Pregnancy and childbirth are parts of the natural biological process. Uterine contractions will cause pain or back ache. The contractions make the uterus soft and expand. Therefore, they are also a normal biological change, which signals the baby is about to leave the uterus and will arrive in the outside world soon. The pain brings discomfort and may cause fear to those who are not familiar with the contractions. The contraction is an indicator of vaginal delivery. It causes the cervix to thin and dilate and helps the baby to descend into the birth canal. Don't panic over the labour pains as they are part of the labouring process, and there are many ways to help you manage the pain. Keep your mind relaxed by staying calm and thinking positively. Let your body guide you through the labouring process so that your muscles will relax and have a smooth delivery.
The cervix dilates gradually, and the baby turns gradually out of the uterus. The length of the labor process depends on the number of births the mother has given, the time separation from the previous birth, the emotional condition, the fetal position, the size and shape of the pelvis, and uterine contractions. Therefore, labour may take a while. Typically, it takes 12 to 18 hours of labour for the first child and approximately 8 to 10 hours for the second one. Patience is required. In recent years, expectant mothers have better nutrition status, they tend to exercise less often and their babies are relatively large, delivery may be prolonged, which will require the expectant parents to be more patient. The expectant parents should start receiving prenatal education a few months before the due date to understand the changes during labour, ways of relieving pain naturally, and the different types of pain relievers. It won’t be as effective to learn about pain management techniques after the contraction starts.
The following are the basic ways of relieving pains and discomfort during labour.
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