How do you know if you have a high pain threshold?!


Question: How do you know if you have a high pain threshold?
I'm having baby number 1 and I'm going to a midwife led unit where there are no epidurals avilable (This is a result of the local NHS hospital being a long drive away and being REALLY REALLY nasty, dirty and horrible and me being really scared of hospitals! I went round there to see what it was like and to be honest I've been in pub toilets that were cleaner) . I will feel much more relaxed and comfortable in the midwife unit - I already know all the midwives and have been there for all my ante natals etc.

The only pain releif they are able to offer is Gas and Air and Pethidine and the birth pool.

People keep saying that might not be enough and asking me how high my pain threshold is, but I have no idea. I'm not a person who's ever had to have operations or had any real health problems/injuries so I don't know what to compare it to.

I'm actually more scared of vomiting as I have a phobia of that.

How do you work it out?

Answers:

You wno't vomit while delivering your baby..

As for pain threshold... do you take tylenol when you get a headache or for period cramping? Do you use decongestant when you get a cold? If you hardly ever take pain meds for these little things, even they can be pretty bad, then your threshhold is pretty high. If you take them for every little aches & pains from cold/periods, then you will probably not survive without some serious pain meds during birth.



Relax is the key. Hey, it's been done that way for all time until now so if it was all that bad we wouldn't have all the babies around that we do. There has to be some comfort in that thought. If all those women could make it through that, many on their own, you can do it with some help.



let me share two secrets i have discovered about pain with you. pain is easier to manage when the light is less, the body tends to be more relaxed (of course this first one most likely wont be much help in your situation for two reasons...they will need the light and you most likely WONT be able to relax) the second one is pain can be breathed out of the body. as pain builds up, center it or focus on it with your mind as it intensifies. do this as you inhale...then as you exhale, let the pain flow out with your breath. it would be a good idea to practice this before you go into labor. when ever you have any pain do it. you also need to accept your pain. accept that it is. then release it. i hope you can understand what i am saying because i dont really know how to say it any other way. i discovered this when i had a loose tooth. i hate going to the dentist. so i decided to pull it myself. one night as i was lying in bed i found myself playing with it. i started pushing it as far as it would go then pulling back in the other direction as far as it would go. it hurt but was not unbearable. the light was out and i was relaxed while i was doing this. but the tooth wouldnt come out. i decided to get some forceps ( i think that is what they are called, like tweezers with scissor handles) so i could get a better grip on the tooth. now i am sitting up and the light is on. but all i have to do is touch the tooth and the pain is to much. i cant figure it out. so i think what is the difference. before i was in the dark and relaxed now i am in the light and tense. so i turn the light out and lay down again and relax. now i can again work on the tooth. i also accept that the pain is part of it and will be gone soon. i breath deep and let the pain out as i exhale. then i finally pull the tooth out.

i hope this helps you.




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