Handling Labor Pain. Hypnosis and Reflexology Work!

Hypnosis and Reflexology Work!

Labor is a natural — although challenging — process. How you choose to manage the pain is largely up to you. Many women opt for relaxation exercises, breathing techniques or medication. But the choices don't end there. With the help of an expert, you may want to try something nontraditional.

Hypnosis is a focused state of concentration that allows you to relax your body, guide your thoughts and control your breathing. Hypnosis doesn't stop the pain of contractions. It's simply a state of mind that may help you ride the wave of each contraction and trust in your body's ability to give birth.

You can learn self-hypnosis techniques — such as repeating positive statements to yourself, concentrating on vivid imagery or listening to a recording of verbal affirmations — through private lessons or specialized childbirth classes.

Reflexology can be traced back thousands of years to Egypt, China and India. With this practice, pressure is applied to specific parts of the body — usually the soles of the feet — for an intended therapeutic effect on other parts of the body.

During pregnancy, reflexology may help relieve muscle tension and promote relaxation. Some women use it to manage conditions such as ankle swelling. During labor, applying pressure or strokes to specific points on your feet — just below the ankle bone on the inside and outside of the foot, for example — is said to stimulate the pituitary gland to release hormones that speed labor and reduce pain.

Some women have reported shorter, less painful childbirth experiences thanks to hypnosis. Other studies have found promising evidence for the use of reflexology during labor.

In the meantime, work with your health care provider to determine whether any of these techniques may be right for you. Remember that you can combine complementary treatments with other methods of pain relief — including medication.

The choice is yours. There's no right way to have a baby. Sometimes, you won't know what kind of pain relief you want until you're in labor. Discuss your preferences with your health care provider ahead of time — but keep an open mind. Trust your health care provider to help you make the best choices as your labor progresses.
This article is excerpted from a piece written by The Mayo Clinic for CNN.com. To read it in it's entirety please go to: CNN.com

www.iwanttoquitsmoking.com

The Stop Smoking Hypnosis People

Link

Search our Hypnosis Site below:

	Web www.iwanttoquitsmoking.com