We talked a few days ago about the types of contractions and how to differentiate false contractions from those of childbirth. The main characteristic of the latter is that the pain becomes more and more intense as the time of delivery approaches. Possibly you have ever wondered Why do labor contractions hurt? We will try to explain it.
Labor contractions are rhythmic, because they occur at regular, progressive periods, because their duration is increasing, and intense. Although there are women who do not notice them, most of the time they do not go unnoticed because they are painful.
The contractions hurt because when they occur, the blood vessels that supply the uterus become bloodless, that is, without blood. This produces an almost total lack of oxygen in the uterine tissue, a process called anoxia, responsible for pain.
When the contraction passes and the muscle relaxes, the blood returns to irrigate the blood vessels and the pain disappears until the next contraction.
The function of labor contractions is to help dilate the cervix and place the baby in the birth canal so that expulsion can occur. Each time the muscle hardens, the cervix gradually dilates.
Between contraction and contraction the pain ceases, giving the woman time to bring air to the uterine muscle and relax it through deep breathing, and thus be able to cope better with the next contraction.
The pain it's something subjective. While some women hardly feel the birth contractions, for others they become really unbearable. The important thing is to try to cope with them as best as possible by identifying some of the causes that can cause it.
Pain management methods such as breathing, relaxation, music therapy, massages, good company, adequate physical prenatal preparation, having freedom of movement to adopt the most comfortable posture and getting into a bathtub of warm water are solutions that can help better cope with the pain of labor contractions.
In a next post we will talk more in detail about the natural methods that can help relieve the pain of labor contractions.
