Help during labour
Dear Editor,
I read with interest Dr Sharmaine Mitchell’s response last week to the pregnant woman who is dreading childbirth. I am a childbirth educator living in the United States and did not know that epidural medication is not routinely available to women birthing at hospitals in Jamaica. In the US it’s very much taken for granted that almost all women will give birth with pain medication.
I just wanted to add, since you mentioned the drug pethidine (we call it Demerol), that taking a narcotic pain reliever does cross the placenta and creates a much sleepier baby who will have trouble breastfeeding. So, if you must use it, it’s best to do so early on in labour and not toward the end. Also, the drug makes you drowsy and puts you to sleep often between contractions, but when that contraction reaches its peak you are woken up in the most unpleasant way! Lastly, pethidine has some side effects that women frequently complain about including excessive itching and paranoia.
I agree that this woman could use a good empowering birthing class to help her understand how to manage pain throughout the labour with hydrotherapy, massage, distraction and deep breathing. Having another woman present (a trained doula or a close female friend/relative) would also be very helpful in relieving anxiety. There is a great benefit to birthing without medication which is the hormonal/chemical cocktail that our body naturally produces; this floods us with feelings of bliss and well-being. These chemicals are present all throughout labour, making the time between contractions very relaxing and pleasant. At the end, when you push the baby out, there is probably no greater natural high on the planet than giving birth without drugs. I see that as a huge benefit to her if the epidural is not available.
I hope to create a childbirth series on the Internet for women who live in places where they might not have access to this information; I’ll certainly let you know and you can recommend it if it’s something you approve of. Best of luck in your endeavours.
Jayne Freeman
Childbirth Educator
