Childbirth Classes?
Childbirth Classes?
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Q:
In the next month or so I hope to be delivering my third baby. The
first 2 were both born without any medication, after taking generic
(Lamaze-hospital hybrid) birth classes. Though we got through both
births safely, and felt that we got through transition without too much
trauma, I was in extreme pain (i.e. screaming) throughout the 3 hours
of pushing my last child out. This time we're taking a condensed
Bradley course to prepare, and I've been faithfully doing my exercises.
nevertheless I'm still afraid of reliving the pain of past deliveries.
We're committed to going drug-free unless medically necessary, so what
more can we do (psychologically as well as physically) to make this a
better birth experience? Thanks a bunch?
A: First off, while it is not physiologically abnormal to take this long pushing a baby out, 3 hours certainly is pushing the limits of normal. Think back: was your child exceptionally large (over 9.5 lbs)? Was the baby's head position not directly in line with the birth canal? (You can usually tell this by the look of the molding of the baby's skull following the birth). Was your baby posterior? Was your baby's head big? Were your baby's shoulders big? What position were you in to give birth (on your back is bound to be more painful than using gravity)? Have you experienced any sexual trauma in your past? Did you have any reservations having another child? Were you told to push immediately upon full dilation even though you may not have had the urge to push? Were you coached to "hold your breath, count to ten and push-push-push-push-push"? As you see, not only the physical factors come into play, but also the psychological and emotional ones. You are taking a positive step in getting yourselves to a condensed Bradley (r) series, in which you will learn how to relax during childbirth, as well as what is and isn't normal during childbirth. Contrary to what our culture tells us, extreme pain, especially during second stage (pushing), is *not* normal....it means that something is not right. I suggest that you read some of the books that the Bradley (r) folks recommend. Get a hold of a copy of Natural Childbirth the Bradley (r) Way and Husband-Coached Childbirth. You may also benefit from the psychological exercises in books like Pregnant Feelings and An Easier Childbirth. You might also be interested in some of the material presented in Childbirth Without Fear (may be out of print) and The Joy of Natural Childbirth (this has a Christian basis to it, but is still valuable to non-Christians for its information regarding pain as a signal that something is wrong). Remember, it is quite normal to have some reservations about giving birth, especially if you have gone through it before. The key is to let go of any fears you have, work with your body, and allow yourself to give birth the way you are meant to (without extreme pain and with immense joy).
Good Luck!
Copyright, Valerie Malott 1999 |
