This week, we continue our Ask a Tinto Expert series with a discussion around pain management during labour with experienced anaesthetist and dad, Dr Dickie Lowe.
In the UK, birth is almost synonymous with pain. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Knowing all the pain management options available to you is such an important part of birth preparation.
First of all, Dr Dickie explains how different factors can influence our experience of pain.
Then, we get into the details, covering gas and air, TENS machines, epidurals as well as breathing techniques, music and massage. We also touch on the anaesthetic involved in c-sections.
Finally, we wrap up with a discussion around managing postpartum pain.
Thank you so much for listening. If you’d like to know any more about what we discussed, here are some resources that you may find useful:
The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy in Reducing Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2016)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5192342/
Three acupoints for pain management:
A guide to massage in labour:
https://shafiamonroe.com/power-of-touch-massage-during-labor/
Using a tens machine in labour:
https://www.babycentre.co.uk/a542581/using-a-tens-machine-in-labour
Pain management for women in labour: an overview of systematic reviews:
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD009234.pub2/full
(The OAA – Obstetric anaesthetists association) pain relief in labour
NHS website / Tommys.org
