Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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 Ask Dr. Greenfield
Four Explanations for Pain during Birth | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Greenfield,
Why is there pain when you have a baby?— Kim in Maryland | | | ANSWER |
September 12, 2001 | | | Dear Kim,
This is a totally great question. It really made me think!
While some mothers say their labors weren't really painful, most agree with your perception that there is some pain involved. Why would this be? I'm not sure anyone totally knows the answer, but here are four explanations that may play a role.
- In humans, evolution had to find a balance between head size (and the importance of having a big brain) and the size and shape of the pelvic bones (so that the female could still walk and run). Because of this delicate balance, it is a tighter fit for humans to give birth than for most other animals. The mother's body has to work very hard to maneuver the baby through the birth canal.
- The cervix, which is the opening to the uterus, sends pain signals to the brain as it is being stretched open. During labor it has to open 10 centimeters (about 4 inches), to allow the baby's head to fit through.
- During contractions, the muscle of the uterus doesn't get a lot of oxygen, and lack of oxygen to any tissue can cause pain.
- The opening of the vagina also has to stretch to allow the baby's head to pass through. This occurs as the baby is being born, and can be very painful.
There are lots of factors, though, that affect our perception of pain. Fear makes us feel our pain more strongly. Distraction and relaxation tend to minimize pain. And of course pain medications can greatly diminish the sensation of pain. So while nearly all women say that their labors were painful, most do find them manageable, and are even willing to do it again in order to bring another baby into the world.— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
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