According to Doctor of obstetrics Dennis Walsh from the University of Nottingham, England, the pain during childbirth has its own advantages for both mother and baby. He emphasizes that painkillers, such as epidural, violate the natural process of psychological connection between the mother and the child.

Dr. Walsh says that labor pain often helps to regulate the time of delivery, reinforces psychological connection between the mother and the baby, and prepares the woman for motherhood responsibilities.

Over the past 20 years, the use of epidural anesthesia has doubled. In fact, it is used only on demand of women in labor, even despite the fact that the medicine increases medical risks during childbirth and despite the availability of alternative and less invasive ways to control pain symptoms.

Meanwhile, according to Dr. Walsh, the pain has positive physiological effects, allowing to set the rhythm for the contractions and activate the production of endorphins, the hormones that help to adapt to the feeling of pain.

The doctors have noted that the use of epidural anesthesia facilitates side effects, such as the need for hormone replacement therapy during labor and the use of forceps for the child to be born safely.

According to the research by Swedish doctors, one should not overuse these painkillers at least because of the fact that the risk of drug addiction among the adolescents, whose mothers received morphine drugs during labor, is five times higher.

The nervous system of the baby “remembers” the narcotic analgesic. And then, if one day the teenager gives it a try, there will develop a fast and strong addiction.

Dr. Walsh says that alternative methods of reducing pain are safer for both the mother and the newborn baby. For instance, he suggests using the technique of hypnosis, massage, yoga, and birthing pools.

It is believed that the woman, who is psychologically ready to deliver a baby, who is able to breathe properly, is well aware of all the phases of labor, who is able to control herself and is aimed at the result, can cope well without painkillers.

What’s Wrong with My Crying Baby?

Some people believe that babies should be allowed to cry. They say, it contributes to the development of lungs. Please, do not listen to those who tell such things! Believe it, your baby will have plenty of reasons to cry. And the infant does not expect at all that the mom will not come to help and will consciously say “let it cry.”

Let us define the main causes of baby’s crying.

1. The Baby Cries Because of Hunger

The most common cause of baby’s crying is hunger. In the early days and even months of life, the baby wants to eat almost constantly. To remove this reason for crying it will be enough to take the baby to the breast or to give it a bottle.

2. Colic

During the first three months of life, the baby often suffers from lasting wind and colic. This mostly happens in the evenings, and then the baby can give hour-long “concerts” driving its parents mad. Medications are not needed in this case since colic is a natural phenomenon and is not treated. Carminatives can be helpful.

3. Dirty Diapers Irritate the Baby

Urine and feces contact with the baby’s skin and cause burning and discomfort. Sometimes, to soothe your baby you just need to change a diaper or a nappy.

4. The Baby Cries When Tired

The baby’s nervous system is still not perfect, and it gets tired very easily. If the baby has got too much experience and impressions, or has not had a long enough nap during the day – crying in the evening is very probable. If the baby is tired, the only thing that can help is its mom’s or dad’s presence, rocking, and talking.

5. The Baby Starts Crying When It’s Too Cold or Too Hot

The baby will cry if it feels cold or hot. If the infant has a cold nose – hence, it is cold. The baby should be dressed warmer and covered. If the infant’s back is wet and hot – the baby is hot. Perhaps, you can eliminate the cause of crying by just undressing the baby.

6. The Baby Needs Communication

The baby may cry if it stays alone in its crib or playpen. In such a way the infant calls its mother without whom it feels lonely and abandoned. To stop this weeping is easy – just take the baby in your arms.

7. Clothing Discomfort Makes Infants Cry

Tight bands and hard seams can make your baby feel discomfort and even pain. Make sure that the seams of baby clothes are out, and the bands and the clothes are not too tight.

8. Health Conditions

A stuffy nose, a headache or a sore throat are the main causes of baby’s crying when it has caught a cold. Treat the sick infant with all means available, trying to facilitate breathing and soothe the pain.

9. Skin Irritation

The baby’s staying in wet diapers for a long time can cause diaper rash or diaper dermatitis. This physical state requires treatment. If the baby has diaper rash, leave it more often without a diaper to help its skin “breathe”. Air baths would also be useful.

10. Weather Sensitivity in Infants

Infants are very sensitive to weather. With a dramatic change of weather conditions and during magnetic storms, babies feel uncomfortable and, of course, cry.

How to Understand Why Your Baby Is Crying?

Over time, every mother will almost unmistakably determine the cause of her baby’s crying. But whatever the reason for the baby’s crying is, do not leave it without due attention and do not undermine the baby’s trust in the world. Do not be afraid to take the baby in your arms more often, it will not grow “pet” because of that. The more you give it your warmth and communication on the earlier stages of its development, the bolder and more active it will be in its desire to get acquainted with the surrounding world, and the sooner it will learn to find its own things to do. Do not be afraid of loving your children.

There is an opinion that the children, who have not received enough love in infancy, will require their parents’ attention and care in future because they do not feel confident in their love.

Source of the image: Photl.

According to the researchers, practical tests have shown that premature infants are considerably more sensitive to pain during injection, introduction of nutrients through a tube, and blood sampling for analysis. The experts believe that better understanding of pain processes in the infants’ body will help provide them with better and less painful medical treatment.

The doctors have made the conclusion about the increased sensitivity to pain in the process of carrying out various procedures and due to making the electroencephalogram of the infants’ brain. Now one can claim that the increased sensitivity to pain in premature infants is observed during at least 40 days after birth.

Dr. Rebecca Slater (UK), a pediatrician and the leader of the research, claims that today’s science is aware of all newborns’ increased sensitivity to pain, but premature infants’ sensitivity is especially high. As she says, the premature infants’ brain has shown normal response to all the signals, but the difference between usual and premature children is only in the reaction to pain. All tactile functions in normal and premature infants are the same, and the brain processes these data without any significant differences.

Premature babies need intensive care, they are in a critical condition, and the doctors will have to think how to reduce pain to a minimum.

Source of the image: Photl.

This is a new experimental technique of labor pain reduction with the help of traditional methods from such ancient cultures as Indian and Moroccan. It is based on the use of singing as a form of self-induced sedation. Researchers claim that singing triggers release of endorphins, substances with sedative effect, which in turn act to reduce labor pain.

The new method is being developed at the maternity ward in Italian city of Mantua. The research is lead by Elise Benassi, doctor of musicology and obstetrics. She claims that voice vibration from singing partially prevents pain signals from reaching the brain. As the result, the pregnant woman experiences much less pain during labor. More precisely, singing expands the diaphragm, enhances respiratory capacity, and reduces muscle tensions and compression. Thus, the whole body is completely relaxed

The medics also note that singing during labor is not same as yelling. A woman needs to come up with the right tune. After the childbirth, this tune will be an invisible sound cord between the woman and her baby. If the study is confirmed, future moms will need to search for the right tune in addition to the usual hunt for baby toys, clothes, furniture, and accessories.

Source of the image: Photl.

Get the child drink more often

Dentition is a natural process that does not require treatment, but it is accompanied by increased formation of unwanted body substances. To quickly get them out, often get the child drink between feedings.

Wipe off saliva

To prevent saliva from irritating the skin, wipe the child’s face and neck with baby wipes or soft towel, and once a day – lubricate with protective cream.

Massage the baby’s gum

Massage the swollen gum with clean fingertips, cold tea spoon or a gauze tampon – a light pressure on the gum will speed up teething.

Give your child teethers

Buy the baby a teething ring which is best kept in the refrigerator – cold will relieve pain, reduce swelling and remove inflammation of the gums.

Medicines that relieve pain during teething

On a doctor’s advice, you can use gels or ointments for the gum, which contain anti-inflammatory and analgesic substances, such as anesthesin (Kalgel, Dentinox).

Fever during teething

If a child has a fever (from 38 °C or higher) during teething, your doctor may recommend paracetamol. If the fever persists for 48 hours or the baby starts coughing, has a runny nose or watery stools, call a doctor: this could be cold or intestinal infection.

Diarrhea

If a baby has a stool disorder, feed him 2-3 days with lighter meals, preferably cereals. Limit the amount of fruits and juices, give him some tea with chamomile, fennel and caraway seeds, or administer these herbs in the form of droplets. The timing and order of teething depend on genes, but general patterns do exist.

How and when the first teeth appear in children

The first baby teeth appear in majority of babies after 5-8 months of birth. Typically, teeth appear in girls earlier than in boys. The date of this significant event usually depends on genes. If the child has no signs of rickets and he is developing normally, a delay in teething for 6 months is not a cause for concern.

Typically, the lower central incisors appear first, then the upper central and upper side ones.
Usually a one-year old kid could have 4 top teeth and 2 or 4 lower incisors, i.e. 6-8 teeth.

Source of the image: Photl.

The glorious model gave birth to her son less than two months ago at her home in Boston. She had a water birth and refused to take any serious pain killers because she wished to remain completely conscious and feel every stage of the delivery. And she was pleasantly surprised at the fact that it didn’t hurt at all!

The birth “wasn’t painful, not even a little bit,” according to Bündchen. “The whole time, my head was so focused – every contraction, the baby is closer, the baby is closer. So, it wasn’t like, ‘Oh, what pain.’ It was, ‘With every contraction, he is getting closer to me.’ ”
On the second day she was already up and about, having practically no difficulty in going about her usual household tasks, making pancakes, washing dishes.

The greatest trouble over the baby was choosing a name. The first prenatal idea rejected, Bündchen and her husband, American quarterback Tom Brady, held long discussions trying hard to hit upon a name that would sound equally well for an American and Brazilian ear – the model wants her son to embrace the origins of both of his parents.

Bündchen’s favorite names, David and Joaquim, were also discharged, and eventually the couple agreed on Benjamin. Yet, the Brazilian model hasn’t grown used to the name yet. “For me, there is no name. He is my benzinho [which means simply “my beloved”].”

Source of the image: blogs.glam.com.

Pain in labor often helps regulate the rhythm of childbirth, strengthens the connection between the mother and the baby, and even prepares the mother to the responsibility of motherhood, says Dr. Walsh. Over the last 20 years the epidural rates have doubled and practically this method is used according to the woman’s request even if the drug increases medical risks during childbirth despite the existence of alternative, less invasive methods to control pain in labor are available. Moreover, according to Dr. Walsh, labor pain has positive physiological effects, as it helps establish a rhythm to childbirth and activate production of endorphins – hormones, which help women to adjust to pain.

The doctors also noted that the use of epidural anesthesia increases the chances of side effects, such as the need of hormone treatment and the use of devices, such as forceps, to complete the labor. Pediatricians are also concerned that long-term impacts of anesthesia are still unknown. Dr. Wash states that alternative methods of pain management, such as hypnosis, massage, yoga, and birthing pools, are safer for the mother’s and baby’s health.

Do you think women really need to go through this pain to become a real, full-fledged mother to her baby? Or is it just a statement of a man who never finds out how painful it is to give birth?

Source of the image: flickr.com/photos/debbya.