or sucked this thumb. The possibilities are great! Likely, he was doing more than 1 thing. Why?
This is something that you do in response to pain. The brain perceives the pain and instinctively sends other messages to the brain to be distracted from the pain. For example, partners- pinch the inside of your wife's arm. Mom's do you feel some pain? Now, partners, with your other hand lightly tickle all around where you are pinching her. Moms, what do you think? Did you sense less pain when he tickled around the pinch? Trade off so your partner can feel the difference too.
One of the approaches to coping with discomfort in labor is to distract our minds. Along with education, distraction and/or relaxation are the 2 principles that all types of childbirth education/philosophy stem.
Brainstorm together the things that you might do if you had a horrible day. What would you do to distract your mind and/or relax. (BRAINSTORM)
Likely, these same measures can be used in labor. Granted, there is a time in labor when some measures are more appropriate and effective than others! I have a comfort bag for labor that has: a tennis ball for massage, a hot pack/rice sock,and lotion that smells good for aroma-therapy and for massages. I have a magazine and a joke book for distraction and laughs, or for fanning. I have a head massager, I have an I-pod for music that I can either relax to or jam to. I have a deck of cards, and a DVD. I have a greeting card that I can use as a focal point, and I have my labor positions hand-out to refer to. (more on labor positions later)
Turn to page 34 in the manual. Read pages 34 and 35. (READ)
There are many options to help you relax and distract. Studies show if you don't practice these things, you are unlikely to use them in labor. So try these things out. In fact, it is your assignment!
Assignment for Unit 2:
1. Watch the video on progressive relaxation in chapter 4. In bed, over the next couple of nights, take turns coaching this relaxation. It is best to have some relaxing music on in the background.
2. Moms: you should massage your husband for 5 minutes. Husbands, take note of what she is doing to you because usually people do to others what they would like in return. For example, because I love my hair played with, I assumed that everyone does. Wrong. But because that is my tendency to play with hair, you can bet that is what I like. Now, partners, return the massage with what she did to you.
