What are Comfort Measures?
It’s no secret that pregnancy and child labor are not for the faint of heart! We’re here today to discuss some different modalities to help make these strenuous times as comfortable as possible by highlighting some different Comfort Measures that you and your support team can implement!
Non-Medical Comfort Measures for Pain Relief
Hire a Doula
One of the best people to have on your birth team other than your provider and your partner is a Birth Doula! The statistics speak for themselves:
- 25% decrease in the risk of Cesarean; the largest effect was seen with a doula (39% decrease)*
- 8% increase in the likelihood of a spontaneous vaginal birth; the largest effect was seen with a doula (15% increase)*
- 10% decrease in the use of any medications for pain relief; the type of person providing continuous support did not make a difference
- Shorter labors by 41 minutes on average; there is no data on if the type of person providing continuous support makes a difference
- 38% decrease in the baby’s risk of a low five minute Apgar score; there is no data on if the type of person providing continuous support makes a difference
- 31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience; mothers’ risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience was reduced with continuous support provided by a doula or someone in their social network (family or friend), but not hospital staff
Atmosphere
Consider what things calm you. Perhaps create a music playlist if you like background noise; or request silence if that helps you to feel relaxed. Dim lighting has also been shown to increase relaxation for laboring mothers.
Massage & Touch
Many find that having a loved one (partner, sibling, doula, ect.) providing different massage techniques can help them focus less on contractions/pain and more on the comfort of healing touch. See if you like movement with massage, or perhaps just holding on to your loved ones arms/hands during strenuous moments. Everyone handles labor in various ways, but having the supportive touch of a loved one can make all the difference.
Breathing Techniques
Find a focused breathing method that helps your body to relax. Many birth courses teach patterned breathing techniques to help not only your mind to relax, but your body as well. This can help encourage the opening of your cervix as you are better able to relax your pelvic floor, even during contractions.
Position Changes
Changing positions not only helps women cope with the pain of labor; upright positions use gravity to bring the baby down, whereas changing positions frequently moves the bones of the pelvis, helping the baby find the best fit. (Simkin & Ancheta, 2011; Storton, 2007)
Aromatherapy
Fragrance has such an affect on not only the mind, but the body as well. Some simple examples we love: Peppermint or Lemon/Citrus for nausea or headaches and Lavender for a calming/soothing environment for the mind. Think of bringing along something with a fragrance you love! Many hospitals and birth centers now-a-days provide use of essential oils, but be sure to ask ahead so you can know to pack any of these you may enjoy.
Apply hot and/or cold packs
See which feels good for you! Depending on how comfortable you are with varying temperatures, many mamas find having hot/cold packs applied to be extremely helpful. Heat on a laboring person’s lower back can helpful for “back labor” which is a common occurence if baby is in a posterior position (aka “sunny side up”). While cold packs on the forehead/back of the neck can help keep mamas more alert and comforted if they are getting very warm when laboring in places like a bath. See what works for you in the moment!
Movement
As much as you can, try to keep your body moving. This helps baby descend (re: gravity!) and also helps the body open up more which is essential for your little one’s entry into the world! Laying stagnant can stall out contractions and cause things to take much longer, where continuous changes in position/movement have been proven to keep active labor progressing.
Rest, Fuel & Hydrate
This may seem fairly basic…and it is! When you have time between painful contractions, REST! Be sure you keep fuel in your system (aka good healthy snacks), and hydrate!
Hydrotherapy
Hop in the Shower or Bath! Soaking in the tub during contractions can be extremely comforting and soothing both physically and mentally. Also, using the spray from a shower on a laboring person’s lower back can ease much of the discomfort found in back labor!
Counter Pressure & Double Hip Squeezes
This method of comfort consists of steady, strong force applied to one spot on the lower back during contractions using the heel of the hand, or pressure on the side of each hip using both hands (aka the “Double Hip Squeeze”).
Counter-pressure helps alleviate back pain, especially in those women experiencing “back labor.”
Tools
There are many tools that can be used during labor/prenatal care for mamas. Several of our faves include a birthing ball, birthing stool, and rice packs!
Spinning Babies
Movement, balance and gravity. All of these helpful things can be implemented by following some guided positioning to help ease labor pains and get baby in an optimal position. Some of these techniques can even be implemented in the weeks leading UP to labor! Click HERE to learn more!
Medication for Pain Relief
Nitrous Oxide
Quick, easy, and safe. This method of pain relief can be started or discontinued quickly and easily. It has NO effect on labor progress or quality of contractions either! Win win there. Mom remains alert and able to move around. The big take away is that this method can lessen anxiety.
Some women may feel drowsy, lightheaded or euphoric while others find it’s not very effective in decreasing pain and may dislike the “loopy” feeling they could experience. One negative side effect is that this can cause nausea. Lastly, there are no significant adverse effects as the gas is cleared from the mother’s body within a few breaths after she stops inhaling it.
Analgesic Options
These methods decrease the sensation of contractions and provide pain relief without total loss of feeling or muscle movement! It allows mom to stay awake as well and though it does not completely relieve pain, it lessens the intensity. Some may experience drowsiness, nausea, or vomiting. This method also may not be available at certain times of labor. It has also been studied that these drugs can pass from your bloodstream through the placenta to the baby and can cause the baby to be drowsy.
Local Block
This type of pain relief for birth involves an injection of a numbing medication into the perineal area at the time of birth allowing the mother to be awake for the birth while providing anesthesia for labor and subsequent repair. It usually has no side effects, however this form of numbing does not help with discomfort of labor contractions. There are no known effects on baby.
Epidural (regional block)
This is easily the most discussed form of medicated labor comfort. It usually provides total pain relief to the lower half of the body and can be used for vaginal birth or cesarean births. It allows mom to be awake and alert throughout labor and birth. The total relief of pain means that mom is able to rest if labor is long. The set up procedure itself takes about 10-20 minutes and usually another 10 to 20 minutes for the anesthetic to take effect.
Several things to note:
- epidurals can increase length of labor by decreasing the quality of uterine contractions
- this numbing blocks motor nerves so mom will not be able to move her legs or get out of bed
- may lower mom’s blood pressure, so it must be monitored continuously.
- Usually no effects on the baby, but if the mother’s blood pressure drops, the baby’s heartbeat can also be affected.
Spinal Block
These are used for a planned c-section. It involves a one time shot in your back and is not a catheter that would be placed in your back like an epidural. It provides similar comfort levels to an epidural.
TAP Block
A transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block, numbs the abdominal muscles and skin post-surgical birth for pain relief. This block is a procedure to anesthetize the nerves that provide sensation and muscle function to the abdominal wall and skin. For this to take place, an anesthetic injection is administered in the area between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles in the stomach wall
General Anesthesia
An IV is administered with drugs to make the mom drowsy, which is followed by the administration of a gas that is inhaled through a mask or breathing tube, causing mom to lose consciousness. This is only administered at the time of birth. It can be administered quickly, so it’s beneficial if any unforeseen complications arise. Mom is not awake for the birth and does not feel any pain. This procedure can cause nausea and vomiting after awakening. The drugs used pass quickly through the mother’s bloodstream, through the placenta to the baby, so the baby may become drowsy and require help breathing after birth.
That's all for now!
We hope that you found this blog informative and that it is helpful in your decision making process for the birth you envision! Know that whatever comfort methods you choose to use, or whatever becomes necessary in unforseen circumstances, YOU have to do YOU mama! We support all moms in their individual birth choices and hope that you have the wonderful birth journey you deserve.
If after reading this blog, you think more guidance could be helpful, hiring a Birth Doula may interest you. We provide you with support through pregnancy and birth, and help you navigate through all the twists and turns pregnancy may bring. We are also able to help you discuss options with your provider and help you advocate for those wishes. Get to know our team to see if we would be the right fit for YOU!
Love,
*Medical Disclaimer: All content and information is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice and does not establish any kind of client relationship. Although we strive to provide accurate general information, the information presented here is not a substitute for any kind of professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this information. Seek advice from your medical professional.
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