Does Labor Really Have to Be Excruciating?
Posted by Nathan & Valerie at 12:03 AM |
I am a big believer of the power of the mind over the body, as I have seen it evident in my daily life.
Tonight I was talking to a friend from high school about labor pains and I was telling her about a number of people I know of who have had "relatively" pain-free deliveries using relaxation techniques ('pain-free', I know, easy for a guy to say, huh?)
I was telling her that some women mentally prepare themselves to have calm, relaxing, natural childbirth chiefly using what is known as HypnoBirthing, or the Mongan Method. Hypnobirthing is a unique method of relaxed, natural childbirth education, enhanced by self-hypnosis techniques. HypnoBirthing provides the missing link that allows women to use their natural instincts to bring about a safer, easier, more comfortable birthing. Emphasis is placed on pregnancy and childbirth, as well as on pre-birth parenting and the consciousness of the pre-born baby.
The point of this post isn't to explain what hypnobirthing is, you can do that on your own time by clicking on the above link or on Wikipedia.
Marie Mognan, the founder of Hypnobirthing, says that our media is partially to blame how women view birth and that they expect it to be painful due to hospital dramas like ER, but that it doesn't have to be painful at all.
Another way mentioned why the western world might view delivery as a painful experience is due to the Bible.
I use the King James Version of the Bible. I know many of you probably use other versions such as the New International Version.
In the KJV Genesis 3: 16 is translated as:
Obviously there is a BIG difference in these highlighted phrases.
I wonder why the KJV (in 1604) translators chose the word 'sorrow' while the NIV translators (in 1965)chose the word 'pain.' Both were translated from the Masoretic Hebrew text.
So then, what does the Masoretic Hebrew text have to say about Genesis 3:16?
The Masoretic Hebrew text uses the word `itstsabown (pronounced: its-tsaw-bone') in this spot, which Dr. Strong translates as "worrisomeness, i.e. labor or pain:--sorrow, toil."
It is interesting how in 1604, the KJV translators decided to translate `itstsabown as 'sorrow' while in 1965, the NIV translators decided to use the word 'pain.'
Surprisingly, neither decided to use the word 'toil.'
The point I am trying to make here is that there are other methods of delivering babies which put the emphasis on the TOIL, instead of the pain. They seek to unlock the methods that will allow the woman to be in tune with her body and the baby during delivery.
However, from the Hypnobirthing website:
But, there are women out there who have had relatively painless, and even calm births of their children. Here is just one of many stories that can be Googled. Read at your heart's desire.
If it works - wonderful. If not - that's why there are drugs!
Tonight I was talking to a friend from high school about labor pains and I was telling her about a number of people I know of who have had "relatively" pain-free deliveries using relaxation techniques ('pain-free', I know, easy for a guy to say, huh?)
I was telling her that some women mentally prepare themselves to have calm, relaxing, natural childbirth chiefly using what is known as HypnoBirthing, or the Mongan Method. Hypnobirthing is a unique method of relaxed, natural childbirth education, enhanced by self-hypnosis techniques. HypnoBirthing provides the missing link that allows women to use their natural instincts to bring about a safer, easier, more comfortable birthing. Emphasis is placed on pregnancy and childbirth, as well as on pre-birth parenting and the consciousness of the pre-born baby.
The point of this post isn't to explain what hypnobirthing is, you can do that on your own time by clicking on the above link or on Wikipedia.
Marie Mognan, the founder of Hypnobirthing, says that our media is partially to blame how women view birth and that they expect it to be painful due to hospital dramas like ER, but that it doesn't have to be painful at all.
Another way mentioned why the western world might view delivery as a painful experience is due to the Bible.
I use the King James Version of the Bible. I know many of you probably use other versions such as the New International Version.
In the KJV Genesis 3: 16 is translated as:
16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.In the NIV the same verse reads:
16 To the woman he said, "I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."Other versions translate this verse similarly.
Obviously there is a BIG difference in these highlighted phrases.
I wonder why the KJV (in 1604) translators chose the word 'sorrow' while the NIV translators (in 1965)chose the word 'pain.' Both were translated from the Masoretic Hebrew text.
So then, what does the Masoretic Hebrew text have to say about Genesis 3:16?
The Masoretic Hebrew text uses the word `itstsabown (pronounced: its-tsaw-bone') in this spot, which Dr. Strong translates as "worrisomeness, i.e. labor or pain:--sorrow, toil."
It is interesting how in 1604, the KJV translators decided to translate `itstsabown as 'sorrow' while in 1965, the NIV translators decided to use the word 'pain.'
Surprisingly, neither decided to use the word 'toil.'
The point I am trying to make here is that there are other methods of delivering babies which put the emphasis on the TOIL, instead of the pain. They seek to unlock the methods that will allow the woman to be in tune with her body and the baby during delivery.
However, from the Hypnobirthing website:
HypnoBirthing does not promise painless birthing, though many HypnoBirthing mothers do report having a relatively pain-free birth or one that they were able to manage easily. When the cause of pain--fear that constricts the birthing muscles - is eliminated, birthing can be accomplished in a shorter period and much more comfortably. A relaxed mother's body will produce more endorphins, nature's own relaxants. HypnoBirthing mothers may still experience sensations of tightening or pressure; but most describe their birth experience as working with their body through the sensations, and thus avoiding the excruciating pain that is frequently spoken of by women who choose other methods of preparation for birthing.I am not sure what the reason is behind why women are conditioned to believe that birth has to be an excruciating painful process, perhaps its the media, perhaps its the Bible, perhaps its' another method (word of mouth??).
But, there are women out there who have had relatively painless, and even calm births of their children. Here is just one of many stories that can be Googled. Read at your heart's desire.
If it works - wonderful. If not - that's why there are drugs!
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7 Comments:
I asked my online friends (Babycenter) and here are their comments...Interesting thoughts. Do you think it would work for c-sections?
http://boards.babycenter.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=bcus11962&tid=37037
and here
http://boards.babycenter.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=bcus5712&tid=25988
I do believe in mind over matter. My first son was a terrible 36 hours of labor with medical asssitance, My daughter was 2 hours from first contraction to birth and I had no drugs and I knew she was coming quick my mind knew I could work through it because it was going to happen now! I think it would work for some one who went into labor naturally and didn't need and medical invention, it just seems the more birth stories I read it is the exception rather than the normal. A natural progression is something much easier handled than say a induction or or when there is some type of intervention needed.
My second son was an induction and I knew with the drugs I would would need pain drugs from my experinace with my first son.
There are many things as a culture we are lead to believe will cause us pain pulling of teeth all sorts of things. We tend to sensationalize them and like to fill peoples head with preconcieved notions if my birth went this way so will yours...
I was directed here from Babycenter.
I hypnobirthed for my third, which was a pitocin birth, I had been in early labor for 20 days at that point and thought the pit would help. I remained in my deep, painfree, relaxation until I had to come out of it to get the nurses hopping. I wish I could have stayed in longer because the contractions were not at all painful while I was in my relaxed state.
I had birthed without pain meds twice before that, and I firmly believe that pain is all in how you interpret the signals your body sends you. If you train yourself not to fear birth and to relax through the contractions birth can be a much better experience. Fear IS the factor that makes the pain worse.
I now use the same relaxation methods to deal with other kinds of chronic pain.
I have had 5 kids...and each labor has been different. My last 3 were natural and with out drugs. It was painful but I did it and I ALWAYS got such a natural high and I recovered much faster than I did with drugs. I had fast labors where as many other people don't. Having a little something to take edge off the pain is good if overall its natural.
JMHO...I found this through babycenter.
Just hope he's not sunny side up!! I think I could have done it with out the epidural if she had been facing the right way! Everything in life is about your attitude, though. We'll pray your delivery is wonderful!
I know what you mean about the perception we get of childbirth. You just can't know what it is until you do it. And even then every subsequent labor is different. The good thing about labor pain is that you forget very quickly. Good luck!
I went natural for my first baby, and it was excruciating. I have never been in more pain in my entire life. It made me afraid to ever have another baby. I was totally unprepared for how much pain I was in (despite seeing plenty of painful looking media births). And I actually felt that no peers had properly prepared me for the intensity of the agony. So, I'd recommend being prepared for both, not to feel guilty if you opt for drugs, and not endorse this concept that a woman's pain control is all up to her--that like the pressure put on people who are told if they had enough faith they could heal themselves. And my birth was almost five years ago, but still haven't forgotten the pain--for some of us it is not quickly forgotten.
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