A-Z of natural pain relief

[nlakshmi]

These are some natural methods to ease your pain between contractions.

A: ask for information: the more you know, the more relaxed you'll feel. Read about labour and birth on BabyCenter and ask your friends and relatives about their experiences.

B: breathe rhythmically, and relax as you breathe out. Practice deep steady breathing to help you relax each day during your pregnancy and you will be able to do the same when you are in labour.

C: cuddle your husband, and talk with him about your worries about labour. Or have a hug with your mother or sister and tell them how you feel.

D: drink sips of water in between the contractions.

E: eat carbohydrate-rich foods little and often if you feel hungry, during the early stage of your labour.

F: feel free to have the fan or AC on max if you feel hot.

G: groan and moan: making a noise is a great coping strategy!

H: hold your birth partner's hand if you have one. Or take a religious or a holy object with you that you can hold to give you courage and good luck.

I: imagine your baby who is sharing this journey with you. Your baby moves down through your pelvis with every contraction.

J: joke with your birth partner and be jovial with the staff attending to you; keep things in perspective!

[nlakshmi]

K: kisses (from your spouse or mum or sister or a friend), if they are present by your side.

L: listen to music to help you relax.

M: move around in the early stages of labour. Most women find walking and rocking helps while they are still at home.

N: nestle down in a large pile of pillows or folded sheets on your bed for a rest before you go to the hospital.

O: open your pelvis as wide as possible to help your baby get into t​he best position for labour..

P: think positively: "Each contraction brings me closer to the birth of my baby".

Q: quiet yourself when you feel panicky. Remind yourself that many, many women have been through this and given birth to their babies.

R: rock your pelvis round and round and back and forwards with each contraction. You can do this even when lying in a hospital bed, just by wriggling around on the bed.

S: sigh out gently at the end of each contraction so you relax.

T: trust your body: you can give birth!

U: under your breath, whisper a prayer or mantra that helps you cope.

[nlakshmi]

V: visit the toilet regularly; a full bladder will slow your labour.

W: wish for the moment you meet your baby to arrive very soon.

X: more kisses for your new baby!

Y: yell, loud and long, and then try to get back into a good breath​ing pattern

Z: zzzzzzz: doze off in between contractions.