Labour Pain Management in Pune

Stages of Labour 

Labour progresses through 3 different stages. These are:

• Latent phase (cervical dilation is around 0 - 3 cm): It is the longest stage and can last for a couple of days or even weeks. The pain is tolerable during this phase and you may start experiencing mild and irregular contraction. 
• Active phase (cervical dilation is around 7 - 8 cm): It is the mid-stage, during which the contractions are more intense and strong, lasting anywhere between 30 to 60 seconds. 
• Transition phase (cervical dilation is around 8 - 10 cm): It is the final stage during which the contractions are very painful and even more intense.

Labour Pain Management with medication

Utilising pharmaceutical painkillers to control labour pain is known as pharmacological pain relief. 

• Epidural anaesthesia is one of the most preferred types of pharmacological pain treatment used during labour. This entails injecting a local anaesthetic into the epidural area of the spine, which numbs the lower body and relieves discomfort during labour and delivery by numbing the bottom half of the body. Many expectant mothers choose epidurals because they are highly effective. They might be administered at any point during labour, and they can even be combined with other painkillers.
• Intravenous (IV) analgesia is another alternative for pharmacological pain management. This entails giving painkillers via an IV line, which may assist in alleviating the degree of discomfort during contractions. However, IV analgesia may not be appropriate for all patients and is less effective than epidural anaesthesia. To determine whether it is the right option for you or not, it is advisable to discuss it with your obstetrician. 

 Labour Pain Management without medication

It is not always necessary to take medication to relieve pain during labour. For expectant mothers who choose not to depend upon medicines, we, at Surya Hospital, offer other effective and safe options. These include:

• Focused breathing techniques like abdominal breathing, which can help to lower anxiety and tension and encourage calmness during labour. 
• Moving around and changing position from time to time to alleviate discomfort and ease tension. 
• Hydrotherapy, in which you need to immerse your body in a tub of warm water or take a warm shower. You can also consider water birth as it helps to relax and soothe the muscles.
• Complementary therapies like aromatherapy and, massage, yoga and acupuncture.