There are three main types of medical pain relief used in childbirth, gas & air(entonox), pethidine (or other injectable opiate) and epidural. Other non-medical methods include certain breathing techniques, TENS machine, aromatherapy, reflexology and acupuncture. Specialist breathing techniques known as psychoprophylaxis, train you to breathe through the contractions/pain. It will depend on your pain level and ability to concentrate on your breathing through this pain, and so does not work for everyone. TENS machines pass mild electrical currents through your skin and has two effects. Firstly they reduce the pain messages coming to your brain thus reduce your perception of it. Secondly it stimulates the production of your own natural pain killers, known as endorphins, to help ease the pain. It is carried around with you in your pocket (like a walkman) and you can control its output yourself. It doesn''t affect the baby and works best if applied in very early labour. Entonox, a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen, has been used for over two centuries and is considered very safe. You breathe it in at the start of each contraction through a mouth-tube/ mask. You control it, can''t overdo it, and it doesn''t affect the baby. It needs to be practised, as the effect builds up gradually to help with the peak of the contraction. It doesn''t suit everyone as it can make you feel sick and ''spaced-out''. Pethidine is an injectable form of pain relief, given into your buttock/hip, about every 3 hours or so. It works by stimulating pain relieving receptors in your brain. It works well and effectively, but may make you feel sick (but that could be due to the pain), or sleepy. It works well, along side entonox. Its biggest problem is that if it is given to you close to the birth, but with enough time to cross the placenta, it can effect the baby at birth leaving him drowsy, slow to breathe or respond. An injection to reverse its effects on the baby can be given if the doctor thinks your baby is compromised. It may also leave your baby slow to feed. That is why giving you the drug depends so much on your progress in labour...timing is important. Other opiates similar to pethidine include morphine and diamorphine. An epidural is where a tube is inserted by an anaesthetist into your epidural space (in your lower back) and anaesthetic is injected numbing your lower back and tummy, so that you cannot feel the pain. As you cannot feel when you need to wee, a tube will be put into your bladder (catheter) to drain away your urine. You will also need to have a drip in your arm so that should your blood pressure drop (a rare complication of epidural) fluids can be given to help. It is usually a very effective form of pain relief but does restrict your mobility.
 |
Register to be entered into our weekly prize draw!