How will I know if I'll be able to handle pain during labor?
Some moms-to-be assume they won't be able to handle the pain of childbirth. In this video, nurse midwife Paula Greer discusses alternatives for dealing with labor pain worth knowing about before the first contraction.
Transcript
If you've never experienced pain in your life, this is a time that you're going to find out about your inner resources. Having a great support system and involving
all of your senses takes you right through the labor process. [MUSIC PLAYING]
Sometimes patients really surprise me. The ones that I feel will not be able to deal with their pain and labor have much better inner resources
than we ever knew possible. Sometimes my teenagers are actually the best patients. On the other hand, when I have a patient sitting
in my office saying, "I'm afraid of needles. I can't get my blood drawn. I pass out when I go to the dentist's office.
I always need a stronger pain medicine. Please give me the higher dose. Can I have my epidural when I get to the hospital parking
lot?" they probably already know that they're a little bit of a pain weenie. And maybe they're going to need that epidural in labor.
On the other hand, if you've never experienced pain in your life, this is a time that you're going to find out about your inner resources.
And you may be surprised that using hydrotherapy, massage, having a great support system and involving
all of your senses takes you right through the labor process. And you end up being very proud of yourself for having a natural birth.
pregnancy
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