Labor Pain

Labor Pain General Information

Labor Pain Symptoms

As this clinical term (Labor Pain) does not refer to a particular medical condition but to a common symptom that is widely experienced by most females during labor, a list of potential symptoms that have been associated with this symptom is senseless. However, we can provide you with a short list of symptoms, sensations and feelings that have been reported by women during labor. The most common of them is, of course, intense pain. Anxiety, fear and happiness are also commonly associated with labor.

Although there is a common belief that mothers who have already been through labor several times are less prone to experiencing Labor Pain, this is merely a myth. The only thing that is true about such mothers is that they are more ready than other females to cope with the pain and other symptoms that occur during labor. It is necessary for all females to know that each woman is known to experience labor in a certain unique way.

Some women want to know why labor is so painful. Well, there are a couple of very good reasons for that. For example, even if the cervix is not sensible to cauterization and / or burning, it is very sensible to stretching and / or pressure (both of which occur during a normal labor). Furthermore, it has been proven that the patient’s uterine muscle might also be responsible for Labor Pain. As this muscle (which is the strongest and largest muscle of the human body) has to alternatively relax and contract for several hours, it will become tired, leading to an achy feeling. This applies to almost all muscles that are associated with labor (legs, arms, and so on). This feeling ought to resemble the one that you feel after an exhaustive workout.

Labor Pain Treatment

The therapy against Labor Pain aims to reduce the symptom (severe pain) without disturbing the natural course of labor. Doctors have to be extremely careful in choosing the correct medicine that the mother will be administered, as that drug must not harm the baby. The physician will also have to take into consideration any potential allergic reaction from which the mother may suffer. Emergency allergy tests may be performed. Opana is a medicine that is widely employed in the therapy for Labor Pain. Tranquilizers are occasionally employed in order to calm an over-anxious mother and to ensure a normal labor. Such medicines may be taken in either in their oral form or may be administered through an injection. IV administration is also an option (in this case, their effects will be seen in a matter of minutes). Such medicines help the mother relax. However, they are not able to relieve pain. Among their side effects are: decreased muscle activity of the baby, decreased muscle tone of the baby, drowsiness, incomplete memories about labor, and so on.

A pudendal block may be employed a short time before labor in the therapy of Labor Pain, as it is able to block pain between the anus and the vagina. This type of medicine should be injected in the wall of the vagina. Its effects should appear in a matter of seconds. This therapy option can effectively relieve pain in a specific area of the body for about an hour. Only in very rare cases does the mother or the baby present negative side effects. In the prevention of Labor Pain, the use of a local anesthetic can effectively numb the vaginal area of the patient; such medicines are recommended if an incision is needed in order to extend the episiotomy (the vagina’s opening) or if an unwanted tear has to be fixed after labor. The effects of this medicine appear in a few seconds if the drug is adequately administered (injected into the tissue of the opening of the vagina). These medicines can effectively deal with pain on a temporary basis. Only in rare cases does the mother or the baby experience negative side effects of this drug. However, a therapy with a local anesthetic for Labor Pain is unable to relieve the pain that is caused by contractions. In some cases, the use of such medicines leads to the appearance of an unwanted allergic reaction. The IV (intravenous) administration of this medicine is known to decrease the patient’s blood pressure.

The use of narcotics and analgesics may be beneficial in the case of Labor Pain if they are injected into a buttock or a muscle of the thigh. IV administration is also possible and in some cases recommended as it ensures an accurate dosage control. The effects of these medicines appear in a couple of minutes and last for a couple of hours. The use of this medicine does not lead to muscle weakness. However, among the side effects of these products are: sleepiness, incomplete memories of the labor, and so on.