No one should have to tolerate pain that entails great suffering during childbirth. The only one who can determine when the suffering becomes unbearable is you, the woman giving birth. No one else can decide that for you.
You do not need to decide in advance if and which pain relief alternative you want to use if you don’t feel it is important to know in advance. Experience tells us that we can achieve the best results when we know ahead of time what our options are, but that the final decision is made when you are in that situation. It is good to be open to most alternatives, and ignore trends and values—such as the notion that you’ve outperformed if you give birth without pain relief. Do not compare yourself with other women’s deliveries. Every birth is unique. All women are unique when they give birth to their child. When it comes to choosing your pain relief, you will receive all the support and advice that you need from your midwife who will be there when you deliver.
Giving birth without pain relief can give some women enormous satisfaction if the pain is perceived as meaningful and give their self-esteem a boost. At the same time, a painful experience during which the woman received no help in managing the pain can have the opposite effect. Their self-confidence in their ability to give birth vanishes and can, in turn, mean that the woman never dares to give birth again.
Medical pain relief is often effective in various degrees depending on which alternative you choose. If the right pain relief is used to manage your pain and suffering, you will be able to manage your childbirth better. This will ensure that you and your partner have a more favorable experience of the birth process than if you abstain. It’s also a better start to parenthood.
Sources:
- Abascal, G., & Huss, M. S. (2018). Att föda. Bonnier Fakta.