March 21, 2006 - It's the part of pregnancy women least like to think about: delivering the baby. But in the last 15 years, a quiet revolution has been taking place. More women have decided that they'd rather not experience quite so much pain when they give birth. In the late 1980s, national surveys indicated that only about 20 percent of pregnant women got an epidural—a spinally-administered anesthetic that blocks pain in the lower half of the body—while in labor. That proportion has now climbed to two-thirds, recent surveys reveal.
Despite this increase in interest, many women still don't know a lot about their pain-relieving options, says Dr. William Camann, an associate professor of anesthesia at Harvard Medical School. Even if a mother-to-be attends childbirth class, chances are her instructor will stress either natural delivery (read: no drugs) or encourage epidurals. This can be a problem because the course of any one woman's labor and delivery is unpredictable. Women who plan on one route may find themselves detoured to the other. click here to read the rest of this article
"How to Have an Easy Labor"
With William Camann, MD and Kathryn Alexander, the authors of
Sara and Stephanie will discuss why it doesn't have to be so painful, why it's so important to be open-minded, and talk with these authors about both natural and medical methods for reducing and eliminating pain during labor. We'll discuss the pros and cons of epidurals and why many women can get an epidural early in labor.
Find out the latest trends and what's new in childbirth!
Far too many expectant mothers find themselves unprepared when labor begins and natural techniques don't effectively manage the pain. Theis indispensable guide provides reassuring, proven approaches to combining medical and natural techniques to ensure the most comfortable pain-free labor possible. In Easy Labor, you'll discover:
-what to expect during labor, and key facytors that affect your comfort.
-the fact on modern epidurals, and how effectively adn safely they reduce pain.
-the pros and cons of pain-relief medications
-complementary and alternative methods, including water immersion, acupuncture, hypnosis, massage, and birth balls.
-how your choice of hospital or birth center affects your pain-management options.
-techniques to calm and eliminate the specific fears and stresses associated with childbirth.
William Camann, M.D ., is the director of obstetric anesthesia at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, one of the most respected health care institutions in the world. Dr. Camann is also an associate professor of anesthesia at Harvard Medical School, and president of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology. Dr. Camann is an internationally recognized authority on obstetric anesthesia and pain control during childbirth and has appeared on various local and national news programs including The Today Show with Katie Couric, ABC World News Tonight, and Good Morning America. He lives in Boston, Massachusetts.
Kathryn J. Alexander, M.A., is a former child and family therapist and worked in the health care field for over 15 years. Now a freelance writer, her work has appeared in many national parenting publications and women's health web sites. She is currently a contributing writer for ePregnancy Magazine. Ms. Alexander lives with her husband and two daughters in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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