Pain in Labor Doesn't Have to Be Intolerable
Pain in Labor Doesn't Have to Be Intolerable
Subj: Labor Pain
Date: 96-01-23 03:20:11 EST
From: bhanson@prairienet.org (Becky Hanson)
To: mthrluvOK@aol.com (Renee Kendall)
CC: bteachers@fensende.com (Bradley Teachers)
When helping women to understand labor and the pain they will experience
I like to map out a 24 hour labor that one of my couples had. The father
was very careful to write down almost every contraction so I know just
what the average time between and duration of all the contractions to
break it down better I tell the moms and dad's the following.
A 24 hour labor has about 3 1/2 hours of pain in it and I'll prove it -
Contractions start at 20 minutes apart lasting for 45 seconds. This goes on
for seven hours. 3 contractions an hour for 7 hours is 21 contractions.
21 X 45 sec. = 15 min. 45 sec. of pain.
For the next 5 hours contractions are 15 minutes apart and lasting 45 seconds.
4 contractions an hour for 5 hours is 20 contractions.
20 X 45 sec. = 15 min. of pain.
For the next 3 hours the contractions are 10 minutes apart and lasting 45
seconds. 6 contractions an hour for 3 hours are 18 contractions.
18 X 45 sec = 13 min. 30 sec. of pain.
For the next 3 hours the contractions are 8 minutes apart and lasting 60
seconds. 8 contractions an hour for 3 hours is 24 contractions.
24 X 60 sec. = 24 min. of pain.
Then for the next 3 hours the contractions are 5 minutes apart and
lasting 60 seconds. 12 contractions an hour for 3 hours 36 contractions.
36 X 60 sec. = 36 min. of pain.
Finally for two hours the contractions are only 3 minutes apart lasting
75 seconds. 20 contractions an hour for 2 hours is 40 contractions.
40 X 75 sec. = 50 min. of pain.
The contractions pick up to 1 every 2 minutes for 30 minutes and
lasting 90 seconds. 15 contractions in that half hour.
15 X 90 Sec. = 22 min 30 sec. of pain.
Mom is finally complete and is pushing. Since pushing is so tough and
there is pain on and off throughout let's count the whole 30 minutes it
takes for her to push.
30 min. of pain.
Now you total it all up and it's = 3 hours and 26 minutes of pain for the
whole 24 hour labor. (Ed: 3:26:45)
This is the outline of an actual labor - so it can happen.
I thought you might like this.
Sincerely,
Becky Hanson
Illinois
