Giving birth can be related to a lot of pain, but luckily people through generations have come up with a wide range of remedies and technics to help women get through these pains. In this article we will look at some of the natural, non-medicinal options which are out there for women going into labor.

Doulas and Midwifes

Choosing to have a midwife or doula can help significantly against the struggle of labor pain. Studies have shown that woman who are delivering with the use of a doula, less often asks for epidurals, have fewer caesareans and are less prone to have a forcep or a vacuum birth. Through a recent Meta study on the use of doulas it has been shown that they are often more effective at supporting a woman in labor than her family and friends or any of the hospital staff. So by having a doula present in the delivery room you bring down the chance of you asking for medical help.

Water

Water can help in a two different ways, first there is immersion. To immerse yourself in hot water during the beginning of labor will help you keep the pain under control, a little bit by relieving the pain, but mostly by relaxing your body and keeping you comfortable. And if you stay immersed during birth it is supposed to make pushing somewhat easier and more comfortable.

Second way to utilized water is with showers. This enables you to stay completely upright and to focus the water so it applies both heat and pressure. If you are planning to give birth in the squatting position, being under a shower is ideal.

HypnoBirthing

Hypnobirthing is a relaxation technic that focuses on breaking the cycle of fear leading to tension which leads to pain, which in turn leads to more fear. It is a mix of education and mindfulness, using things like breathing exercises and visualization, while reassuring you that your body is perfectly designed for birth, as a way of reducing anxiety levels. Hypnobirth was created to empower pregnant woman to take control over the birthing experience, and through that relief fear and pain.

Massage

To relief pain through massage you do not need to be educated in the body or professional in the trade, all that is needed is loving strokes and tender massage. Massage can be performed by your partner, your doula or a nurse, but both nurses and your doula properly have their hands full, so you might want the make arrangement with somebody else.

There have been made plenty of studies on the subject. It has been found that there is a massive reduction in anxiety and pain and a significant lift in mood, when a woman is receiving massage during the second stage of birth. As a cherry on top, studies have found that massage will shorten labor and reduce experiences of postnatal depression.

There are many ways to deal with the pains of birth, these are just some. Remember to consult your doctor on which way is the right one for you.