The Truth about Pain in Childbirth

Woman Giving Birth Childbirth is an intense experience, and substituting the word contraction for the word pain does not hide the fact that it can hurt. But it should be a good pain, one closely connected to pleasure. Allow yourself to experience it rather than resist it. Be willing to turn entirely inward and concentrate on your body. Acknowledge the sensations of labor for what they are - the way being paved for your baby to emerge. The sensations are only frightening if you don't understand them. Ride along with the emotions of labor as well: happy and excited when it begins, serious and intent on the work as it continues. Find out what childbirth was like for other women. Talk with the ones who have positive, constructive things to say. Ask them what helped the most. One seasoned mother said that having her feet rubbed the whole time got her through it. Another mother said she needed to know it was okay to make low, throaty sounds and moans during transition on stage of childbi...