Pain management has finally been taken seriously by doctors and nurses. It’s even called a science!
Most women learn about pain in their early teens when they start having ‘periods’. Periods are all about learning to understand our bodies and figuring out what works best for us, individually, without simply having to ‘grin and bear it’ as we were told.
The last few weeks of pregnancy are painful because of backache, stretched ligaments and the baby’s head bobbing around in the pelvis. The first few weeks after the birth are difficult because of stitches (either from a C-section or episiotomy), heavy breasts and sore nipples! Nobody warns women of lingering, persistent pain just about everywhere after having a baby. Added to your woes is a demanding baby and daily chores that have to get done. You may be wondering what happened to the serene images of motherhood you pictured while you were pregnant. Are those happy pictures you see in baby magazines real – or are they posed and photo shopped?
Here are some coping tips:
• Use heat to dull the pain: This improves blood circulation to injured tissue and helps it to heal. This also helps to reduce the pain. Heated microwave bean-bags or a hot water bottle is magic!
• Move, move, move: This also helps to improve overall blood circulation, oxygenate body cells and wake-up the brain. Also remember to ‘walk tall’ despite a C-section cut or an episiotomy (cut to the vaginal wall)
• Distraction: This helps you brain to focus on things other than your pain. Get your girl-friends to visit you with flowers, chocolates, magazines and happy chatter! Giggle and laugh together – it’s the best medicine!
• Medication: Before you reach into the medicine cabinet for strong pain-killers, try natural remedies like herbal tea (fresh ginger reduces inflammation, raspberry-leaf helps your womb to recover and camomile improves sleep). Cabbage leaves inside your bra is magic for full, painful engorged breasts. Speak to a pharmacist or homeopath about recommending something for pain that won’t interfere with breastfeeding
• Rest, rest, rest: Take a break while your baby is sleeping!
• Acknowledge your achievements! Having a baby is BIG! Just imagine – you have created a new life. When you admire your baby, remind yourself “I did this!”
More than anything, enjoy your baby!
