The Reality of Pain During Childbirth

By Colleen Hulse

No matter what your birth plan is, there are a few facts that are absolutely not arguable, one of the most important is having to do with pain. We are nurtured throughout life to avoid physical pain at all costs, and when it does happen, our first instinct is to squelch it out, to kill it. Why? Because it hurts! And, we have been programmed to protect ourselves from being hurt, because pain is an unnecessary evil by today’s medical standards. Consider for a moment, though, that the human body not so long ago was expected and prepared to endure immense pain without the numbing, often damaging effects of narcotics, and that women during those times birthed an average of 6 children per lifetime. The average number of births in America per women today is two.

It isn’t our fault, necessarily, but the world has become a bit spoiled rotten of late. Perhaps, it is the lack of fear of pain during childbirth that has caused the staggering number of unwanted and unplanned pregnancies that we see today. When everything was done the good old fashioned way, not too long ago, young ladies and women used to help each other during labor, and this gave a very stark and real glimpse into what having a child was really like. Today, it is romanticized with shots, spinal blocks, and planned surgical deliveries. Back then, it was sacred, difficult, and a rite of passage,

When allowed to flow naturally from one stage of labor to the next, mom is triggered into the triumphant and urgent pushing phase of the birth without having to be told that it’s time.

which gave thought to pause about having sex at all. Seeing the reality of the preparation, courage, hard work and strength it took not only to birth your baby, but in turn, be a mother, perhaps helped to put the experience of being a mother in perspective

Escaping pain during childbirth is not possible, even for those who are forced or choose to deliver via cesarean section. The pain and recovery from such a procedure is extremely difficult, especially when there is a brand new baby to care for. There will be pain, either during your labor or after your baby is born while recovering from your c-section. During labor, even those who wish for pain relieving medications will be asked to undergo a certain amount of pain, in order for the proper dilation to occur, before relief is administered. And the truth about this? Well, because a woman has to be near transition stage to be offered these pain-relieving, labor-slowing drugs, she has basically undergone the most difficult part of labor without even realizing it. And furthermore, she then will likely have to deal with the spinal headaches and lower backaches for weeks or even years after having an epidural.

Most pain blocking medications cannot be given before the cervix has reached 7 centimeters dilation. The final three centimeters of dilation, however, tend to occur much more quickly than the first seven, and this point usually marks the transition phase of labor where the body turns from preparation contractions to the more productive and often pressure relieving expulsion contractions. When allowed to flow naturally from one stage of labor to the next, mom is triggered into the triumphant and urgent pushing phase of the birth without having to be told that it’s time. This is an amazing point of change that should be celebrated and given its full attention. Now, mom will have her reward. Now, baby will meet his parents. Now, nature will take its course and the world will meet its newest member. I’m so glad I was present for that.
Colleen Hulse is a stay at home mom to her 3 beautiful daughters, she is also a Natural Childbirth Educator. Colleen's Free Video Reveals Her #1 Secret For A Safe & Gentle Natural Childbirth. Get it here => Natural Childbirth