If you’re an expectant mother, you’re probably nervous about labor and delivery. Of course, you can pack your hospital bag and speak with your healthcare provider about the birthing process, but there’s nothing that can prepare you for the pain of childbirth. Childbirth feels different for every woman, but you can do a few things to ease the pain with support from loved ones and healthcare professionals.

How Painful Is Childbirth, Really?

Every woman has a different experience giving birth, but most say that the early stages of labor resemble intense menstrual cramps. These contractions are so strong that women often feel unable to breathe or speak. While some women say these contractions feel like pressure in the abdomen, others feel contractions in their back. 

Some women cling to their partners when it’s time to start pushing for support. However, others may become overwhelmed with pain, begin to yell to offset discomfort, or even make demands. Each of these responses is natural when it comes time to give birth. 

Most women say that when the baby begins to come out, the feeling is akin to that of a large bowel movement but with much more pain. When you’re giving birth, you might feel a “pulling” sensation around the vagina that rises toward the pubic bone and increases as pushing begins. Don’t be alarmed; this sensation is the pulling and tensing of your muscles as they prepare for birth. 

Holistic Healthcare Tips to Ease Labor Pain

Although an epidural is one of the most effective ways to relieve labor pain, you can also incorporate these holistic healthcare tips into labor pains. If you’ve requested assistance from a midwife when it’s time to give birth, they may recommend the following pain relief options.

• Active birth. Staying active during labor is one of the most effective ways to reduce pain. Allow yourself to move freely and remain upright so that gravity helps the baby travel down your pelvis.
• Water immersion. Birthing centers typically have facilities where you can take a bath or shower during the first stages of labor. If you’re interested in water birthing, discuss this option with your midwife to prepare ahead of time.
• Sterile water injections. You can also ask your midwife to inject sterile water into your lower back to reduce back pain. Some women combine this with other forms of pain relief.
• Massage and heat. Hot packs and massages can also reduce labor pain. Massage will ease the pain, while heat packs encourage your body to release more endorphins.

Regardless of how you manage labor pains, ensure that you discuss your birthing plan with your healthcare provider, so they can offer support and ensure that you’re as comfortable as possible during labor and delivery.

Create Your Birthing Plan with 2Me Healthcare

Childbirth may be a painful experience, but the right healthcare providers can ease the process. If you’re interested in working with a midwife that offers holistic pregnancy support, OB2Me is here to help. At OB2Me, we offer private in-home or in-office concierge midwifery care to support you with comfortable prenatal and postpartum care for you and your family. We are also available to help you throughout your labor and delivery at the hospital.

OB2Me provides multiple packages and services to best fit your needs and make your transition from pregnancy to motherhood as stress-free as possible. Contact our team today and see how working with a dedicated and passionate healthcare provider can make all the difference.

Carson

Carson Ragan, CNM is a Certified Nurse Midwife with more than 25 years of experience in Labor & Delivery, Neonatal ICU, and women’s healthcare. After becoming a mother at a young age and experiencing the birth of her premature second child, she was inspired to pursue nursing and ultimately midwifery.

She earned her nursing degree from Columbus State University and graduated as an RN in 1999. After years of experience as an L&D and NICU nurse, charge nurse, educator, and clinician, she earned her graduate degree from Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing in 2010 and became a Certified Nurse Midwife.

Her personal experiences as both a mother and healthcare provider inspired her vision for a more personal, convenient approach to women’s healthcare. She created a concierge model designed to give women more time, individualized attention, and quality care in the comfort of their home or office.

Outside of work, Carson enjoys spending time with her husband and five children, volunteering with her daughter’s volleyball teams, traveling, and scuba diving.