The Natural Process of Birth
The Natividad birth process offers patients in labor multiple pain management options.
Water Therapy Shower/Tub
All labor rooms have a shower stall and a tub can be set up for those that request it. Warm water immersion in a tub during the first stage of labor is one method that promotes relaxation and labor pain management. Water immersion during the first stage of labor has the potential to decrease labor pain and anesthesia use, as well as shorten the duration of labor.
Alternative Labor Support
Each patient is assigned a labor nurse who is present during labor and birth. Your labor nurse may encourage activities and positions that will be helpful to the progress of labor.
Labor Tools Available
- Labor balls
- Labor peanuts
- Rocking chairs
- Squatting bars
- Mirrors and other tools
- Birthing stool
Labor nurses provide support with their presence, and train your designated partner/coach on how to assist you in labor. Other techniques used by labor nurses include proper positioning, touch, application of heat and cold therapies, and encouraging fluid intake. Labor nurses are also advocates for laboring patients. They will communicate your wishes to other health care providers and offer information about progress of labor, coping methods and relaxation techniques.
Patient-Controlled Pain Management
Nitrous oxide inhalation is a method of patient controlled analgesia pain management which empowers patients and provides the potential benefits including:
Reduction of pain perception without interfering with the labor or delivery process
- Rapid onset and release from system
- Decreased anxiety
- Maintains mobility and changes in position
- Option for patients unable to get epidural anesthesia
- Avoids the side effects of narcotic administration or epidural anesthesia
Intermittent Monitoring
Staff will provide intermittent auscultation (IA) for low-risk patients in labor. This means you do not have to be continuously attached to a fetal monitor , and the nurse checks the baby’s heart rate at various intervals with a doppler tool, based on your stage of labor. This allows freedom of movement during labor. Other fetal monitoring options for patients in labor who are not low-risk may include interrupted fetal monitoring. This means you would be attached to the fetal monitors for approximately 10 to 20 minutes every hour and have freedom of movement for the rest of the hour.