Page 11 - GCMC Third Trimester

Listen to music. Music aides in relaxation by drowning out distractions. Select music that comforts and soothes you.
Listen to music. Music aides in relaxation by drowning out distractions. Select music that comforts and soothes you.
Massage. Touch and massage can be very beneficial in reducing pain sensations. Massage stimulates your body to release endorphins, the natural pain-killing, mood-lifting chemicals produced in the brain. Massage may ease pain and reduce anxiety. It may help you to cope with your contractions by making them feel less intense and more manageable.
Position changes. Frequent position changes can significantly reduce pain. Even with continuous fetal monitoring you can move to different positions. Standing and swaying can help you shift your focus to movement instead of pain.Sit in a rocking chair or a birthing ball—rocking movements seem to help with comfort and can help your baby rotate to a favorable position for birth. If confined to the bed, you can still make frequent position changes moving from side to side.
Pressure. Applying pressure to certain areas of the body has proven to decrease stress, tension, and pain sensation. If you experience back labor, you will feel contractions in your lower back. If your support person applies counter-pressure in the lower back with a closed fist or heel of their hand, this can help to reduce the discomfort of back labor. Communicate with your support person exactly where to push and how much pressure to apply.
Relaxation. An active, purposeful activity in which you consciously release tension. Learning to relax your muscles can help reduce physical tension and pain.
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