Having a baby or running a marathon?
There are many ways which help mothers get through a pregnancy
In previous articles, we discussed ways of keeping the pregnant body healthy, both physically - by nourishing it with well-balanced meals, keeping a good posture, doing the right exercises regularly and resting - and mentally, by educating the mind to think positive about the pregnancy and the birth. As we have seen, a negative attitude towards the birth may actually inhibit the body from working efficiently and may actually cause problems.
Quoting the World Health Organisation, a good 85 per cent of pregnant mothers go on to have normal births without complications. This means that there is more chance that a woman's body works well, if allowed to do the job that it is designed to do, without undue pressure. The other 15 per cent of mothers who are expected to develop complications, may safely rest their mind that with the advanced technology which saves lives of both mother and baby, it was never safer than today to have a baby. The best deal is a combination of the natural, educating and encouraging the mother to do her part, with standby medical methods used if and where necessary.
Early in the pregnancy, most mothers start regular visits to a medical caregiver, a midwife or a doctor, to make sure that all is well. It is important that during the visit, besides checking physical parameters, time is allotted for the psychological well-being of both parents. Most will have numerous questions to ask, which need to be addressed. Fear of the unknown can have a negative affect on the mind, and so, also, albeit indirectly, on the physical body of the mother. In our modern times it is an added bonus to be able to listen to the baby's heartbeat, see the baby on a screen, perhaps also take pictures or catching it on video or DVD. Indeed, a baby in utero is no longer enjoying his secret hideout any more! Some mothers and fathers are overjoyed to be able to peep inside their baby's world. They say it helps them bond with the baby better.
It is good to note that while tests using the modern apparatus available today have certainly diminished problems both during pregnancy and during childbirth, it is questioned whether the overuse of certain technology, like ultrasound at every pregnancy visit, and continuous monitoring which restricts movement during the birth, even when not indicated, is really giving better results. Some studies claim that mothers may be affected physically and emotionally by the overuse of machines which may inhibit the body from working well and may actually cause anxiety to the lay person who is not used to being in a medical environment. Other studies also claim that even babies may be affected, directly or indirectly.
In countries like Holland, modern technology is used to screen pregnant mothers, very efficiently categorising them into low-risk or high-risk cases, and then they are followed up accordingly. While the fewer high-risk pregnancies are closely monitored and are provided with the best technology available, the majority of mothers who are low-risk, are provided with a completely different system of care, including the possibility of birthing at home with a midwife within the national health scheme itself. With its own methods of dealing with births, mostly conducted by midwives, Holland boasts of an excellently safe and efficient service given to the family.
Studies show that where safety is concerned, besides relying on machines and technology, one must also find a place for positive emotional support provided by caregivers who believe in the mother's ability to give birth. The attitude and the very presence of the people within the birthing room have a direct effect on the birth outcome, as they also bring in with them their own perceptions. The surroundings also have their effect. In a hospital, a birthing room which is tastefully designed to look more like a home family bedroom has a better effect on the mother than one designed to be like an operating theatre! Usually, the necessary apparatus is there, but is tactfully hidden away in cupboards or behind curtains!
A mother is much happier when she is in an environment she can control. Some of her choices include being with the same caregiver throughout her birth experience and staying in the same room for all the stages of labour, without the need to be transferred from one room to another. A birthing mother likes to have control over the light and temperature of her birthing room. She finds that having several heights of apparatus or furniture to be used for different positions which enhance gravity, will speed up her labour and increase her ability to cope. She may want to use her own methods of pain relief as distinct from drugs, like using self-hypnosis, relaxing in a pool of water if she so wishes and if it is available, playing her favourite music, using complementary therapies, using her favourite oils, and perhaps be given an appropriate massage by her well-prepared supporting partner.
In an atmosphere like this, she will be able to use her best potential to be able to relax mentally, thus avoiding the negative elements which will inhibit her body from working well. Letting go of fear and tension will obviously be more possible. As a result, her adrenaline is kept at its lowest, making way for the birth chemicals in her body to help her uterus open up slowly but surely for her baby.
Relevant questions most mothers ask are "What happens to my body during childbirth? Is there really the kind of insupportable pain like many mothers say? Will I be able to cope? Will I find the help I need?"
Pain is very subjective. We all have experienced pain some time in our life. Everyday pain is when we accidentally shut our finger in a door. This hurts instantly and constantly. We deal with it in different ways as we all have different pain thresholds and have taught ourselves different techniques which help or not. Labour contraction pain behaves very differently because it is not continuous, but comes in short bouts, starting very mildly and getting stronger and longer as labour progresses and the birth gets closer. In a birth which starts naturally, mothers may sleep through the early contractions and wake up to find that they are feeling a strange sensation in the back and/or lower belly. They need some time to mentally get used to this feeling, and natural labour usually progresses in such a way to allow the mother time to experiment with what helps her and what does not. By the time she comes to the stronger ones, she will be ready to take them more efficiently. Needless to say, if she is well-prepared and well-supported this would be a lot easier.
Steven Sandler, director of the Expectant Mothers Clinic in the UK says: "Getting into training for childbirth is like training to run a marathon. Both are major, sustained physical efforts with people cheering you on, a huge hormonal buzz and a tremendous feeling of exhilaration, satisfaction and delight at the end. With preparation, knowledge and training you're a winner. Without, and you'll probably only get halfway round before collapsing with exhaustion."
The good news is that most mothers may be helped in many ways to be able to see themselves "win the race", with all the positive feelings this brings with it, not only for the precious moments after the birth, but for many years later. A good and satisfying experience of childbirth for the mother is the ideal stepping stone towards a good and satisfying experience of motherhood.
In two weeks' time we shall see what labour pains really are and different methods of how to deal with them.
Ms Theuma is a qualified childbirth educator and school teacher. A mother of three children and a grandparent, she directs a school for parents, In the Family Way, based at Marsascala.
The school offers courses and support for parents, covering various related subjects, from pregnancy to primary and early secondary school age.
Quoting the World Health Organisation, a good 85 per cent of pregnant mothers go on to have normal births without complications. This means that there is more chance that a woman's body works well, if allowed to do the job that it is designed to do, without undue pressure. The other 15 per cent of mothers who are expected to develop complications, may safely rest their mind that with the advanced technology which saves lives of both mother and baby, it was never safer than today to have a baby. The best deal is a combination of the natural, educating and encouraging the mother to do her part, with standby medical methods used if and where necessary.
Early in the pregnancy, most mothers start regular visits to a medical caregiver, a midwife or a doctor, to make sure that all is well. It is important that during the visit, besides checking physical parameters, time is allotted for the psychological well-being of both parents. Most will have numerous questions to ask, which need to be addressed. Fear of the unknown can have a negative affect on the mind, and so, also, albeit indirectly, on the physical body of the mother. In our modern times it is an added bonus to be able to listen to the baby's heartbeat, see the baby on a screen, perhaps also take pictures or catching it on video or DVD. Indeed, a baby in utero is no longer enjoying his secret hideout any more! Some mothers and fathers are overjoyed to be able to peep inside their baby's world. They say it helps them bond with the baby better.
It is good to note that while tests using the modern apparatus available today have certainly diminished problems both during pregnancy and during childbirth, it is questioned whether the overuse of certain technology, like ultrasound at every pregnancy visit, and continuous monitoring which restricts movement during the birth, even when not indicated, is really giving better results. Some studies claim that mothers may be affected physically and emotionally by the overuse of machines which may inhibit the body from working well and may actually cause anxiety to the lay person who is not used to being in a medical environment. Other studies also claim that even babies may be affected, directly or indirectly.
In countries like Holland, modern technology is used to screen pregnant mothers, very efficiently categorising them into low-risk or high-risk cases, and then they are followed up accordingly. While the fewer high-risk pregnancies are closely monitored and are provided with the best technology available, the majority of mothers who are low-risk, are provided with a completely different system of care, including the possibility of birthing at home with a midwife within the national health scheme itself. With its own methods of dealing with births, mostly conducted by midwives, Holland boasts of an excellently safe and efficient service given to the family.
Studies show that where safety is concerned, besides relying on machines and technology, one must also find a place for positive emotional support provided by caregivers who believe in the mother's ability to give birth. The attitude and the very presence of the people within the birthing room have a direct effect on the birth outcome, as they also bring in with them their own perceptions. The surroundings also have their effect. In a hospital, a birthing room which is tastefully designed to look more like a home family bedroom has a better effect on the mother than one designed to be like an operating theatre! Usually, the necessary apparatus is there, but is tactfully hidden away in cupboards or behind curtains!
A mother is much happier when she is in an environment she can control. Some of her choices include being with the same caregiver throughout her birth experience and staying in the same room for all the stages of labour, without the need to be transferred from one room to another. A birthing mother likes to have control over the light and temperature of her birthing room. She finds that having several heights of apparatus or furniture to be used for different positions which enhance gravity, will speed up her labour and increase her ability to cope. She may want to use her own methods of pain relief as distinct from drugs, like using self-hypnosis, relaxing in a pool of water if she so wishes and if it is available, playing her favourite music, using complementary therapies, using her favourite oils, and perhaps be given an appropriate massage by her well-prepared supporting partner.
In an atmosphere like this, she will be able to use her best potential to be able to relax mentally, thus avoiding the negative elements which will inhibit her body from working well. Letting go of fear and tension will obviously be more possible. As a result, her adrenaline is kept at its lowest, making way for the birth chemicals in her body to help her uterus open up slowly but surely for her baby.
Relevant questions most mothers ask are "What happens to my body during childbirth? Is there really the kind of insupportable pain like many mothers say? Will I be able to cope? Will I find the help I need?"
Pain is very subjective. We all have experienced pain some time in our life. Everyday pain is when we accidentally shut our finger in a door. This hurts instantly and constantly. We deal with it in different ways as we all have different pain thresholds and have taught ourselves different techniques which help or not. Labour contraction pain behaves very differently because it is not continuous, but comes in short bouts, starting very mildly and getting stronger and longer as labour progresses and the birth gets closer. In a birth which starts naturally, mothers may sleep through the early contractions and wake up to find that they are feeling a strange sensation in the back and/or lower belly. They need some time to mentally get used to this feeling, and natural labour usually progresses in such a way to allow the mother time to experiment with what helps her and what does not. By the time she comes to the stronger ones, she will be ready to take them more efficiently. Needless to say, if she is well-prepared and well-supported this would be a lot easier.
Steven Sandler, director of the Expectant Mothers Clinic in the UK says: "Getting into training for childbirth is like training to run a marathon. Both are major, sustained physical efforts with people cheering you on, a huge hormonal buzz and a tremendous feeling of exhilaration, satisfaction and delight at the end. With preparation, knowledge and training you're a winner. Without, and you'll probably only get halfway round before collapsing with exhaustion."
The good news is that most mothers may be helped in many ways to be able to see themselves "win the race", with all the positive feelings this brings with it, not only for the precious moments after the birth, but for many years later. A good and satisfying experience of childbirth for the mother is the ideal stepping stone towards a good and satisfying experience of motherhood.
In two weeks' time we shall see what labour pains really are and different methods of how to deal with them.
Ms Theuma is a qualified childbirth educator and school teacher. A mother of three children and a grandparent, she directs a school for parents, In the Family Way, based at Marsascala.
The school offers courses and support for parents, covering various related subjects, from pregnancy to primary and early secondary school age.