Birth Pain: Explaining Sensations, Exploring Possibilities (2nd Ed) - Softcover

Birth pain has been an extremely controversial topic, especially in the last few years. It s a topic which is often taboo; dividing people in specific areas. ... Health care professionals can use this book, to find out the reasons for birth pain and the apparent solutions to it. Uniquely pain is discussed with psychological impacts and with both physiological and pharmacological approaches. Using minimal and, what appears after reading it, obvious techniques, women can approach birth with pain in context and no fear. With an array of excellent evidence; all advantages and disadvantages are fully discussed including the elective caesarean , as a method to avoid birth pain. Also included are direct comparisons between psychoprohylaxis and active methods for example pitting control against surrendering and letting one self go. A few quotes stand out from this book for example: Medical technology tries to shut out pain because its purpose is to try and control nature and hide weakness. Pain must be accepted as part of the birth experience. Childbirth is no longer something most women to do as a matter of course... it is something that must be rediscovered. --Midwifery Online (www.midwiferyonline.co.uk)

A book for midwives who would like to explore how best to help women cope with pain and fear. This book contains information about the physiological and psychological functions of pain; cultural influences on the experience of labour pain; elective caesareans, which are supposedly a simpler alternative; advantages and drawbacks of using pharmacological pain relief; information and ideas on how to transform labour pain into an experience of strength and power. While the book provides information on a very wide range of pain relief options and the emphasis is on maternal choice, it also presents many convincing arguments for normal physiological birth. It can therefore make a contribution to helping reduce the rate of unnecessary caesareans and help midwives improve rates of maternal satisfaction. Forewords by Dr Trudy Stevens and Dr Hélène Vadeboncoeur.