How to relieve the tearing pain during childbirth

Giving birth is a day of suffering for mothers, but it is also the happiest day for every mother. During the childbirth process, the perineum will spontaneously tear, which is an unbearable pain. However, mastering the following techniques can relieve the pain.

How high is the chance of perineal tear during childbirth? The answer is more than 90%, almost every parturient will face perineal tear. According to Qu Qingjian, director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical University, the degree of perineal and anal tear can be divided into 1 to 4 degrees from mild to severe:

1st degree laceration: A mild laceration that only damages the surface layer of the perineum skin.

2nd degree laceration: moderate laceration that injures the surface layer of the perineum, subcutaneous soft tissue, and muscles.

3rd degree laceration: severe laceration that injures the surface layer of the perineum, subcutaneous soft tissue, muscles, and external anal sphincter.

4th degree laceration: severe laceration that damages the surface of the perineum, subcutaneous soft tissue, muscles, internal and external anal sphincters, and rectal mucosa.

For primiparas, since it is their first time giving birth, the perineal tear is generally of the second degree. If the wound is large, they will be sutured to help the wound heal. For multiparas, since they already have childbirth experience, the tear is less serious, generally of the first or second degree. If the wound is small, usually no additional sutures are required and it can heal on its own.

Director Au Ching-chien said that because Chinese people rarely exercise and their perineum is not elastic, it is almost inevitable that the perineum will tear during natural childbirth. The following are common causes:

1. Lack of exercise

Most women reduce their exercise frequency after pregnancy due to physical discomfort, back pain, and mobility problems. However, this will make the perineal muscles less elastic and increase the chance of tearing pain.

2. Incorrect force during production

During childbirth, many first-time mothers usually use improper force, or do not know how to use force, or are even afraid of pain and dare not use force. Therefore, they need medical staff to help push the belly to deliver the fetus. Due to the external force, lacerations are easy to occur.

3. Use of equipment to assist in production

Because some women take too long to give birth, doctors worry that the fetal heart rate may slow down or be compressed, so they use instruments to deliver the fetus, such as vacuum extraction or forceps. However, the use of instruments will make the perineum tear more serious. Some women's wounds may even tear to the anus, and it will take about 8 weeks of care for the wound to heal.

Generally speaking, the head circumference of a full-term fetus is about 35 cm, and it takes about 2 hours for a primipara to start the second stage of labor (from full dilation of the cervix to delivery of the fetus). During this period, the vagina of the mother is constantly squeezed and stretched to give birth to the baby, so lacerations are inevitable. However, Director Qu Qingjian also reminded that although most mothers will encounter lacerations, if they can do the following methods before delivery, they can reduce the pain of lacerations.

1. Develop exercise habits

Developing exercise habits is definitely one of the effective ways to help the delivery process go more smoothly. Swimming, prenatal yoga, Pilates and other sports can help you learn how to control your muscles. Especially pelvic exercises, such as yoga balls and prenatal squats, can help train the pelvic muscles and make the perineum more elastic, thereby reducing pain.

2. Practice Lamaze breathing

Lamaze breathing is a method that uses breathing and muscle coordination to accelerate labor and reduce pain. The following is the breathing method:

Lamaze breathing method:

Take a deep breath at the beginning and end of a contraction, once at the beginning and end of each contraction.

When the cervix is ​​about 0 to 3 centimeters open, breathe slowly, chest breathing, inhale through the nose, purse the lips and exhale slowly. Remember to relax your muscles, about 6 to 9 times per minute.

The cervix is ​​about 4 to 6 centimeters open. Adjust your breathing, once every 3 seconds. The mantra is: 1-2-Hee; 1-2-Hee; 1-2-Hee.

The cervix is ​​about 7 to 10 centimeters open. Breathe rhythmically, once per second. The mantra is: Hee-Hee-Hu.

The cervix is ​​about 7 to 10 centimeters open. Use the direct calling method, once per second. The key is: hu-hu-hu.

Pregnant mothers can start massaging the perineum and the lower half of the vaginal opening regularly one month before the due date. If you are massaging by yourself, you can use your two thumbs to massage the 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock positions of the vaginal opening, and then massage the lower half of the vaginal opening. The depth is about one knuckle. You can do it 2 to 3 times a day, each time for 10 to 15 minutes. If the expectant father helps with the massage, you can use two index fingers to massage to increase the elasticity of the perineal muscles. 3. Massage the perineum one month before delivery

▲5 o'clock and 7 o'clock. (Looking straight ahead)

▲The lower part of the vaginal opening. (Looking straight ahead)

4. Warm compresses on the perineum during the second stage of labor

The second stage of labor refers to the time from when the cervix is ​​fully dilated to when the fetus is delivered. At this time, the pregnant mother or father can wear gloves, soak in warm water, and then massage the perineum once an hour for 10 to 15 minutes each time to increase the elasticity of the perineum muscles.