Natural Minor Pain Relief

People's Herbal Pharmacy: Soy sauce eases pain of coffee burn

Why Pain?

Going into it the first time, I read and read and read every thing I could get my hands on: books, websites, text books, birth stories of all sorts, the midwife archives... The more I read, the more convinced I became that not only was I capable of giving birth naturally, but that I actually wanted to do it. I wanted to do it because I read about how epidurals suppress the flow of hormones that do all sorts of wonderful things for a labouring woman: keep her labour going strongly, supply her with natural pain relief and a last burst of energy to push out her baby and help her to bond with her baby after birth. (Animal research shows that sheep who labour with an epidural reject their newborns and human research bears out the notion that moms with epidurals can be at a disadvantage when it comes to bonding). I read about how the drugs in epidurals cross the placenta to the baby and often cause drowsiness which makes it harder for the baby to latch on after birth. I read about the side effects some women experience with an epidural: itchiness, headaches, chills, incomplete pain relief (at a time when your natural pain relief has been "turned off") nausea, vomiting, fever, increased risk of post-partum hemorrhage, etc. And those were only the more common, minor ones. More serious (albeit rare) side effects included convulsions, cardiac arrest, respiratory paralysis and maternal death. I also read about long-term effects such as back aches lasting for months and (this alone would cause me to reconsider wanting an epidural had that been my inclination) loss of perineal sensation and sexual function. I learned that if I chose to have an epidural, I would more likely than not be confined to the bed and have to give birth lying on my back. I don't know why exactly, but I react very strongly and negatively (sometimes to the point of tears) to images of women giving birth on their backs, especially if their feet are up in stirrups. I find this position to be degrading and dehumanizing. It is a position of extreme vulnerability and helplessness and is also completely unnatural as far as giving birth goes, making things far more difficult than they need to be for the mother, although much easier for the doctor. Given all these drawbacks, epidurals looked less and less appealing to me. Also, I am an idealist and I did want to experience birth in all its gory glory. I hoped to have an experience which was empowering and of which I was in control.

The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook, Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief

Collins Alternative Health Guide

Minor veterinary surgery, a handbook for veterinary nurses

Travell & Simons' Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: Upper half of body

Smart medicine for a healthier child, a practical A-to-Z reference to natural and conventional treatments for infants and children