Curriculum Topic: Educator Demonstration, Virtual Friendly
Activity Type: Labor & Birth, Healthy Birth Practice 1
Supplies: Flip chart, poster, white board, or Powerpoint presentation to display the Fear-Tension-Pain graphic
Instructions:
Draw the F-T-P circle on a white board, flip chart, poster, or display a PowerPoint slide.
Talking Points:
The Fear-Tension-Pain cycle is an old standard that still gives good rationale for what we teach. In your class, show how the cycle can be changed.
Reduce fear of the unknown, and fear due to prior conditioning and misinformation, with education. Show images of birthing parents coping well with labor and birth, and discuss positive birth stories.
Reduce tension by teaching relaxation techniques, the benefits of warm showers and baths, and active birth strategies such as walking, changing positions, and rhythmic movements.
Reduce pain by reducing the fear and tension, and by teaching coping strategies and how they work. The fight or flight response is a normal, protective response to fear, but it is not a response that is necessary in labor. It is not helpful to either fight or flee from labor contractions. Instead, try to elicit the relaxation response. Alerting birthing parent's support system to signs of fight or flight may help them to act early to prevent the state of panic.
Endorphins: Long distance runners and many other athletes are familiar with the pain-relieving and calming effects of naturally-occurring endorphins. Chemically similar to morphine, endorphins are produced by the body in response to pain. Scientists have found that endorphin levels increase during pregnancy, then dramatically rise during labor as the contractions increase in intensity, peaking with the birth of the baby. Pain medications decrease production of endorphins, while massage and TENS appear to stimulate endorphin production.
Reference: Adapted from the Lamaze Toolkit
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