How to cope up with labour ?

Labor is a very overwhelming experience, with lots of anxiety and stress about the whole process of delivery and labor pain, which can be relived to certain extent by following certain relaxing methods during labour.

At the beginning of labour, you can:

• walk or move about, if you feel like it

• drink fluids – you may find sports (isotonic) drinks help keep your energy levels up

• have a snack, if you feel like it

• try any relaxation and breathing exercises you've learned to deal with contractions as they get stronger and more painful – your birth partner can help by doing these with you

• have your birth partner rub your back – this can help relieve pain

• take paracetamol according to the instructions on the packet – paracetamol is safe to take in labour

• have a warm bath

• Know about labour – this can make you feel more in control and less frightened about what's going to happen; talk to your midwife or doctor, ask them questions, and go to antenatal classes.

• Can ask for epidural for painless delivery as labour analgesia from your healthcare provider.

  
  

  How does epidural work

An epidural is a type of local anaesthetic. It numbs the nerves that carry the pain impulses from the birth canal to the brain.

In most cases, an epidural gives complete pain relief. It can be helpful if you are having a long or particularly painful labour.

An anaesthetist is the only person who can give an epidural, so it will possible in hospital with such facilities.

We offer "mobile" epidurals, which means you can walk around.

However, this also requires the baby's heart rate to be monitored regularly.

An epidural can provide very good pain relief, but it's not always completely effective in labour.This means having a belt around your abdomen and possibly a clip attached to the baby's head.

Advantages of epidural

• Less pain so mother is more relaxed and labour progress very well.

• Less chances of cesarean section due to exhaustion or maternal request.

• Mother is able fell tightening of abdomen which help her push well during second stage of labour.

  
  

Side effects of epidurals in labour

There are some side effects of epidurals to be aware off.

An epidural may make your legs feel heavy, depending on the local anaesthetic used.

Your blood pressure can drop (hypotension), but this is rare because the fluid given through the drip in your arm helps to maintain good blood pressure.

Epidurals can prolong the second stage of labour. If you can no longer feel your contractions, the midwife will have to tell you when to push. This means that forceps or a ventouse may be needed to help deliver the baby (instrumental delivery).

When you have an epidural, your midwife or doctor will wait longer for the baby's head to come down (before you start pushing), as long as the baby is showing no signs of distress. This reduces the chance you'll need an instrumental delivery. Sometimes less anaesthetic is given towards the end, so the effect wears off and you can feel to push the baby out naturally.

You may find it difficult to pee as a result of the epidural. If so, a small tube called a catheter may be put into your bladder to help you.

You may get a headache after an epidural. This happens in about 1 in 100 cases and can be treated.

Your back might be a bit sore for a day or two, but epidurals do not cause long-term backache.

You may feel tingles or pins and needles down one leg after having a baby. This happens in about 1 in 2,000 cases. This is more likely to be the result of childbirth itself rather than the epidural. You'll be advised by the doctor or midwife when you can get out of bed.

Epidural as such is very safe with very rare chances of above side effects.

Courtesy - nhs(uk)