Almost all expectant mothers dread the pain of childbirth. And the joy of welcoming a baby is sometimes overshadowed by this apprehension. Where exactly does it hurt? What are these pains comparable to?
But actuallywhy does it hurt when giving birth to your child? During the work phase, It is the contractions of the muscles of the uterus that are painful. At a sustained pace, they are what will allow the cervix to dilate and open. An intense, but intermittent pain. When dilation is complete, the baby will continue its descent into the pelvis and then pass through the vagina. In the absence of an epidural, this passage of the baby is obviously painful since the perineum and the vulva stretch to the maximum.
Labor pains: what is it like?
Pregnancy contractions can be compared to severe period pains.but labor contractions are often much more intense. Women who have experienced them sometimes compare them to pain felt during renal or hepatic colic. A very intense pain, which encompasses belly, pelvis, lower back. It is difficult, however, to describe the pain of the baby’s expulsion, which, objectively, is unlike any other! The sensation of wanting to push the baby very hard towards the exit is, however, quite similar to the need to go to the toilet.
Where exactly does it hurt during childbirth?
Not all women have pain in exactly the same place, and sometimes the pain is so all-encompassing that it seems to spread throughout the body. Generally speaking, Women describe pain in the abdomen and pelvis. But depending on the orientation of the baby’s head, it happens that expectant mothers suffer from very intense pain in the lower back. We then speak of a delivery “by the kidneys”. Still other women report pain in their legs, especially the thighs.
While it is important not to worry too much about the pain of childbirth, it is also essential to prepare well. Good preparation is one of the keys to approaching childbirth with peace of mind. In addition to medication, the oxygen mask and the epidural, which is obviously the most effective way to suffer as little as possible, other methods can effectively relieve pain or at least manage it without becoming overwhelmed.
- Being well supported and accompanied
- Having taken childbirth preparation classes (this also allows you to know a little about what to expect!)
- Welcoming the pain without trying to fight it
- Do breathing and sophrology exercises
- Move and vary positions
- Make a balloon
- Take a hot bath or shower
- Request a lumbar massage