From the pain of uterine contractions during normal delivery to the post-operative pain of cesarean section, labor pain is a difficulty that all mothers must overcome. Some people describe the pain of childbirth as \”reaching the highest pain index level 10\”, \”20 bones fractured at the same time\”, \”unbearable pain in life\”, etc. This shows how strong and brave new mothers are who can survive the pain of childbirth.
Next, let’s take a look at what kind of pain the mother will endure during childbirth.
Before labor starts, there are often some signs of labor, such as irregular uterine contractions, a feeling of fetal descent, and a small amount of light blood vaginal discharge (commonly known as \”redness\”). There is generally no obvious pain at this time.
When regular uterine contractions occur (occurring once every 5 to 6 minutes, each lasting about 30 seconds) and the frequency of contractions gradually increases, the mother has entered the natural labor process.
The first stage of labor is the period from regular uterine contractions to full cervix dilation (10 cm). Generally speaking, the pain in the first stage of labor is mainly visceral pain, caused by uterine contraction and cervical dilation, manifesting as pain in the lower abdomen and back. In the later stage, due to the stretching and expansion of the birth canal, pain in the rectum, lower sacrum and anus may also occur. Even thigh pain.
The first stage of labor is divided into latent period and active period. The incubation period is the slow stage of cervical expansion. The pain at this time is generally mild. The duration generally does not exceed 20 hours for first-time mothers and 14 hours for multiparous women. When the cervix is dilated to 2 to 3 centimeters or more, the patient can be transferred to the labor room. Women with severe pain can request labor analgesia. The active phase is the accelerated phase of cervix expansion. When the cervix is dilated to 5 cm or more, the maternal pain becomes stronger and stronger, gradually rising to a pain index of about 8.
The second stage of labor is from the full dilation of the cervix to the delivery of the fetus. It generally does not exceed 3 hours for first-time mothers and 2 hours for multiparous women. Although the second stage of labor is shorter, it has the highest level of pain in the entire delivery process, mainly vaginal and perineal pain, caused by vaginal and perineal dilation or instrumental delivery. Especially for multiparous women, the pain in the second stage of labor is sometimes more obvious than that of the first child.
The third stage of labor is from the delivery of the fetus to the delivery of the placenta. It is mainly caused by uterine contraction and perineal wound pain, lasting 5 to 15 minutes. After experiencing the first two stages of labor, the pain at this time was much lighter. However, if the placenta has not separated by itself 30 minutes after the baby is delivered, the placenta needs to be removed manually. Some people describe the pain of placenta removal as…Childbirth was even more unbearable.
After the baby is born, will the mother be free from pain? But in fact, it\’s not.
1. When a woman with perineal pain gives birth, her perineum is extremely expanded, her vagina is lacerated when the fetal head is delivered, she undergoes an episiotomy, and the fetal head presses the perineum for a long time, causing edema. These factors can all cause Causes postpartum perineal pain.
2. Postpartum uterine contraction pain In order to promote uterine involution and reduce postpartum bleeding, mothers will have postpartum uterine contractions after delivery. Due to strong uterine contractions, parturient women often experience lower abdominal pain that lasts for about 3 days, which is called postpartum uterine pain. At the same time, reflex oxytocin secretion increases during breastfeeding, which will worsen uterine contraction pain. Although uterine contraction pain varies from person to person and feels similar to dysmenorrhea, its intensity and pain are still more unbearable than ordinary dysmenorrhea.
3. Breastfeeding pain: Cracked nipples, milk stasis, mastitis and other conditions during breastfeeding can cause severe pain. In addition, physiological breast expansion 48 to 72 hours after delivery can also cause breast swelling and pain.
Caesarean section cannot avoid pain
Although women who have had a cesarean section do not have to experience labor pain, in fact, the pain after a cesarean section is no less severe than that of a normal delivery. In addition to uterine contraction pain and breastfeeding pain, postoperative wound pain, abdominal pressure pain, etc. can also make people miserable.
After the anesthesia wears off, the wound pain after cesarean section will gradually appear. Especially when turning over, sitting up, standing, and walking around, the pain of the mother will be particularly intense.
Abdominal pressure pain In order to help the mother\’s uterus contract quickly and expel postpartum lochia, doctors or nurses will press the fundus of the mother\’s abdomen every once in a while. This is the most painful stage after cesarean section. , many mothers cried in pain.
Everyone knows that giving birth to a child requires unimaginable pain, but great women still choose to become mothers without hesitation. As the saying goes, \”A woman is weak, but motherhood is strong.\” After the pain, there is the birth of a new life. Every woman who has endured the pain of childbirth deserves our respect and love!
