The words “Labor Pains” evoke the mental image of women in distress, screaming with pain and in need of immediate rescue. One thing is certain – you cannot avoid the pain. Labor pain is part and parcel of the childbirth process. All women experience it – some less, some more. The experience of laor pain is so exhilirating to some women (including many of our mothers) that they keep emphasizing there was nothing they would do to avoid the labor pain. To them it was a right of passage to motherhood, despite messages in media and medical community saying “why have the pain?”

The message is that labor is extraordinarily painful – while most women will experience “pain” in labor, some women have described their labor as “painless” in all cultures across the world. Surprising? But, it makes sense because pain thresholds are different for different women, but also that some of them are more prepared to “let go” and experience the pain of labor as a culmination of 9 months of pregnancy, and are more prepared for the whole experience. These women have “anticipated” the pain of labor, and we have had moms tell us that the pain of labor was “less” than they had anticipated!! Cool, isn’t it?

So, what can you do to make labor pain more manageable?

1) Do Not Panic:

Do not tell anyone except your labor partner (husband/mom/friend/sister/anyone that you have chosen) that you are in labor. This is especially important in India, where the mom-to-be is with her mom at the end of pregnancy, and there are tons of people around the house waiting for her labor to start!! Early labor or pre-labor pains can last for hours or days – they come and go; start and stop; increase and decrease; have rhythm for some time and then no rhythm – However, in each case they last for a very short period and are very easily managed. If you have learnt some breathing techniques use it; if not, do what comes naturally to you. The fact is that more the people who know about your labor, the more everyone thinks that something needs to happen – And, the shy hormone Oxytocin, which is needed to help labor move along, just runs away with all that prodding and watching done by everyone around you in labor!!

There is a reason why labor starts at night or in the early morning hours for most moms – A) the body is rested; and B) there is no one watching it!

So, what else can you do in early labor?

2) Take a shower, walk around a bit, have something warm to drink (or cold – if you do not like warm drinks, there is no set rule). Usually, these things will make you comfortable enough to go back to bed and rest. Yes, REST. In early labor, resting and relaxing are the 2 most important things that you can do. Sleep if you can. If the contractions are 10, 15 or 20 minutes apart, there is no reason that you cannot sleep in between, and then just breathe through 20 seconds of contractions!

3) If your back or your lower belly hurts, you can keep a hot water bag to the area and the warmth gives you enough relief to get some rest

4) If needed, ask your labor partner to give you a massage – back massage, foot massage, leg massages work great!

5) Keep the lights off! I cannot emphasize this enough. Keeping low light not only allows you to rest, but also does not over-stimulate your brain into thinking and over-anticipating the progress of your labor

6) Eat and drink normally.

7) You may find that each contraction sets of a need for you to visit the bathroom. This is okay. Go, then come back and rest.

8) If it is broad daylight, and you cannot rest anymore, go about your daily activities. Can you cook for yourself/your family? Yes. Can you go shopping to your neighborhood grocery store? Yes. Can you iron some clothes? Yes. Can you read, or watch TV, or play cards? Yes. Can you go back to bed, and rest? Absolutely, Yes. Can you walk, climb stairs, or do your exercises? If you feel comfortable, absolutely Yes. Can your husband take you out to lunch or to the mall? Yes. Do you HAVE TO walk or do exercises for labor to progress? NO. In early labor, doing too much will actually tire you out, and not leave enough energy for the hard part of labor.

10)Will you somehow miss the progress of labor if you rest and relax and go off to sleep? Absolutely NO! Your body is smart, and it signals you that things are moving into the next gear. You will know as the pain intensifies, pelvic pressure increases and you generally feel more uncomfortable! This is usually the time to go to your hospital or birth center. As a rule of thumb, by this time, your contractions are 4-5 minutes apart, 45-60 seconds long and strong enough that you have to stop doing whatever you are doing, and breathe through the contractions. You may be vocal or you may be silent, but usually by this time, you will not be able to carry a conversation at the peak of the contractions. Yes, by this time everyone in your house will know that you are in labor!

So, what has your early labor accomplished? By now, your cervix (the opening of the mouth of the uterus) has softened, come into a forward facing position, and opened out to some extent. Do not be surprised if you are a few centimeters dilated! Even if you are not much dilated, early labor still has so much meaning to the overall progress of labor – your baby may have come further down into your pelvis, she may have turned into a more optimal position, and your body’s hormones are primed to lead you into stronger, longer contractions, which will be needed to bring your baby out!

Wouldnt it be wonderful if you were prepared in advance for what to expect? While no labor follows an exact predefined script, being prepared removes a great many surprises for the mother and she is well equipped with the knowledge of how her labor might progress. So she and her partner can be prepared with measures to manage her labor along with her midwife. Labor Pain is one topic that most mothers (and partners) are terrified of, and become easy “prey” for pressure tactics from their hospital of care provider to agree to pain analgesics like Epidural etc which have more risks than benefits for the average mother.

Well, in the Healthy Mother Lamaze for Parents classes our experts teach to-be parents precisely such techniques and methods like How to Manage Labor Pain naturally. At the end of the classes every couple becomes knowledgeable and therefore confident of going through labor and birth without fear and as a concious participant in her birth process.

Check out details of the Healthy Mother Lamaze for Parents classes here. These classes are completely ONLINE. While the ideal time to join the classes in once you have completed 24 weeks, even couples in their later stages of pregnancy can attend a Customized version of the classes that take into account their specific situation.

In case you are interested in a one-to-one Consultation via Skype with Dr Vijaya Krishnan, you can fill out the form on the right with SKYPE Consultation as the Subject Line.