By educating yourself, you will develop the skills and confidence to have a healthy pregnancy and birth. Classes cover a wide array of topics, including prenatal nutrition, the psychological and physical changes that take place at childbirth, and options for coping with pain during childbirth and newborn health. Even if you have decided to receive obstetrical anesthesia, you can benefit from Lamaze relaxation and breathing techniques, until your doctor administers your medication or in the event your delivery does not go as planned. Consider the recommendations and suggestions that are made to you during these classes and discuss all of these options with your obstetrician or midwife. Hypnosis More and more women are turning to alternative methods to alleviate pain during childbirth.
Hypnosis can help with relaxation, breathing and pain.
Women who are most successful in using hypnosis have practiced for weeks before the onset of labor and have taken Lamaze classes. Acupuncture The benefits of acupuncture to control pain during childbirth have been well documented in medical literature. Many physicians are seeking training in this ancient Chinese procedure, but you may need to do some research to find an obstetrician who is qualified to perform acupuncture during the labor and delivery process. Wynne Brown, MD is the chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UPMC McKeesport.