pain, fear + the mind in childbirth part 1
In this 3-part series, I will explore the types of sensations and pains you might experience during labor and birth; how fear manifests itself physiologically in your body during labor; and what you can do to break the cycle of fear and mitigate the pains of childbirth.
THE SENSATIONS OF CHILDBIRTH
How often have you heard someone describe their labor and birth experience as “painful?” No doubt you’ve heard of back labor and the “ring of fire” as being two of the more excruciating parts of labor. However, on the rise is the idea that birth can be pain-free, ecstatic, and even orgasmic.
Birth shouldn’t be all about pain, and it doesn’t have to be.
First, let’s break down exactly what pain is. By definition, pain is a signal from your body to inform your brain that an illness or injury is present. Labor and childbirth are neither of those! The pain you might feel during labor is transformational - things in your body are profoundly changing! This is the same type of pain that children feel when teething or going through a growth spurt.
You will feel a lot of new and different sensations during childbirth. Here are the five most common:
Cramping. Occurs most often in early labor, felt in the lower abdomen right above your pubic bone.
Stretching. Felt in the first stage of labor as your cervix expands and is simultaneous with the third item on this list.
Tightening. Felt in the first stage of labor as your uterus contracts.
Pressure. Occurs near the end of the first stage of labor into the beginning of the second stage as your baby pushes on your cervix and pelvic floor.
Burning. Felt at the end of labor as your baby’s head stretches the tissues around your vagina.
Thankfully, your body naturally produces hormones to help you cope with these sensations. Endorphins are naturally occurring opioids that are responsible for things like “runner’s high.” They can relieve pain and promote feelings of wellbeing, acting in a similar manner to morphine. Oxytocin is also a powerful pain reliever. Often called the “love hormone,” it is released during intimate moments and orgasm. It is also the driving force behind uterine contractions. Read more about oxytocin here.
The majority of the sensations you feel during childbirth should not cause you pain, although there are exceptions like a perineal tear. Your body was designed to birth your baby. It knows what to do.
Stay tuned for the second installment in this series - The Physiology of Fear in Childbirth.
Big thanks to the following book for quite a lot of this information. I highly recommend reading Mindful Birthing in its entirety. It is also a fabulous audiobook!
Bardacke, Nancy. Mindful Birthing. HarperOne, July 10, 2012.
