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Volume 1: Comfort Techniques
Labor Environment• Adjustthelighting
• Usearomatherapy(lookonlineformoreinformation)
• Playmusicorsoothingambientsounds
Relaxation • ListentoarecordedexerciseonmeditationCDsor
podcasts
• Haveyourlaborpartnerreadascriptedexercise(lookonlineforexamplesyoucanprintout)
• Haveyourpartnerusetouchasacueforyoutorelax
• Turnoffdistractions
Vocalization • Moanormakelow,gutturalsounds
• Avoidshriekingormakinghigh-pitchedsounds
Attention-Focusing• Repeatawordorpositivephrase(suchas“open”or
yourbaby’sname)
• Usefocalpointslikeanultrasoundphotooranotheritemfromhome
• Haveyourlaborpartnerleadyouinavisualizationexercisethatdescribesyourfavoritevacationspotorothercomfortableplace
Physical Comfort• Drinkclearfluidsandnourishyourself(askyourhospital
abouttheirpolicyoneatinganddrinkingduringlabor)
• Restwheneveryoucan
Breathing• Takedeep,cleansingbreaths(whenyoubreathedeeply
yourabdomenshouldmoveinandout,notyourchest)
• Trybreathingquickeroraddingapatternaslaborintensifies
• Breatheinawaythatfeelsrighttoyou
Positions and Movement• Trysitting,standing,squatting,gettingonyourhands
andknees,leaningforward,andside-lying
• Usemovement,suchasrockingyourpelvisorslowdancingwithyourpartner
• Walkthehallsorclimbthestairs
• Uselabortools,suchasafitnessball,squatbar,orbirthingstool,tohelpyougetintodifferentpositions
Massage and Touch• Haveyourlaborpartnermassageyourshoulders,legs,
back,orwhereveritfeelsgoodtoyou
• Tryalightcircularmassageonyourbellywithyourhandsorashowerspray
• Haveyourlaborpartnerapplyconstantpressureonyourlowerbackduringcontractionswiththeirhandsoratennisball
• Haveyourlaborpartnertryadoublehipsqueeze(withhandsplacedlowonyourhips,theywillpressinandupfirmlyduringcontractions)
• Applywarmorcoldwaterbottles,washcloths,heatingpadsorgelpackstosoreareas(Caution:makesurenottogetthetoolstoocoldortoohot,andneverusethemdirectlyonyourskin)
Hydrotherapy • Getinthebathtubandletthewarmwatersoothe
you;turnonthejetsifavailable,whichcangiveyouamassage
• Takeashowertorefreshyourself,andusetheshowerheadtospraywateronyourbellyorbackforawarmmassage
Pushing• Useavarietyofuprightpositions(squatting,hands-and-
knees,semi-sitting,side-lying)
• Tryexhalingasyoupushandavoidholdingyourbreathforextendedperiods
• Askyourhealthcareprovidertousemassageorawarmcompressonyourperineumasitstretchesduringbirth
Thefollowingisalistofcomforttechniquesthatyoucanusetohelpmanagelaborpain.
ParentHandoutfor ChildbirthPain Management
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Volume 1: Comfort Techniques
ParentHandout(continued)
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• Holidaylights(checkwithyourhospitalfirstbeforepluggingthingsin)
• LEDcandles
• Aromatherapydiffuserandoils
• DigitalmusicplayerandspeakerswithlaborplaylistorCDs
• Focalpoints(babyoutfit,photo,orsentimentalitemfromhome)
• Relaxationscripts
• MeditationCDsorpodcasts
• Gelpacks(canprovideheatorcold)
• Waterbottles(canbefrozenorfilledwithwarmwater)
• Heatingpad(askbeforeusinginthehospital)
• Hand-heldmassagetools
• Tennisballs
• Fitnessball(seeifyourhospitalprovides)
• Squatbar (seeifyourhospitalprovides)
• Birthstool(seeifyourhospitalprovides)
Bag of Tricks for Labor PartnersUsethefollowingtoolstohelpmom.
Aromatherapy diffuser and oils
Relaxation script
Fitness ball
Squat bar
©2011 InJoy Productions, Inc. Permission to copy granted.
Volume 2: Analgesics and Epidurals
Thiscomparativetableshowsthebenefitsandrisksofusingmedicatedpainrelief.Learnhowthesemedicationscaninfluenceyourlaborandhowtohandlepotentialsideeffects.
ANALGESICS EPIDURALS
DEFINITIONNarcoticmedicationthattakestheedgeoffofthepain,butdoesnotremoveitcompletely
Regionalanestheticthatremovessensationintheabdomen,lowerback,andpelvicarea
ADMINISTRATIONLabornurseinjectsadoseofmedicationinto
anIVormuscle
Ananesthesiologistornurseanesthetistplacesanepiduralcatheterinyourlowerback,below
thespinalcord.Amixtureofanestheticsandnarcoticswillflowtotheareathroughthecathetereitherbyperiodicinjectionsor
continuousinfusion.
BENEFITS
Canbegivenrightaway(youdon’thavetowaitforadoctortoadministerthem)
Veryeffectivepainrelief
WorksimmediatelytodullpainsensationYouareabletoremainawakeandalertsince
themedicinedoesnotaffectyourbrain
Medicinedoesn’tnumbyourmuscles,allowingyoutomovearoundafteritwearsoff
Thereislittletonoeffectonthebaby
Analgesicsmayprovideenoughrelaxationforyoutosleepbetweencontractions
RISKS TO MOM
Sincethemedicineaffectsthebrain,itcancausedisorientation,dizziness,ordrowsiness
Ifthemedicinedoesn’tdisperseevenly,youmaystillhaveareasofpain,requiringanadjustmentofthecatheterorachangeinyourpositiontocorrect
Yourbloodpressuremaydrop(thiscouldcausethebaby’sheartratetodrop)
Yourbloodpressuremaydrop(thiscouldcausethebaby’sheartratetodrop)
Maycausenauseaand/oritchingasaresultofyourbody’sreactiontothenarcotic
Combinationsofepiduralmedicationsusenarcoticsthatcancausenauseaand/or
itchiness
Canslowyourbreathingdown,requiringextraoxygenfromanoxygenmask
Asthemedicationrunsthroughyoursystem,youmightgetchillsorshivering
Increasesyourriskoffever,whichcouldrequireyourbabytohavespecialproceduresafterbirth
Youmightexperiencesorenessorbruisingattheadministrationsiteafterthecatheteris
removed
Otherrare,butveryseriousrisksarelistedontheconsentform,soreaditovercarefullyand
askquestions
(Table continues on next page)
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ParentHandoutfor ChildbirthPain Management
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ANALGESICS EPIDURALS
RISKS TO BABY
CouldbesleepyandlessalertrightafterbirthCurrentresearchdoesnotindicateany
significantrisktothebaby
Mayhavedifficultybreastfeedingbecauseofthesleepystate
Couldhaveslowedbreathingandreflexesafterbirth,whichmightrequiremedicationtotreat
EFFECT ON LABOR
Yourmobilitymightberestrictedwhilethemedicationisineffectbecauseofthe
disorientation/dizzinessyoumightfeelandtheextramonitoringrequired
Youwillneedtostayinbedsinceyourmusclesarenumb
Painoftenfeelsmoreintenseafterthedrugwearsoffsinceyourbodystopsproducing
endorphinstohelpmanagepain
Epiduralsmayaffectlaborprogress,causingittoslowdownorspeedup,dependingonyour
situation
Analgesicsmaynotprovideenoughpainreliefandadditionaldosesmightlosetheir
effectiveness
Youwillneedaurinarycathetersinceyouwon’tbeabletogetuptousethebathroom
Youwillneedcontinualfetalheartmonitoring,abloodpressurecuff,pulseoximeteronyour
finger,andIVfluids
Youmaynotfeeltheurgetopush,requiringextrahelpfromthestaffonwhenandhowto
pusheffectively
TIPS
Avoidgettingananalgesic1-3hourspriortobirthtoreducetheeffectsonthenewborn
Waittogetanepiduraluntilyouareinawell-establishedlaborpattern,whichmightlowerthe
riskofyourlaborslowingdown
Continuetousebreathingorotherrelaxationtechniquesatthepeakofcontractions
Afteryougettheepidural,periodicallychangefromlyingonyourleftsidetolyingonyourright
sidetoproperlydispersethemedicationandhelpwithfetalpositioning
Ifyoufeeldrowsy,useitasanopportunitytosleeporrest
Getalighterdoseorasktohavethemedicineturneddownwhenyoustartpushingsoyouwill
bebetterabletofeelwhenandhowtopush(thismightreducetheneedforanassistedbirth
withvacuumextractorsand/orforceps)
Haveyourlaborpartnersrestwhenyourest,butstillcontinuetoofferemotionalencouragement
throughoutyourlabor
Makesurelaborpartnersremainclosebyandcontinuetoofferemotionalencouragement
Pushinasemi-sittingorside-lyingposition,orpullonatowelheldbyasupportpersonor
loopedoverasquatbar
Volume 2: Analgesics and Epidurals
ParentHandout(continued)
