An epidural is a common pain medication during childbirth. This anesthesia provides pain relief to the region below the belly button. A large needle is inserted into the membrane over the spinal cord, which delivers the medication to your body. An...
Bupivacaine is a prescription anesthetic medication used to relieve painful side effects associated with surgery or childbirth. This medication works by blocking the transmission of pain-associated nerve signals from the spinal column to the...
Childbirth can be one of the most exhilarating and fulfilling experiences of a woman's life. It can also be one of the most stressful and painful. Even with pain medication, childbirth can be uncomfortable. Breathing techniques are a helpful way...
Plants use their essential oils to drive off or attract insects, to manage their internal humidity, heal damage to their leaves and stems and prevent disease. These powerful compounds contain up to 200 different oil-soluble chemicals. The...
Essential oils---also called volatile oils---are products made from substances called fragrant essences, which form in specialized cells found in various plant species. They are commonly used as the material basis for aromatherapy, a complementary...
According to the American Urological Association, an estimated 10 percent of Americans will suffer from a kidney stone during their lives. A kidney stone is a solid mass of crystals that forms when the urine contains too much of certain...
As a teen mom-to-be, ask your healthcare provider for advice about breast-feeding. Why? Because the American Academy of Pediatrics says that for the first six months after birth, being fed nothing but breast milk saves babies' lives. Even so, most...
Childbirth is an exciting time for most expectant mothers, a culmination of 40 weeks of pregnancy. Soon the mother will finally be able to hold her precious newborn. However, the birthing process can be challenging and painful, and no two...
When you go into labor, you can generally choose which type of pain relief you want administered to help relieve the pain of contractions and childbirth. You can opt to have a natural delivery without medication, narcotics to take the edge off of...
The pain of childbirth causes fear in many expectant mothers. Knowing your options for relieving the pain and making the delivery easier prepares you to make decisions when you go into labor. A birth plan offers a way to document your preferences...
Pregnancy is a time characterized by an array of emotions, ranging from joy to pain. Entering the seventh month, the baby already weighs just more than a full pound and is approximately 9-inches long. The mother is now visibly pregnant, having...
Although roses are often given to show love and affection, they have more than just symbolic value. In their essential oil form, roses provide many physical and emotional benefits. Aromatherapist and author Patricia Davis wrote in "Aromatherapy:...
Anesthesia is a combination of drugs that can either put you to sleep for a surgical procedure or numb an area of the body. General anesthesia, or as some people refer to it, "going under," makes you sleep through surgery without pain. Local...
Childbirth is painful, and modern medicine provides many coping methods. Two-thirds of laboring women in the U.S. use epidurals for pain control, according to Epidural Analgesia in Labor, which appeared in the August 2004 issue of "Continuing...
Deep breathing can be helpful to teach children as a way of self-regulation and relaxation, but does it benefit their health? According to Sonia Sumar, author of "Yoga for the Special Child," we only use one-seventh of our total lung capacity, and...
A kidney stone is essentially a hard rock that forms in the urinary tract. The National Institute of Health reports that more than 3.5 millon people a year seek medical help problems related to kidney stones. year. It is often described as the one...
