Progressive Relaxation for Pain during Labor

Relax

Progressively relaxing muscles, starting at the head and working your way down to the feet, is a useful technique for dealing with almost any kind of stress or pain, not only the pain of labor. It not only relieves pain, but can help a woman to feel calm and ready to face the hours and the unknown challenges that may lie ahead.

Using Progressive Relaxation to Treat Pain during Labor

Method

• First, relax the muscles of your head and face.
• Continue the process of relaxation, working your way from your neck across your shoulders and arms, down your abdomen and back, all the way down your legs to your toes.
• As you relax, breathe slowly, making your breath slower with each inhale and exhale.
• You may want to visualize someone touching you in a soothing way, smoothing your brow and massaging your head and scalp.

Why It Works

Not all labor pain is caused by contractions and by the physical strain of birthing a baby -- some labor pain is caused by muscle tension caused by anxiety and fear. Progressive relaxation takes away the part of the pain that is caused by tense muscles and an anxious mind.

Precautions

Using progressive relaxation to relieve labor pain has no side effects or drawbacks. Progressive relaxation can be used simultaneously with other forms of pain relief, does not have to be provided by someone who is an expert, and does not cause any negative effects for mother or baby. Some women, however, may find that progressive relaxation by itself is not enough, and that they need to supplement their pain relief strategies with other methods, such as music, massage, warm baths, or other options that may be suggested by a midwife or doctor. Progressive relaxation is best used early in labor, when women are usually in less discomfort and can still focus on an intellectual exercise such as checking each part of the body to see if it is fully relaxed. Later in labor, when pain is more intense, women may have a harder time focusing, but may still be able to use progressive relaxation if a partner helps the woman to focus by walking her through the technique verbally.

More Remedies

• Click here for all Labor Pain remedies