The TENS machine, also known as transcutaneous nerve stimulation, is a machine that uses electrical impulses to treat pain. Normally used in patients with arthritis and cancer, the TENS machine is also used to relieve labor pains during the birth...
Many expectant mothers worry about the pain of giving birth. One of the most popular, natural, techniques for pain management is deep breathing. Achieving proper breathing techniques during labor can be achieved with preparation and practice....
While every woman's labor is different, there is no getting around the fact that there is going to be some pain involved. Luckily, there are many pain relief options available, each working in a slightly different way. Pregnant women should talk...
Lamaze breathing is a technique used to help you relax during labor. If you are a first-time mother, it's likely that the unknown pain related to labor can cause trepidation concerning the labor process. Lamaze breathing is a coping mechanism that...
The perineal muscles of your pelvic floor can weaken and become tense during pregnancy. A weak pelvic floor can contribute to tears and the need for an episiotomy, which is a surgical incision a doctor makes in the perineum to increase the vaginal...
Back pain is a common occurrence during labor, one that can make labor even more uncomfortable. It can be mild pain to a severe form known as back labor. According to the American Pregnancy Association, 25 percent of laboring women will experience...
There are many natural supplements commonly recommended by midwives and alternative health care practitioners for use during pregnancy and labor. Some of these are said to help relieve pregnancy symptoms, while others are meant to prepare the body...
Fetal heart rate monitoring is done periodically throughout pregnancy and sometimes continuously or intermittently during labor. Listening to your baby's heart during pregnancy can reassure you and your health care provider that the baby is doing...
As pregnancy comes to an end, many women are desperate to get the baby out. Babies are considered full term from 37 weeks of pregnancy on. While it's best to let nature take its course, there are some things that you can do to naturally encourage...
Working out may be the last thing on your mind when you're expecting, but practicing the right exercises during pregnancy can help your baby's birth go faster and more smoothly when you go into labor. Though no one can predict exactly how your...
Every pregnancy experience is different. Some changes in pregnancy signal that labor is imminent, while others only bring about false expectations. Epigee.org explains that it is important to review potential signs of labor in order to recognize...
By the time a woman reaches her ninth, or even her 10th month of pregnancy, she is often ready for the pregnancy to be over. And while it may be painful and exhausting to walk and impossible to bend or stretch, some simple exercises may help to...
Every woman encounters labor differently. Just as no two pregnancies are exactly alike, no two labor experiences will be the same either. Experienced mothers can become familiar with the general signs and symptoms of labor, while new mothers may...
Finding natural ways to get labor moving becomes appealing as your due date nears or passes. Exercises that may start labor are only effective if your body is ready to begin the process. Specific studies that support the efficacy of exercises to...
Most women become anxious for labor to start as they near the end of their pregnancy. Normal pregnancy discomforts, apprehension about labor and delivery, and the joy of holding your little one in your arms all are a part of this anxiety....
The traditional definition of true labor is the onset of regular contractions, which prepare the uterus to deliver the fetus. For most pregnancies, this occurs between 38 and 42 weeks of gestation. What truly sets preterm labor apart from...
Nature usually takes its course to bring on labor when it's time for a baby to be born. Some women can go past their due date, however, and although their bodies and the baby are more than ready to get started, nothing happens and they continue to...
Preterm birth occurs in around 12 percent of pregnancies in the United States, according to the March of Dimes. Treatments to stop true preterm labor with cervical dilation have limited success, according to obstetrician Robert Barbieri, M.D....
Many American women who are in good health work throughout their nine months of pregnancy--many times all the way to their due date. Understanding different signs of stress and fatigue is important, as well as ways to overcome them. Learn what...
Childbirth and labor are associated with significant pain from uterine contractions. Many women may use some form of anesthesia to dull the pain and make labor more manageable. Other women may choose to not take any pain medication and use other...
Whether this is your first pregnancy or your fourth, the prospect of laboring to deliver your baby can be both exciting and frightening. As you count down the last weeks of your pregnancy, remember that very few babies are born on their due dates....
Packing for the hospital ahead of time allows you to check one more thing off your "to do" list as you prepare for the birth of your baby. You want to pack items to keep you as comfortable as possible during and after labor, and some items your...
Eating a healthy diet is critical both during and after pregnancy, for the health of both the mother and the baby. But until recently, eating during labor itself was thought to increase the potential for complications. However, the BBC reports...
In most cases, anesthetic medications should be avoided during pregnancy. However, if surgery and anesthesia are necessary, the medical staff will select medications to limit the possible side effects to the mother and fetus. A case study...
From walking, having sex, drinking castor oil and eating spicy food, there is a plethora of ways to induce labor. If you're full-term or overdue, ask your doctor if you can use natural methods to begin the labor process. One popular method is...
Some essential oils are used in labor to help with relaxation and pain relief during the birth of the baby; other essential oils are capable of stimulating the uterus to induce labor. Use lavender oil in a blend of uterotonic essential oils, or on...
Using a ball during labor allows you to find comfortable positions while you are experiencing pain. A birth ball is also used to perform gentle, non-impact exercises during pregnancy, a time when physical exercise may be uncomfortable and...
Acupressure is entering the mainstream as one way to reduce the symptoms of pregnancy and the pain of labor. Acupressure works by stimulating your body to release endorphins and hormones. The release of these bodily chemicals can cause pain relief...
Birthing balls are large inflatable balls originally used by physical therapists, but birthing professionals discovered they were also useful during pregnancy and labor. They are available in different sizes, depending on the height of the woman....
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