Labor Pain Relief for New Moms

Having a baby is an exciting period especially for first-time moms. But alongside this excitement is the looming uncertainty of what they will experience during childbirth. According to experts, giving birth is easy enough – it is the labor that hurts the most. Drugs can deaden the pain but if natural childbirth is preferred, Lamaze classes and seminars can certainly help. There are other ways to achieve labor pain relief but their efficiency largely depends on the cause of the labor pain.

Causes of Labor Pain

Generally, labor pain is classified into three: functional, physiological, and emotional. Identifying and determining the cause of the pain is half the battle won during labor and childbirth so it is important for new moms to keep calm.

Functional pain

During labor, vaginal muscles dilate and contract repeatedly which can certainly cause some degree of pain.

Physiological pain

The baby's position may deviate from normal (head first) which can cause difficulty during labor. Posterior babies often require alternative methods like back labor or the caesarian method to be delivered safely.

Emotional pain

Most cases of labor pain are classified as emotionally driven. This can be caused by lack of childbirth information or fear in the mother. Intense emotions can cause mothers to tense up and fight the contractions; actions that serve no purpose except to heighten labor pains.

Tips to Relieve Labor Pain

Relief from labor pain is the fruit of careful preparation both from the new mothers and those that support and care for them. Below are some tips to minimize labor pain:

1. Entrust the birth to a considerate practitioner. New moms can choose between midwives and doctors but the bottom line is that the practitioner they chose to assist them in giving birth must be supportive of their want to experience a natural birth and has the expertise to provide them with the necessary care.

2. Choose a well-equipped birth setting. In this case, well-equipped means that the place should have all the equipment necessary to facilitate the birth and a support team to assist the practitioner and the new mom. New moms can opt to give birth in their own homes, birthing centers, or hospitals. Each setting has advantages and disadvantages that new moms must discuss with their chosen practitioner.

3. Get the services of a professional doula. If a new mom can afford it, hiring a professional doula during the pregnancy term, labor, and postpartum period to provide physical and emotional support. Although family and friends can serve the same purpose, a doula is knowledgeable and experienced in childbirth so she can give new moms professional and expert help.

4. Study labor positioning and other labor techniques. There are several positions new moms can choose to assume during labor. Standing and walking or simply sitting are just some of the positions new moms can try during labor. These positions help mothers to tolerate the contractions and align babies so they can be delivered easily.

Aside from determining the cause of labor pain and learning techniques to relieve it, new moms also need the support of their partners, families, and friends. Regular exercise and balanced diet can also help minimize labor pain by keeping new moms fit and healthy.

Pain Tolerance and Expectations

People have high regard for individuals whose pain tolerance exceed beyond expectations. The Guinness Book of World Records has a long list of personalities who have defied different forms of pain that come from bee and scorpion stings, snake bites, as well as pain from car crashes, fire accidents, and the like.

Pain tolerance is defined as the duration or intensity of pain that a person is willing to endure at any given time. Based on observation, tolerance for pain varies from person to person, and may even fluctuate depending on the severity of the pain. A number of factors such as sex, age, race and ethnicity, motivation to endure pain, past experiences with pain, coping skills, and energy level --- all influence a person's pain tolerance.

The point at which a person feels pain is called pain threshold. People don't experience the same intensity of pain from the same stimuli, and no uniform relationship exists between tissue damage and pain. Pain intensity, duration, and other characteristics can vary among patients who've undergone the same procedure.

Most people have the misconception that past experiences with pain increases pain tolerance. On the contrary, repeated experience with pain can make a person be aware of how severe a pain can become and how difficult it is to get a relief. Therefore, it is possible that someone who has repeated experiences with pain may have a higher level of anxiety and less pain tolerance.

Society has always expected men to be tough in the face of danger. Indeed, a man's higher tolerance for pain is not just about machismo and male chauvinism, but has a physiological basis. Research shows that difference in sex/gender influence pain perception, where women usually display lower pain tolerance than men. However, it is unknown whether the mechanisms underlying these differences are hormonal, genetic or psychosocial in origin. According to some researchers, men can be more motivated to express a tolerance for pain due to masculine stereotyping, while feminine stereotyping encourages pain expression and lower pain tolerance. In a number of studies, racial and ethnic differences in pain sensitivity and pain response found out that African-Americans and Hispanics tend to have lower thresholds of pain tolerance. In similar experiments, pain-study participants from Nepal and India had higher pain tolerance than their Western counterparts.

These findings suggest that something in the brain’s pain-processing and pain-killing systems may vary by race and ethnicity. “There’s much we still don’t understand about why these health disparities based upon race and ethnicity exist, so more research is needed. We hope our work will increase awareness of this issue among patients and providers alike,” said lead author Carmen R. Green, M.D., an Anesthesiologist and Pain Management Specialist at the University of Michigan Health System. Green chairs the APS Special Interest Group on racial and ethnic disparities in pain.

Different studies have different claims on age as a factor affecting pain tolerance. One study suggested that pain tolerance decreases with age. In another study, children of all ages tend to perceive more pain than adults which meant that as people grow older, pain tolerance increases. It appears that, with increasing age, tolerance to cutaneous pain increases and tolerance to deep pain decreases.

An experiment on motivation to endure pain with monetary incentive was conducted by Roger B. Fillingim, Ph.D., of the Department of Operative Dentistry at the University of Florida and the Gainesville VA Medical Center in Gainesville, Fla.

According to Fillingim, the monetary incentive did not influence pain responses, but the relationship between cardiovascular measures and pain responses was influenced by the incentive manipulation. Specifically, low incentive subjects with higher blood pressure at the start of the study period tended to tolerate pain better. However, this association was not found in the high incentive subjects. For the high incentive subjects, a leap in blood pressure, which is a sign of being engaged in a task, was associated with having higher pain tolerance.

“Additional research is needed to replicate these findings and to further elucidate the relationships among motivation, gender roles, and pain responses,” he concluded.

Understanding the detrimental effects of unrelieved pain, such as depressed immune function, decreased subcutaneous oxygenation leading to infection, and respiratory dysfunction have resulted to pain management to minimize, if not totally avoid, enduring as much pain as possible. Such pain management emphasizes establishing a comfort/function goal with people suffering from pain, making it easier to perform important activities, such as coughing and deep breathing postoperatively.

A patient may become distressed if expectation of pain tolerance is not met. Reassuring the patient can help ease the distress. Patients should be encouraged to use pain relief medications and treatments to reduce their pain to the level that makes it easy for them to function.

Some Drugs and Medicines Prescribed by Doctors

Some drugs or medicine that can treat severe pain are already available. These treatments include drugs like muscle relaxants and anti depressants. Specific examples of these medications are Fioricet (Butalbital) which is one of the most popular pain relief medications that are usually prescribed by doctors. Fioricet is usually prescribed for migraines and other conditions mainly characterized by pain. Another specific example is Prozac (Fluoxetine) which, on the other hand, is a good treatment for depression. Prozac mainly works by helping restore the balance of chemicals and relaxed condition of the brain. It is also sometimes used as a treatment for obesity and panic attacks.

These are just some examples of popular medicines that are usually used to treat certain types or kinds of pains. But, as already mentioned most of these, if not all, drugs are prescription medications which mean that one can only purchase these if clearly advised by a doctor. It is, therefore, necessary to make a visit first with a health professional and be recommended to take the said drugs. After obtaining a prescription, one can go directly to the nearest pharmacy within the locality or make an easier access to online pharmacies like DrugstoreTM.

Online drugstores already enable people to purchase prescription medications easily over the internet after being able to present some necessary requirements or information. Some drugstores like DrugstoreTM offer special services like free shipment and delivery to further encourage clients to buy medications via the internet. This is most convenient especially to those people who will not be able to travel anymore just to buy their medications. Online drugstores, therefore, have the advantage of accessibility and convenience, a most welcome relief especially during times of pain.

Overweight and Obese People Need Encouragement

Every person in this planet would agree that being fat is synonymous to being ugly, at least, that is what many “fashionistas” and style icons think. As we all know, our perception is shaped by society. Value is placed on all things that pleasing to the eye. Society somehow dictates that happiness, fame, and success are available, in greater amount of opportunity, to those who are “good-looking.” Aesthetics has become the predominant obsession of media and almost everything else around us --- commercial billboards, magazine and t.v. advertisements, and all other forms of external messages that highlight beauty, symmetry, and what is often called as “perfection.”

In America today, millions of people are overweight or even obese. Being overweight and obese are different in terms of strict medical definition. Being overweight is normally referred to as the condition when a person's body weight is above what is normal or ideal per the established weight measurements according to height and age. Obesity, on the other hand, is the condition when a person's excess weight is already a health risk. Both conditions normally develop when a person eats more calories than what can be “burned” by the body through physical exertion or normal metabolism.

There are several factors that make certain people overweight and obese. Family genetics is a major factor why a person can become overweight or obese. Parents who are heavyset will also be likely to have heavyset children. According to studies, one in three Americans is overweight or obese. This information is surely alarming not only due to aesthetic reasons, but more so, for the impact of this situation to the health of the American population.

An individual who is diagnosed as being overweight or in a state of obesity is prone to feelings of being left out. That person may eventually have negative thoughts about their physical appearance, leading to low self-esteem. Depression can also be felt by obese people especially when they begin to think that their physical appearance does not and cannot merit the approval of others. In many cases, obese and overweight people go into long periods of binge eating to seek “comfort” in food as a means to deal with their depression. Their unhealthy physical condition, paradoxically, leads them to again go back to unhealthy eating habits.
When a family member, friend, or any of your loved ones are diagnosed with this condition, it is important for them to get utmost attention and support. Being overweight or obese may be seen as a very lowpoint in their lives. But with genuine compassion and understanding, they can receive help in getting rid of their unhealthy eating habits. Aside from controlling excessive food consumption, people with weight problems must also be encouraged so that they can regain their self-esteem.

In order to help and support your loved ones dealing with this condition, it is crucial to have good and open communication with them. In some cases, it may be necessary to seek medical attention. Doctors would most likely prescribe the use of anti-obesity drugs. These medications work by preventing the absorption of fat into the body or by decreasing a person's appetite.

Of course, the use of the said drugs should be complemented by regular physical exercise and a sensible eating plan. With simple, regular exercise like brisk walking, people can burn more calories and eventually lose weight. Sticking to a healthy eating plan, regular exercise, and a lot of encouragement from family and friends can make an overweight or obese person get back faster on the road to health.

Pump Iron and Speed Up Your Metabolism

Every person in this planet would agree that being fat is synonymous to being ugly, at least, that is what many “fashionistas” and style icons think. As we all know, our perception is shaped by society. Value is placed on all things that pleasing to the eye. Society somehow dictates that happiness, fame, and success are available, in greater amount of opportunity, to those who are “good-looking.” Aesthetics has become the predominant obsession of media and almost everything else around us --- commercial billboards, magazine and t.v. advertisements, and all other forms of external messages that highlight beauty, symmetry, and what is often called as “perfection.”

In America today, millions of people are overweight or even obese. Being overweight and obese are different in terms of strict medical definition. Being overweight is normally referred to as the condition when a person's body weight is above what is normal or ideal per the established weight measurements according to height and age. Obesity, on the other hand, is the condition when a person's excess weight is already a health risk. Both conditions normally develop when a person eats more calories than what can be “burned” by the body through physical exertion or normal metabolism.

There are several factors that make certain people overweight and obese. Family genetics is a major factor why a person can become overweight or obese. Parents who are heavyset will also be likely to have heavyset children. According to studies, one in three Americans is overweight or obese. This information is surely alarming not only due to aesthetic reasons, but more so, for the impact of this situation to the health of the American population.

An individual who is diagnosed as being overweight or in a state of obesity is prone to feelings of being left out. That person may eventually have negative thoughts about their physical appearance, leading to low self-esteem. Depression can also be felt by obese people especially when they begin to think that their physical appearance does not and cannot merit the approval of others. In many cases, obese and overweight people go into long periods of binge eating to seek “comfort” in food as a means to deal with their depression. Their unhealthy physical condition, paradoxically, leads them to again go back to unhealthy eating habits.
When a family member, friend, or any of your loved ones are diagnosed with this condition, it is important for them to get utmost attention and support. Being overweight or obese may be seen as a very lowpoint in their lives. But with genuine compassion and understanding, they can receive help in getting rid of their unhealthy eating habits. Aside from controlling excessive food consumption, people with weight problems must also be encouraged so that they can regain their self-esteem.

In order to help and support your loved ones dealing with this condition, it is crucial to have good and open communication with them. In some cases, it may be necessary to seek medical attention. Doctors would most likely prescribe the use of anti-obesity drugs. These medications work by preventing the absorption of fat into the body or by decreasing a person's appetite.

Of course, the use of the said drugs should be complemeted by regular physical exercise and a sensible eating plan. With simple, regular exercise like brisk walking, people can burn more calories and eventually lose weight. Sticking to a healthy eating plan, regular exercise, and a lot of encouragement from family and friends can make an overweight or obese person get back faster on the road to health.

Click here to learn about anti-depression and weight loss solution

Mental Health: Knowing When To Get Help

Some people can get so depressed or problematic that they even reach a point where they question their own sanity. Many people actually wonder if they have really “gone over the edge.”

How about you? Try to answer these questions:

Do you have feelings of sadness or irritability? Has there been a loss of interest in pleasurable activities that you once enjoyed? Have you noticed any weight loss or change in your appetite? Have you noticed changes in your sleeping pattern? Are you feeling guilty? Are you experiencing difficulty in concentrating, remembering things or making decisions? Have you had thoughts of suicide or death? If you answered “yes” to most of these questions, consider consulting your family physician as your mental health maybe at risk.

Mental health, as defined by the Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health, “refers to the successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity.” On the other end of the flow is mental illness, a term that refers to all “mental disorders.”

Mental disorders are health conditions that are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior associated with distress or impaired functioning. This notion of a continuum sees mental health on one end as “successful mental functioning” compared to mental illness on the other end as “impaired functioning.”

Mental health is how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Like physical health, mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Everyone feels worried, anxious, sad or stressed sometimes. But with a mental illness, these feelings do not go away and are severe enough to interfere with daily life. It can make it hard to meet and keep friends, hold a job, or enjoy life.

Mental illnesses are quite common and affect about one in five families in the U.S. These disorders such as depression, phobias, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and many others are real diseases that one cannot get away from. Fortunately, they are often treatable. Medicines and therapy can improve the life of most people with mental illnesses. But, it is more cost-effective to have a physician prescribe mood stabilizers instead of seeing a psychiatrist. However, follow doctor's instructions on counseling and referrals to mental health professionals.

People who are emotionally and mentally healthy are in control of their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. They feel good about themselves and have good relationships. They can keep problems in perspective. It's important to remember that people who have good emotional health sometimes have emotional problems or mental illness. Mental illness often has a physical cause, such as a chemical imbalance in the brain. Stress and problems with family, work, or school can sometimes trigger mental illness or make it worse. If you feel that you or someone you care about is at risk, ask for help, it may not be easy at first, but there are ways and steps that may save your own or someone else’s life.

Click here to learn about anti-depression and weight loss prevention

Treatment for Anxiety Disorders

Most people have a mental condition brought about by worry causing extreme nervousness, in a condition that a doctor defined as traumatic neurosis which in some aspects disable human from performing ordinary manual labor, in which twenty-five percent permanent partial disability to his/her body as a whole.

Treatments and Preventions:
If your suffering from anxiety disorders in can be treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy which is typically are to identify assumptions, irrational or maladaptive thoughts and beliefs that are related to impairing the strength of negative emotions and to identify how they are inaccurate, impaired in function, or simply not helpful. This is therapy is very effective and done in an way to reject the distorted cognitions and replacing them with more realistic and self-helping alternatives. Also after it can be treated follow by medications. Here's one example of medicines that can treat anxiety disorders.



What is Fluoxetine?
Fluoxetine is a prescription medicine approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of major depressive disorder, obsessive-impulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa (eating disorder), pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (pre-menstrual syndrome), alcoholism, and panic disorder.

Effects and Safety Notes:
Always discuss with your doctor your medical history, allergies and health problems. Fluoxetine may cause drowsiness. It is advised to take extra care when driving or using machinery and limit alcohol intake. Liquid preparations of this medication contains sugar and/or some amount of alcohol. Caution is advised if you have diabetes, heart, kidney and/or liver problems.

Be sure to consult your doctor before taking any medication when under fluoxetine treatment. Certain drugs may have serious, even fatal reactions with this medication such as MAO inhibitors, zaleplon, and weight loss medicine. Inform your doctor about all prescription and non-prescription medications you are taking and have taken in the last five weeks.

Fluoxetine may affect the amount of glucose in your blood. Your dosage of anti-diabetes medication may be adjusted once you start or discontinued using this medication.

Click here for more information about Fluoxetine