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I've had the pleasure of having all five of my children completely naturally. My first three were at home with midwives, while the last ones, our twins were born in hospital. Apart from being shorter in duration, all four of my labors were similar in their progress; however, as for managing the pain I found that it was uniquely different with each labor. My first birthing was the most memorable in that I had never experienced such pain. I went into that labor as a confident woman filled with excited anticipation at the creation of life. Although I did not know what to expect, I found that I never veered from my convictions that I would be able to do this without a hospital and without drugs. With my first, I had tremendous back pain as our baby was facing upwards in the birth cannel rather than down. For me most of my labor I spent bent over a comfy chair with my then spouse rubbing my back. My second labor experience was faster than I had expected and for this one I found I was most comfortable just lying in bed focusing on managing my pain. This labor went quickly and was the least painful of all my birthings. My third child's labor awoke me from my sleep. With Isabel I found that lying in bed as I had done with my second birthing was definitely not working for me. I was uncomfortable and very restless. If I was idle in movement the pain seemed to increase and my endurance level seemed to drop. The management of my pain was much more effective for me when I walked around and supported myself on various furnishing when a contraction hit. The most difficult birth I had was with my twins. I suspect a lot of that had to do with my apprehension about having my babies in a hospital. I knew that this was a necessary evil to insure the safety of the twins, but I think it drove a lot of unnecessary fear within me. This labor was unbelievably short and the contractions came in such succession that I could barely catch my breath before the next one would start. I desperately wanted an epidural because I could not manage my pain, but there was no time. In the end I had two very healthy babies but I felt that I had not adequately managed my labor pain.

After four very different labors I have concluded that the best way to manage any severe pain, be it labor or anything else, is to listen carefully to the needs of your body and focus your attention on how these needs can be met. I strongly believe that every woman has the power to manage labor effectively without drugs but you have to be able to listen to your body, in order to know what is working for you. Since every woman is different and every labor is unique, it is only to be expected that the best positions for enduring labor pain will have to be determined by each woman at the time of her birthing.

Learn more about this author, Aliyaddison W.
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