Bhavani shankar Kodali MD
If you decide epidural anesthesia is not for you, or if you are interested to know more about non medicated childbirth pain relief methods, you can obtain additional information from the links below. You can also obtain additonal information from the childbirth educator at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Double click on your selection. A new window is opened to access the website. Close the window to return back to this page.
Hypnobirthing® is not new, but rather a "rebirth" of the philosophy of birthing as it existed thousands of years ago and as it was recaptured in the work of Dr. Grantly Dick-Read, an English obstetrician, who first forwarded the concept of natural birthing in the 1920s. The method teaches you that in the absence of fear and tension, severe pain does not have to be an accompaniment of labor. For details: www.hypnobirthing.com
Lamaze is another technique used by some women. Dr Grantley Dick Read encouraged women to give birth naturally by reducing the fear (and pain) of childbirth through knowledge and relaxation. Dr Lamaze advanced a number of simple strategies to facilitate normal birth and help women to give birth without medication. Psychoprohylaxis, the Lamaze Method of Childbirth, consists of continuous labor support (by the monitrice) and the use of a repertoire of relaxation and breathing strategies. Lamaze believed that controlled, conditioned breathing exercises were effective in blocking women's perception of pain of contractions.
The Bradley method of natural childbirth® techniques. It consists natural childbirth assisted by active participation of the husband as a coach, excellent nutrition during pregnancy, early birth classes, relaxation and natural breathing exercises, etc. For details:www.bradleybirth.com
'Water birthing'. Giving birth in water is still not considered a conventional method, but more and more people are considering it as the information spreads about this type of birth experience. This has been described as follows:
"When you go into labor, you enter a tub of warm water that's between 90 and 100 degrees. Your baby is monitored using a special underwater Doppler device. When contractions are getting stronger, you turn to the side easily in the water to a more comfortable position and breathe deeply. You feel warmed, protected, and supported by the water--as will your baby when he or she enters the warm tub to experience a gentle birth". If intravenous medications are necessary, in most cases they can be administered to you while you're in the tub. Here you'll continue to labor until you're ready to give birth. You can give birth while submerged in the water, but some women choose only to labor in the tub, and prefer to give birth out of the tub '. For details:http://www.americanbaby.com.
Additional information on 'Natural childbirth' can be also obtained from:www.naturalchildbirth.org
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