What pain during childbirth is like. Causes of labor pain Pain during childbirth is comparable

As you know, childbirth is a process accompanied by quite intense pain. What are the mechanisms of this pain, at what stages of labor does it appear, and can it be overcome?

Pain is a unique mental state of a person that occurs when exposed to some very strong irritant. What is pain for? Its biological purpose is protection. An organ affected by a disease or injured attracts the attention of the brain with pain so that the necessary measures can be taken to eliminate the danger to the life and health of the body. As a result of this, adrenaline is released into the blood, muscle activity and tension increase, thanks to which a person can protect himself or avoid danger.

Thus, the physiological meaning of any pain is to give the body information about disturbances in natural processes. Childbirth itself is not something destructive for the mother’s body - it is a completely natural process. Therefore, labor pain has its own characteristics.

During the first stage of labor, the cervix opens. It is carried out due to the contraction of muscle fibers, their displacement relative to each other and stretching. Actually, involuntary contraction of the muscles of the uterus is a contraction. The strength and duration of contractions gradually increase as labor progresses. At the beginning of labor, they are short - 5 seconds each, and the intervals between contractions are 15-20 minutes.

By the time the first stage of labor passes into the second, the duration of the contraction is one minute or more, the intervals between contractions are 3-5 minutes. The first stage of labor in women who give birth to their first children lasts 8-12 hours, in multiparous women it is shorter. In this case, intense contractions occupy approximately 30% of this time at the end of the first stage of labor. At this time, the woman has less opportunity for respite, it seems that the pain intensifies, and in addition to the indicated pain mechanisms, the pressure that the head exerts on the birth canal is added. Muscle contractions are well known and familiar to us: various movements, walking, facial expressions, physical exercises, swimming are carried out precisely due to muscle contractions. The contraction of the uterine muscles occurs in the same way as any other muscle in the human body. Towards the end of pregnancy, the uterus becomes the largest and strongest muscle, so its contractions during childbirth are very powerful.

Factors that cause pain during contractions are the opening of the cervix, a decrease in the delivery of oxygen to muscle fibers due to the fact that during contractions the muscles compress the vessels that feed them. In addition, during contractions, compression of the nerve endings leading to the muscles of the uterus occurs, and tension of the uterine ligaments is noted. Can this be avoided? Probably not, because it is a mechanism that enables the birth process, but opportunities to relieve or reduce pain should be taken advantage of.

Opening of the amniotic sac

Sometimes during childbirth, doctors open the membranes. This occurs during a vaginal examination. The doctor first inserts his fingers into the vagina, and then, along the hollow between the fingers, a thin hook, with which he pries up the membranes of the amniotic sac. This procedure is painless, since there are no pain receptors in the membranes.

During a contraction, the pain increases gradually, reaching its maximum at the peak of the contraction (at the moment of maximum contraction of the muscles of the uterus), after which it also gradually recedes. Between contractions, the woman in labor can rest, sleep and prepare for the next contraction. In the first stage of labor, the pain is dull, the exact location of its localization is impossible to indicate, it is not felt clearly at the site of origin, but radiates to the lower back, sacrum, leg, and groin area. This is due to the fact that pain sensations come primarily from the uterine ligaments, the muscles of the uterus, and spread along the nerves coming from these anatomical structures, and these nerves are “responsible” for fairly wide areas, so the pain is diffuse in nature. This kind of pain is called visceral.

At the beginning of the first stage of labor, pain is caused by contractions of the uterus, as well as the tension of the uterine ligaments that accompanies each contraction. As labor progresses, stretching of the lower uterine segment becomes increasingly important in the occurrence of pain.

Pain during pushing

At the end of the first period, the nature of the contractions changes: the first attempts begin, they join the contractions. During pushing, the muscles of the diaphragm, abdominals and pelvic floor contract. Unlike contractions, pushing is a voluntary contraction of muscles, that is, the woman herself can regulate them through willpower. Pushing helps to move along the birth canal and expel the fetus.

Attempts occur within 1-5 minutes, the duration of each attempt is about 1 minute. The entire period of pushing lasts about 1 hour for primiparous women, and up to 30 minutes for multiparous women.

At the end of the first and at the beginning of the second stages of labor, the main role begins to be played by irritation of the inner part of the sacrum, tension of the uterosacral ligaments, mechanical pressure from the presenting part of the fetus (head or buttocks) on soft tissues and the bone ring of the small pelvis.

In the second stage of labor, the nature of the pain changes; it is acute and precisely localized - in the vagina, rectum, perineum. This kind of pain is called somatic. During pushing, a woman experiences an irresistible urge to push—to tense her abdominal muscles.

Mental state of the mother in labor

Fear of childbirth causes the pain to be felt even more intensely. With great tension and fear, a woman’s body releases adrenaline and similar hormones, which cause increased heart rate and muscle tension. In addition, there is a sharp decrease in the pain threshold. If a woman begins to feel that childbirth poses a danger to her, the wary anticipation of this danger gives rise to fear, which serves a protective function. When there is severe fear or stress, a person usually reacts by tensing his muscles and “squeezing.” If during childbirth the vaginal muscles are constantly clamped, this disrupts the process of opening the cervix, prevents the baby from passing through the birth canal, which, in turn, causes suffering both for the woman in labor, for whom childbirth becomes more painful, and for the fetus, because he is trying to overcome resistance tense muscles. In addition, fear or stress affects the autonomic nervous system (the part of the nervous system that, independently of consciousness, controls the functioning of internal organs), in turn, it affects the lumbosacral nerve plexus, and therefore the pelvic organs.

In other words, sensations in the uterus depend on the woman’s mental state. Fear of childbirth is the cause of acute pain and disruption (discoordination) of labor. And at the same time, it does not matter at all whether its source was a real or imaginary danger.

Does the woman in labor feel the cut in the perineum?

The perineal incision, which sometimes has to be made during pushing, usually goes unnoticed by the woman, since the incision is made at the height of pushing, when the skin and muscles of the perineum are maximally stretched. This stretching of the tissues and the woman’s concentration on pushing leads to a decrease in the sensitivity of the skin of the perineum. Suturing the skin and muscles of the perineum is a painful procedure, it is carried out against the background of anesthesia.

The perception of pain and its emotional coloring are the result of the activity of the cerebral cortex. The pain threshold, pain tolerance and response to pain largely depend on the type of higher nervous activity.

The intensity of pain is influenced by the duration of labor, as well as whether it goes smoothly or with complications, the size and position of the fetus, the strength of uterine contractions, and the presence of previous births. Thus, prolonged labor, certain complications, and a large fetus, as a rule, increase the intensity of pain. But a woman usually tolerates it more easily than the first ones.

Everything is in our hands...

Physical preparation of pregnant women for childbirth is carried out in schools for expectant mothers using a special set of exercises that strengthen some muscles that will be involved in childbirth and stretch others. In addition, the entire pregnancy should be carried out under the motto of physical activity. If there are no contraindications, pregnant women are recommended to do gymnastics, fitball exercises, swimming, yoga, and Pilates. Even if it is not possible to attend a school for expectant mothers or a fitness club, daily walks in the fresh air, doing light housework and simple gymnastic exercises will help you endure the trials of childbirth.

In order to reduce the psychological component of pain, psychoprophylactic preparation of pregnant women is used. Its goal is to remove the psychogenic component of labor pain, eliminate the idea of its inevitability, the feeling of fear, and contribute to the creation of a new idea of childbirth as a favorable physiological process in which pain is not necessary. Even if pain is present, you need to treat it positively - as a sign indicating that you will soon meet the baby. In order to correctly respond to pain signals and be able to cope with them, you need special knowledge about the course of labor, the nature of labor experiences, possible options for behavior, self-help, breathing techniques, and self-massage. Currently, preparation is carried out in group classes in schools for expectant mothers. In these classes, women gain an understanding of the physiology of childbirth, and also learn techniques and special techniques that help effectively reduce pain.

An important psychological moment during childbirth is the presence of a husband or another person close to the woman in labor, if there is mutual consent. It is useful for the pregnant woman to meet in advance with the doctor and midwife who will be attending the birth.

A prepared woman perceives childbirth as a natural process, knows that she can help herself, and feels more confident and calm. In addition, the woman becomes more disciplined and strictly follows the doctor’s recommendations, which, in turn, makes childbirth much easier for her.

What a person has to experience is the pain of childbirth. Every woman who has become a mother is familiar with the pain that accompanies this process. And in many cases, she is not ready to become a mother again, because it is the pain of childbirth that is holding her back. What can these sensations be compared to? Yes, with nothing, because no other pain can repeat it. It is necessary to understand that labor pain is individual and depends on the physiological characteristics of each woman.

Features of different women

As noted earlier, pain during labor is individual for each woman. However, it may depend on a number of factors. Let's look at some of them:

Physical and psychological It is advisable that before this process the woman and her husband attend courses for young parents. Here, experts will tell you how to breathe correctly during childbirth and reassure the expectant mother. It is important that her husband is also close to her so that she feels supported by him.
Pain threshold level. It is individual for every woman. If a woman in labor is unable to tolerate pain, she is given painkiller injections.
Difficulty during labor. Sometimes the birth process lasts only a few minutes, and sometimes it lasts several hours. This depends on the degree of dilatation of the uterus and the size of the fetus. A caesarean section may be necessary.
Use of anesthesia. Many women decide to use this method of childbirth because the pain is practically not felt.

What does pain during childbirth resemble?

Most women who are about to give birth to their first child wonder what the pain of childbirth can be compared to. In fact, it can hardly be compared with anything. Moreover, this process is individual for each woman.

The unpleasant sensations that accompany a woman from the very beginning of labor are initially episodic. At the same time, the woman in labor feels a peak, at which the pain becomes unbearably strong, and a decline, when this feeling becomes less noticeable or disappears altogether. This phenomenon is called contractions. As a rule, contractions repeat at intervals of 30 seconds to half an hour. Their duration is approximately several minutes. The explanation for this is that the woman’s body has begun preparing for the birth of the fetus.

The birth process

What does labor pain feel like? It's hard to say. But she is very strong and unbearable. The cervix, which is normally closed, begins to gradually stretch, reaching nine to ten centimeters in diameter by the time of birth. This is necessary in order to pass the baby's head through the birth canal. As a rule, this phenomenon lasts from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the condition of the woman’s tissues.

If the process is too slow, the doctor can stimulate it. Each subsequent birth is less painful than the previous ones. Usually, the second birth lasts less than the first (provided that no more than three years have passed since it). This happens because the woman’s body still “remembers” the previous labor. It is the sensation of stretching of the cervix during contractions that is the main source of pain during childbirth. When the fetus is completely delivered, the pain disappears.

What does the science say?

Every woman fears that she will have intense and unbearable pain during childbirth. What to compare it with? No pain can replicate that experienced by the female body during labor. Although some scientific studies have proven that pain during childbirth is equal to breaking 20 bones. However, for most women, the pain threshold decreases due to the release of the hormone endorphin into the blood. Therefore, for some women in labor, this process occurs with minimal pain or without it at all.

Each woman can determine for herself what pain during childbirth is like. After all, each person has purely individual sensations. To make the pain less pronounced, you should not set yourself up for a bad end. Under no circumstances should you think about a bad outcome. In addition, there is no need to get hung up on what to compare the pain of childbirth with. prove that for some women, even tooth extraction is more painful.

How to relieve pain yourself

To reduce pain during childbirth, both physical and psychological preparation are necessary. During pregnancy, you need to walk as much as possible, which will strengthen the muscles of the vagina and pelvis. As a result, pain during childbirth will be significantly reduced. In addition, a pregnant woman should prepare herself in advance that the process of giving birth to a child will be painless.

Of course, pain is a companion to absolutely any childbirth, even if it takes place artificially (during operations). It doesn’t matter at all what you can compare the pain of childbirth to. The main thing is that it is not as terrible as people say. If the expectant mother understands this, the birth will be much easier.

Artificial pain reduction

Any woman shudders when she hears the phrase “pain during childbirth.” Each woman determines for herself what to compare this phenomenon with. In any case, even this thought gives me goosebumps. If a woman in labor has not been able to cope with her fears of childbirth, then the feelings of panic she experiences can lead to a weakening of labor. Therefore, doctors recommend the use

This type of pain relief is considered the safest not only for the woman, but also for the baby. However, this method of pain relief also has a drawback. It consists in the fact that the woman in labor does not feel the active period of contractions, so she cannot begin to push at the right moment. As a result, after childbirth, the vaginal muscles may be slightly torn. Therefore, when using epidural anesthesia, it is necessary to follow all the advice of the doctor delivering the baby.

Correct breathing

Pain during childbirth is the most severe, comparable to a fracture, therefore it is necessary to facilitate active labor. You need to learn proper breathing not during the birth itself, but before it. Although most women who have learned proper breathing techniques fall into panic during labor, forgetting everything they were taught. Therefore, they have to follow all the advice of the doctor, who will tell you how to breathe correctly so that the birth takes place as quickly and painlessly as possible.

How to explain to a man what labor pain is?

Explaining to a man when the active phase of labor begins and what kind of pain childbirth can be compared to is quite a difficult task. What can the pain of childbirth be compared to for men? Nothing. It’s not even worth trying, they still won’t understand. It is better to make them experience this pain themselves. Fortunately, there is currently a huge amount of special equipment that allows you to do this. Of course, you cannot do this against the will of the man himself. Although, if he is afraid, it means he roughly understands what pain during childbirth is. He doesn’t know what to compare it with, but he guesses that it hurts.

Pain when pushing

Despite the fact that most women note that the peak of the most severe pain occurs during contractions, quite unpleasant sensations are also noted during pushing. They are not so strong due to the fact that the baby’s head, passing through the birth canal, compresses the nerve endings, which significantly reduces their sensitivity.

It’s hard to say what kind of pain childbirth can be compared to. Quite often, in women giving birth for the first time, as well as in cases of rapid and rapid labor, so-called ruptures appear. This is a violation of the integrity of the tissue as the baby’s head passes through. Quite often, doctors, anticipating the appearance of tears, perform an episiotomy. It is an artificial incision in the vaginal tissue to facilitate the exit of the baby's head, as well as to prevent ruptures. A suture placed on the area of a medical incision heals much faster and causes less discomfort than a natural rupture. The pain from a rupture or cut in the perineum is practically not felt by a woman, since it is at this moment that the baby’s head compresses the nerve endings, so the sensitivity of the tissue area becomes minimal.

Reasons for more

It is worth recognizing the fact that almost all women giving birth, to one degree or another, experience pain that has objective causes.

In our body, all changes that occur, as well as all external and internal influences, are captured by receptors - special cellular structures. Any type of irritant familiar to the body can be painful. Its main feature is the high intensity of exposure, which causes tissue damage and entails changes in all body systems.

The longest and most painful period of labor is the first, during which regular, gradually more frequent and intensifying contractions lead to dilatation of the cervix. During contractions, the muscles of the uterus contract - it is due to this that it opens, allowing passage for the baby. The baby's head puts pressure on the tissues of the uterus, irritating the nerve endings in them; The uterine ligaments are stretched, from the receptors of which pain impulses also come. At the very beginning, contractions may resemble nagging painful sensations during menstruation; as the intensity and duration of contractions increase, the painful sensations intensify. However, normally natural processes should not cause pain overload in the mother’s body. In the second stage of labor, when the cervix is fully dilated, pushing begins and the fetus is expelled. This pain is more clearly defined and is felt at the site of fetal pressure on the nerve endings in the area of the coccyx, vagina, perineum, and external genitalia.

However, the pain that a woman experiences during childbirth is only 30% due to irritation of nerve endings, fibers, plexuses as a result of contractions of the uterus and compression of soft tissues by the presenting part of the fetus (usually the head), stretching of the ligamentous apparatus of the uterus and perineum. After all, in the body of a woman in labor, during a natural process, such as normal childbirth, the anti-pain system is turned on. The role of the anti-pain system in the human body is to inhibit the excessive flow of pain impulses entering the spinal cord and brain, and thereby protect the central nervous system from overexcitation, the development of shock states, and chronic pain.

In addition, the anti-pain system plays the role of a kind of filter: it includes structures of the nervous system, in particular the brain, responsible for emotional reactions, in which all incoming stimuli are regarded as dangerous or harmless, not requiring an immediate response. The latter are filtered out by the anti-pain system, and the remaining impulses are admitted to the response centers of the nervous system. During childbirth, the anti-pain system blocks excessive pain impulses and promotes the release of natural painkillers into the blood.

Nature took care of women and preparing the female body for childbirth, setting the pain threshold in the female body much higher than in men - only quite strong irritants are able to reach this level and cause a pain reaction. In addition, before childbirth, the sensitivity of the uterus decreases, and the pain threshold further increases. This is why painless or low-pain childbirth is not so rare.

What is the cause of up to 70% of pain during childbirth? What is wise nature powerless against, and only medicines and medical intervention can help? If we do not take cases of severe obstetric pathology, where pain is caused by a serious disruption of the natural process of childbirth and where a real threat is created to the health and life of the mother and baby, then these 70% are due to banal fear. Fear of the birth itself, of the unknown, fear for oneself, anxiety for one’s health, fear and anticipation of those very “mortal pangs” that the process of giving birth to a child brings with it. The culmination of fear during childbirth leads to the release of the stress hormone - adrenaline, muscle tension, compression of the vessels and nerves of the uterus, and ischemia of the uterine tissue (the so-called deterioration of blood supply and the resulting deficiency of nutrients and oxygen delivered by the blood). In addition, fear causes a decrease in the pain threshold: now even a minor irritant can cause pain, and the expectation of pain will lead to the fact that these sensations will definitely appear and will be several times stronger.

Pain relief or patience?

What to do, or perhaps not to do? Of course, in some situations the doctor will solve this problem by using one or another method of pain relief. But is normal childbirth worth pain relief?

Modern medicine, and anesthesiology in particular, has made great progress in recent years. The technique of pain relief has been improved, new methods and drugs for anesthesia have been invented, and sophisticated equipment helps monitor the patient’s condition. However, the organisms of a pregnant woman and her child are so closely interconnected that any medicine administered to the expectant mother, even in a small dose, will still enter the baby’s blood. Pain medications can cause drowsiness and depress the baby's breathing, and local anesthetics can have adverse effects on the baby's cardiovascular system.

During childbirth, not only the expectant mother experiences fear and pain, but also the newborn baby. Therefore, mother’s calm, confident voice, her help, the fact that during childbirth she thinks not about her pain, but about him, about the child, calms him down, feels sorry for him and rejoices at his birth - all this has an invaluable effect on the baby, and It helps a woman to easily endure all unpleasant sensations.

Psychoprophylactic preparation for childbirth is the key to success

Since one of the main causes of pain is fear, you need to try to eliminate it. Firstly, a woman must know what will happen to her and her child during childbirth, since the unknown only aggravates stress, tension, and, consequently, pain. However, even with full awareness (and this is not difficult now, since there is a lot of information on childbirth and the main thing is the desire to study it), the subconscious animal fear of pain can remain and aggravate the entire natural process of childbirth.

The method of psychoprophylactic preparation of pregnant women for childbirth in our country began to be developed in the 50s of the 20th century, but at that time it was not widely used, since it required an individual approach to each pregnant woman. Currently, expectant parents have access to childbirth preparation courses. During the classes, future mothers and fathers will consistently learn the features of all three periods of labor: contractions (dilation of the cervix), expulsion of the fetus (pushing), discharge of the placenta; they learn correct behavior in each period, breathing, position, methods of controlling their condition, methods of self-anesthesia. Then the future parents choose a maternity hospital, decide whether the father or one of their relatives will be present at the birth, etc.

To achieve maximum emotional comfort, modern maternity hospitals are equipped with wards that, with excellent technical equipment and the necessary medical equipment, maintain comfort, bringing the atmosphere closer to home. For psychological support of the woman in labor, the presence of her husband, other relatives, and personal assistants is allowed. After training at a childbirth preparation school, they will provide an invaluable service, calming and encouraging the woman, helping her breathe correctly, and giving a pain-relieving massage.

Other methods of self-anesthesia during labor

Having analyzed the causes and mechanisms of labor pain, one can understand that a lot in reducing pain during childbirth depends on the woman herself.

Usually the most painful stage of labor is the period of cervical dilatation. The first contractions may resemble menstrual pain. Gradually, contractions will become more frequent, longer, and stronger. During contractions, the uterus becomes hard due to muscle contraction and then relaxes. Contractions occur against the will of the woman, regardless of her desire, and the woman in labor cannot control them.

To relieve pain during contractions, in the absence of contraindications and with the permission of the doctor, a woman in labor can choose a position (sitting, lying, standing, leaning on her hands) and a type of behavior (active or passive) that is most comfortable for her. For most women in the first stage of labor, it is most comfortable to be in an upright position: walking (walking with high legs raised is especially effective) or standing with your hands resting on the wall or headboard of the bed. You can use the support of a partner. If you still prefer to lie down, it is better to turn on your side rather than on your back. In the supine position, the uterus compresses the inferior vena cava, preventing normal blood flow to the heart. As a result, the blood supply to many organs deteriorates, blood pressure may decrease, dizziness and loss of consciousness may occur. In addition, the supine position reduces intense uterine contractions, thereby lengthening the period of contractions and dilatation of the cervix.

Proper breathing has a good pain-relieving and distracting effect. To ease contractions, so-called “slow” or economical breathing is used, characterized by slow, deep breaths and even longer exhalations.

During prolonged and frequent contractions, one uses “dog-like” breathing, in which a quiet, quick breath and a noisy, short breath are approximately equal in duration; this breathing is shallow. Proper breathing helps reduce pain and save energy.

Massage (performed by yourself or someone else) can significantly ease the pain of childbirth. The main techniques of this massage include stroking, rubbing, kneading or pressing. The effectiveness of each technique is quite individual, so the woman herself must choose the most suitable massage method for her. The most commonly used are stroking the lower half of the abdomen, pressing and rubbing the lower back. Kneading and pressing in the lateral corners of the lumbar rhombus (the dimples above the buttocks) also have a good analgesic effect.

During normal labor, you can take advantage of the unique pain-relieving properties of warm water. Water has a relaxing, soothing, massaging effect, increases the elasticity, pliability and extensibility of tissues. The woman in labor can take a shower or bath (some maternity hospitals have special pools in the delivery rooms). After the rupture of amniotic fluid, it is better to refrain from taking a bath, as the risk of infection during childbirth increases.

Childbirth, especially the first one, is a rather lengthy process. The expectant mother will need her main strength at the end - during pushing and expulsion of the fetus. Therefore, in the first period, you need to use every opportunity to rest yourself and let your baby rest. Between contractions you should relax (using any relaxation methods: massage, self-hypnosis), and if possible, take a nap.

Calm, relaxing music can have a good effect.

Optimal behavior during pushing

In the second stage of labor, when the cervix is fully dilated, the fetus is expelled with the help of pushing - voluntary contractions of the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall. Attempts, unlike contractions, a woman can control, for example, delay them or intensify them. During this period of labor, to relieve pain, you should synchronize pushing, breathing and follow the midwife’s commands, which protect the perineum from ruptures, and the baby from damage and trauma during childbirth. You need to push after taking a deep breath, as if pushing the baby out with the help of the diaphragm pressing on the uterus. To do this, you need to direct your efforts downwards, towards the perineum, and not towards the head. There is no need to strain your facial muscles or scream: you will waste a lot of energy without helping the child and the birth process. After pushing, you should exhale smoothly, not sharply: this helps to consolidate the result of the pushing; with a sharp exhalation, the fetus may retreat to its previous positions. After the effort, breathing is calm, even: take a deep breath and exhale completely. You should try to relax and rest before the next push.

The third stage of labor - the birth of the placenta - usually does not cause acute painful sensations and does not require pain relief.

Each woman and each birth is individual: it is difficult to choose a method of non-drug pain relief that is equally effective for everyone. The main thing is don’t be afraid, listen to your body, think about the baby - and then everything will go well!

Unconventional methods of pain relief

Due to the widespread use of non-traditional methods of treatment, methods of aromatherapy, music therapy, and reflexology - influencing biologically active points on the surface of the human body - are becoming increasingly popular. However, there are still few specialists who know these techniques, in particular for pain relief during childbirth. In addition, sensitivity to the effects of these methods is highly individual.

What do contractions feel like? Is it true that giving birth is as painful as breaking twenty bones at once? Is it possible to relieve pain? What is the pain compared to? Is it comparable to a fracture? How to explain to a man what she is similar to? All these questions often worry expectant mothers, especially those who are about to give birth for the first time.

How do contractions feel?

What are contractions like? Women who have already experienced the joy of motherhood will not confuse these feelings with anything. Still, it’s difficult to say what kind of pain there will be before childbirth. At the first stage, at the beginning of the labor process, the contraction causes almost no pain - the pregnant woman feels discomfort in the lower abdomen. If the baby is turned with his face towards the mother's spine, at first she will have a pressing sensation in the lumbar region.

The initial contractions do not bother the pregnant woman too much, so if you feel them, you should not panic - it is better to try to relax and calm down as much as possible. Soon the expectant mother will need all her strength. The only parameter of contractions common to all women in labor is their regularity. A true fight can be distinguished by the following signs:

the intensity of pain increases gradually;
the intervals between “attacks” are gradually becoming shorter;
contractions occur regularly - at first with an interval of 30 - 60 minutes, and at the final stage - almost every minute.

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Pain during childbirth - what is it like (more details in the article:)? Is she really as unbearable as she likes to talk about on women’s forums and as girlfriends who have given birth like to mention? Almost every woman asks these questions during her first pregnancy. It is difficult to compare the pain sensations of a woman in labor with anything, much less describe them in words, because for each woman the process of childbirth is individual.
From the very beginning of labor, the woman in labor feels pain of varying degrees of intensity. At the first stage, these are episodic contractions, over time their duration increases, and the periods of “relaxation” become shorter. Theoretically, a woman feels the most severe pain at the final stage during childbirth itself.
The period of “exile”, when the child is born, is characterized by maximum intensity and duration of contractions - many women in labor do not notice short periods of relaxation at all. However, some ladies say that they did not have severe pain at this stage - just discomfort and a pulling sensation, as during menstruation.
The birth process - what does science say?
If we turn to scientific facts, we can note that almost all experts talk about the importance of proper breathing, calmness and the presence of a team of professional obstetricians and gynecologists. Proper preparation for childbirth is unlikely to turn a difficult ordeal into pleasure, but it may well alleviate the mother’s condition.

Science says that childbirth is, first of all, a natural process, so there is no need to panic about labor pain. Still, the ability to endure such pain is inherent in a woman by nature (and if for some reason it doesn’t work out, modern medicine will come to the rescue). Only in a small number of women in labor is the pain truly unbearable - in most cases it is simply very severe.
It is possible and necessary to strive to relieve pain and at least partially get rid of discomfort during contractions. The active use of painkillers during childbirth began in the 19th century (chloroform was used then) - even Queen Victoria highly appreciated the opportunity to reduce pain, and her opinion as a mother of 9 children can be trusted.
In addition to medications, the following measures will help:
Proper breathing helps a woman not only relieve pain, but also save energy;
special poses help unload the muscles of the body, make it possible to avoid muscle overstrain, which means pain will decrease;
massage is another way to quickly and effectively relax overstrained muscles (unfortunately, a woman in labor will not be able to massage herself, so this method is in most cases used during partner childbirth);
exercises – there are complexes that train the necessary muscle groups, but usually you should start exercising as early as 1–2 trimesters of pregnancy (if there are no contraindications);
support from loved ones - panic, fear, stress aggravate the condition of the woman in labor; for many women it is enough that a loved one (spouse, mother, sister or close friend) will be nearby, who will distract from the pain and hold her hand.

Medication assistance
Medicines are a quick and effective way to reduce the intensity of pain during labor and childbirth (more details in the article:). However, obstetricians still try not to resort to medications unless absolutely necessary before delivery, since a “blurred” picture of sensations can prevent the mother in labor from noticing the next contraction and starting pushing on time.
Type of medication assistance Brief description Note
Epidural complex The drug is injected into the cavity between the walls of the spinal canal and the dura mater (with an epidural block) or a spinal block is used. To speed up the effect, two blockades can be used in combination. Virtually harmless to the child. The mobility of the woman in labor is preserved, the natural process of childbirth is not disrupted.
Anesthetics or sleeping pills Painkillers or sleeping pills help relax the abdominal muscles and relieve pain. It is recommended to administer it at the stage of preliminary contractions, without waiting for unbearable pain. The main disadvantage is that the woman becomes drowsy and weak. There is a risk of depression of respiratory function in mother and child if the dose of the drug is too high.
Barbiturates Tranquilizers The pain is not eliminated. They help relieve nervous tension, get rid of fear and panic, which increase the discomfort of the woman in labor. They are used with caution, as they can have a negative impact on the natural process of childbirth - the child’s activity decreases, and women in some cases lose control over what is happening.

Correct postures
The correct position during childbirth not only helps to reduce discomfort, but also helps to speed up labor. Each woman has to individually select the optimal body position - she may have to change her position several times, depending on the stage of labor. Experts recommend taking the following positions to relieve pain, relax muscles and speed up the dilation of the cervix:
sitting on a special fitball (training on large balls is often practiced in courses for expectant mothers, and many modern maternity hospitals are equipped with such equipment);
on your knees, leaning on a bed, chair or armchair;
with support on the back of the bed or chair (the woman in labor will need to be supported by another person);
standing on all fours;
If possible, a woman during childbirth is advised to walk, move, and take a vertical position - this contributes to a faster dilation of the cervix.

Special massage and breathing exercises
During the process of childbirth, muscles throughout the body experience unusually strong stress, and pain is often caused not only by the birth process, but also by muscle overstrain. You can relieve spasms and alleviate the condition of a woman in labor with the help of a special massage in the sacrum, lower back, and lower back.
Exercises during contractions
There are many complexes aimed at making childbirth easier. It is better not to experiment on your own and consult your obstetrician-gynecologist. Only a specialist will be able to select an effective and safe complex, and also take into account contraindications. Swimming, breathing exercises, Kegel exercises - this is not a complete list of complexes for expectant mothers.

How to explain to a man what contractions are?
Many mothers think about how to explain to a man what pain is like before the birth of a child. Comparisons are made with dozens of bone fractures throughout the body and even burning at the stake. Trying to tell the future dad what a woman needs to go through in order for a baby to be born is very difficult. It’s better to try one of the techniques that allows a man to feel this pain for himself.

Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful periods in a woman’s life. This is a real miracle of nature when you feel under your heart the movements of a little man, dearer and closer than anyone. Despite all the toxicosis and the constant need for tests, young mothers feel truly happy.

However, everything is spoiled by the fear of that very cherished date for which the baby is scheduled to appear. It is long-awaited and at the same time very frightening. How severe the pain will be during childbirth is a question that overshadows almost all pregnant women, especially first-time mothers who are not yet familiar with it. It's time to deal with this problem and reduce its significance so that it does not overshadow the happy bearing of the baby.

If someone claims that there is a pain-free birth, you should not take this phrase literally. This is possible only in one case - when using various methods of pain relief. Nature has arranged it in such a way that labor cannot proceed without pain, which at each stage will differ from each other in origin, and therefore in the methods of dealing with it.

To understand what is happening to you at this crucial moment in your life, try to figure out what causes labor pains, what determines their strength and power.

Contractions

I period

The cervix opens due to intense contraction of the muscles, their active stretching and displacement relative to each other. Towards the end of pregnancy, the uterus is the strongest muscle in a woman’s body, which is why the pain during childbirth is so noticeable.
In this case, the delivery of oxygen to the tissues is disrupted, because during the contraction the blood vessels are pinched by the stretching muscles.
For the same reason, nerve endings are compressed, which also contributes to pain.
The uterine ligaments are stretched like a rope.
The strength and duration of pain increases gradually.
At first the contractions are short - 5 seconds each, the intervals between them are up to 20 minutes.
The duration of this period for those who give birth for the first time is from 8 to 12 hours. In multiparous women it is shorter.

II period

The duration of pain during contractions can be more than 1 minute. The interval between them is no more than 5 minutes.
The causes of pain indicated in the first period include the pressure exerted by the baby’s head on the birth canal.
As it progresses, strong stretching of the entire lower segment of the uterus begins to play a leading role in the occurrence of labor pain.

Attempts

The contractions are accompanied by pushing - intense voluntary contractions of the muscles of the diaphragm, pelvic floor, and abdominal muscles. Unlike contractions, a woman can regulate them independently - through her own willpower.
The main causes of pain during this period are irritation of the sacrum, its internal part, tension of not only the uterine, but also the sacral ligaments, pressure from the buttocks and the fetal head on the small pelvis (its bone ring and soft tissues).
Attempts should occur every 5 minutes, their duration is 1 minute.
The duration of this period is half an hour for multiparous women, about an hour for those who give birth for the first time.

Perineal incision, suturing

The perineal incision itself causes severe pain, as it is most often performed without anesthesia. However, it is he who is not noticed by the woman in labor, oddly enough. Although scientifically everything is quite explainable. The perineal incision is made at the peak of the next attempt, when both the skin and muscles in this place are maximally stretched. This kind of stretching forces the woman to focus on this pain, and she does not feel the scalpel.
But suturing after cuts and tears is a very painful procedure, so it is carried out against the background of pain relief.

Complications

Severe pain during childbirth can also be caused by complications:

Prolonged labor.
Incorrect presentation of the fetus or placenta.
Nondisjunction of the pelvic bones.
First birth.

General psychological mood

According to scientists, the pain that a woman experiences during childbirth intensifies if she is obviously very afraid of it.
The feeling of tension with which the expectant mother awaits an important event provokes the release of adrenaline in the body.
Because of this, the pulse quickens, muscles tense, and the pain threshold sharply decreases.
The severe stress that a woman in labor experiences keeps the vaginal muscles tight, which prevents the full opening of the cervix.
Because of this, it is very difficult for the child to pass through the birth canal, because he overcomes the resistance of the uterine muscles, and this leads to painful sensations during childbirth.
Fear affects the autonomic nervous system, which does not depend on consciousness and actively controls the functioning of all internal organs. Under the influence of such stress, it begins to affect the nerve plexus in the lumbosacral region - the pelvic organs. Therefore, the thought of whether it is possible to die from pain during childbirth should not even arise: a lethal outcome for this reason is impossible, but fear will make the whole process even more painful.

If you understand from the very beginning why pain occurs during childbirth at different stages, this will calm you down purely psychologically. Even during pregnancy, you need to take this fact for granted: it will not be possible to avoid labor pains, this is a completely natural process. Their strength should not be exaggerated. Don’t listen to the stories of experienced mothers who went crazy from pain - in this matter everything is very individual. It’s better to read the opinions of experts on this matter and start preparing your body for this task in advance.

Keep in mind... some scientists believe that the child unconsciously feels the pain that his mother experiences during childbirth. Not physically, but on an intuitive level.

Feelings

Many women (especially those who are expecting their first child) are very interested in what the pain during childbirth can be compared to, so that they can be at least a little prepared for the sensations. One important fact to consider here is that each person has a different pain threshold. Someone can endure a toothache for several days, while others cannot stand even a scratch on their finger.

In addition, at the moment of the birth of a child, a woman is overwhelmed with a variety of emotions: fear, joy, curiosity, anxiety and much more. This distracts her from the pain she is experiencing, which reduces its manifestations. So it is very difficult to describe what the pain of childbirth is like. Although a number of general points can be noted.

Contractions

In the first stage of labor, you need to prepare for a dull, nagging pain.
Its location is difficult to pinpoint.
It radiates to the leg, lower back, sacrum, and groin area. This occurs because the sensations coming from the uterine ligaments and muscles begin to spread along the nerves responsible for wide anatomical areas.

It is for this reason that pain during childbirth is somewhat vague. Doctors call it visceral.

Attempts

In the second stage of labor, the pain changes: it becomes acute.
This pain has a precise localization - it is clearly felt in the vagina, perineum, and rectum.
Doctors call it somatic.
When pushing, you need to prepare for the fact that there is a desire to constantly push.

This is the kind of pain a woman experiences during childbirth - excruciating, quite strong, but completely natural and bearable. The team of doctors working at this crucial moment understands how difficult it is for a woman in labor to endure contractions and efforts, and believe me: they are doing everything possible to help the woman and alleviate her condition. Although this is not just a matter of people in white coats. Much depends on how prepared the expectant mother herself is for the pains of childbirth.

From the world of modern technology. Today, every man can experience the pain that befalls women in labor. To do this, electrodes are attached to their body, through which discharges are passed, simulating contractions.

Even with the most professional training, no trainer or physician can guarantee an easy, pain-free birth, which every woman probably dreams of. Even with anesthesia, painful side effects and complications occur, which will later remind you of themselves more than once. So, being pregnant, expectant mothers should be prepared for this in advance. And the better the quality, the less pain there will be - that’s a fact. Some tips will help minimize not only pain, but also pain.

During pregnancy

At the school for expectant mothers, women are very well physically prepared for the upcoming pain during childbirth. There are special ones. They strengthen some and stretch other muscle groups involved in childbirth.
In the absence of contraindications, light gymnastics, fitball, swimming, Pilates, etc. are recommended for pregnant women.
You need daily, at least half-hour walks to breathe fresh air.
Doing feasible housework.
Home exercises of simple gymnastics.
Psychoprophylactic training involves both auto-training and consultations with specialists and psychologists. The last option is, of course, preferable. This eliminates the idea of the inevitability of pain and the feeling of fear. The question of whether childbirth occurs without pain disappears by itself. A new idea of the birth of a baby is created, which is perceived as a favorable physiological process. A positive attitude towards pain is formed - as a sign indicating a long-awaited meeting with the baby.
Mastering self-help techniques, self-massage for pain relief, and breathing techniques in courses for young mothers.
Early acquaintance of the woman in labor with the doctor and midwife who will deliver the baby. This often relieves some of the stress.

During childbirth

The presence of your nearest and dearest during childbirth eases pain. This could be a husband, mother, sister, friend.
Strict implementation of all recommendations and commands of a doctor who knows exactly how to relieve pain during childbirth: you just need to listen to him.
Between contractions in the first stage of labor, it is advisable to rest as much as possible and gain strength: lie in the bath, take a nap, relax, have a snack - this will help reduce the pain during childbirth during the next contractions.
Screaming too much is not recommended, as it takes a lot of strength and energy. But doctors also do not advise clamping down.
If you want to know how to endure pain during childbirth, learn proper breathing and master the basics of self-massage in the most difficult moments - this is what distracts you from physical torment and contributes to the successful birth of your baby.

Correct breathing

Proper breathing helps a woman endure the pain of childbirth at different stages. The main thing is to learn it in advance and remember it in time.

Start of contractions

Inhale through your nose on the fourth count and exhale through your mouth, folded into a tube, on the sixth count. The inhalation should be shorter than the exhalation. This method of breathing maximally relaxes the muscles, soothes and fills the tissues with oxygen, which saturates the blood and organisms of mother and baby.

Increased contractions

At this stage, breathing must be accelerated. The technique is called “doggy style”. You need to breathe shallowly, with your mouth slightly open, like dogs breathe after running or during the heat. Feel free to open your mouth, stick out your tongue, and breathe quickly.

Cervical dilatation

The breathing technique used at this moment is called “train”. When a contraction begins, you need to breathe quickly, but rather shallowly. Inhalation is done through the nose, exhalation is done very quickly through the mouth, folded into a tube. After the contraction ends, bring your breathing back to normal. This technique helps reduce pain during childbirth, when it feels like everything inside is being torn apart.

Attempts

“Breathing on a candle” is considered the most effective during pushing. Inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth, as if blowing out a candle. You can accompany this technique by singing vowels out loud.

Last stage of labor

Self-massage

As practice shows, the most common self-massage helps to endure the pain of childbirth. The woman does it listening to her own feelings. As a result, blood circulation improves, muscles relax, and has a beneficial effect on the central nervous system.

Stroking

Place both palms on the lower abdomen. Using your fingertips, lightly stroke from the center to the sides and up. Then, with your palms in a circular motion, more intensely, stroke the lumbosacral region. Do it when contractions have just begun.

Trituration

Rub the same areas as indicated in the previous section with your palm, fist or edge of your palm. For mild contractions, gentle rubbing is used, for strong contractions, intense rubbing is used.

Pressing

Using your fingers or fist, apply intense pressure to the lateral corners of the sacral rhombus (the dimples on the spine) or the inner surfaces of the crests of the iliac bones. There are many nerve endings in these places, so such pressure will help alleviate the pain of childbirth during labor.

Shiatsu

Using your fingers on two active points of the body. Heigu - located on the back of the hand where the thumb and index fingers meet. The sixth splenic is on the inner side of the lower leg, approximately four fingers above the inner ankle.

Relaxation self-massage

Using stroking movements, gently and easily massage the sacrum and back, the cervical-collar area from the periphery to the center. Use pain-relieving gels.

Poses for pain relief

squatting, when the knees are wide apart, and the support of a partner is needed;
on your knees, with your legs spread wide apart;
on all fours, when the pelvis is raised as much as possible;
hang by your hands on the headboard of the bed, your husband’s neck, or the door frame.

If a woman is prepared, she will be able to independently reduce pain during childbirth and focus on the child, and not on her own feelings. If she understands that things are not any better for her baby at this moment, she will direct all her strength to help him, forgetting about her torment. This is the highest, true purpose of a mother.

If for some reason it was not possible to cope with the pain or due to complications it is simply impossible, medicine comes into the picture. Today, there are effective pharmacological methods of pain relief during childbirth.

Can't be! The human body can withstand 45 del (this is a unit of measurement for pain). And during childbirth, this parameter increases to 57 del. In its power and strength, the pain during childbirth is comparable to breaking 20 bones at the same time!

Pain relief methods

For some reason, having decided on anesthesia in advance, the woman becomes calmer. She can prepare herself for a pain-free birth, knowing that doctors will take care of it. This relieves some of the stress and instills confidence in the woman in labor, which has a positive effect on the entire labor process. The harm of painkillers is the topic of another article, but from the point of view of torment and trials, this is the way out.

With modern anesthesia techniques, childbirth has become possible without pain and fear, when the mother remains conscious, but does not feel anything below the belt and can rejoice at the birth of the baby, pressing him immediately to her chest. But which method should you choose? This issue is resolved exclusively in conjunction with the recommendations of doctors.

Inhalation (mask) method (autoanalgesia)

Pain relief occurs by inhaling a narcotic gas through a mask. This can be nitrous oxide or inhalational anesthetics: methoxyflurane, fluorothane, pentran. Used in the first stage of labor. The woman in labor, feeling the approach of contractions, puts on a mask herself, thus controlling the frequency of pain relief.

Intravenous or intramuscular (parenteral) method

Administration of one of the narcotic analgesics intravenously or intramuscularly during increasing contractions. This is a great way to give the mother in labor a rest. The duration of such anesthesia varies from 10 minutes to 1 hour, which depends on the amount of the drug administered and the analgesic itself, which can be combined with a sedative drug.

Local (local) anesthesia

An injection of an anesthetic drug is made into the perineum, inhibiting the function of nerves and the sensitivity of cells.

Regional anesthesia

If local anesthesia allows you to block pain in a limited area, then regional anesthesia covers a larger area of the body. It is represented by two methods - epidural and spinal anesthesia.

Epidural- injection of the drug with a thin needle between the vertebral discs. Through a catheter, pain relief can be prolonged by controlling the dosage of the injected agent. Anesthesia does not take effect immediately, but only 15-20 minutes after the injection.

Spinal- injection into the middle of the dura mater. Typically used for caesarean section (planned and emergency). It works very quickly. According to research, it does not affect the baby’s condition in any way.

General anesthesia

It has been used very rarely lately, only in emergency cases. Causes a very rapid loss of consciousness in the woman in labor.

So, we found out that experiencing pain during childbirth is quite possible. No one has died from it yet. There are simply many other factors: negative previous experience, uncertainty, self-inflicted tension, low pain threshold - all this has a bad effect on the psychological and physical preparation of a woman before the birth of a baby. She perceives every contraction with horror, exaggerating its strength and power. Yes, this is one of the features of labor that cannot be avoided. However, any woman in labor can reduce pain and reduce its significance for herself if she relies on the recommendations and prescriptions of doctors.