Relaxation for Childbirth (Part 2)

Posted on Wed Dec 18th, 2024 @ 3:40am by Captain Maho Takahashi & Lieutenant Commander Brennyn Scott M.D.
Edited on on Wed Dec 18th, 2024 @ 3:41am

1,080 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Captains and Contraband
Location: Takahashi Quarters
Timeline: After 'Relaxation for Childbirth (Part 1)

Previously, on Star Trek: Myogi:

Bree placed the water next to Maho and winced in sympathy. No one who wants to tell you the truth about labor and birth will say there isn't some discomfort involved, but I think it's also fair to say there are things that can be done to reduce the discomfort, strategies that just don't involve pharmaceuticals," the counselor added with a grin.

"For example, how you think about, talk about, and label labor and birth, can greatly influence the experience. Basically, we want to help you avoid the anxiety-tension-pain cycle, which, as it sounds, starts with thinking about what's going to come in ways that provoke your anxiety. Once you're anxious, it's natural for your muscles to tense up in an attempt to steal yourself against what you're anxious about. That natural tension creates physical pain, which only reinforces the anxiety in a vicious cycle. That's not to say you won't experience gradually increasing discomfort as part of the process, but I've seen people manage it well if they learn not to fight the sensations and accept support. I realize it's hard not to think about the experience in an uncomfortable way, especially because that's how it's portrayed in the vids, but one way to reduce anxiety at the start is to make sure you have a good understanding of what the process of labor and birth entails so it doesn't seem so scary."

And now, the continuation:

"Perhaps that would be the best place to start?" Maho suggested. Admittedly, she only had a base level understanding of labor and birth, and the traditional horror stories that went along with that.

Bree smiled. "That's exactly where I thought we could begin. I'll send you some more information to review at your leisure, but for now I will cover the basics just to give you some working knowledge. Stop me if your eyes start to glaze over," she added jokingly.

Taking a moment to gather her thoughts, Scott offered:

"The first thing to know is this process is divided into four stages, at least as far as medical professionals are concerned. You're probably most familiar with the first two stages, which involve the dilation and effacement of your cervix, or what I like to call the process of opening the exit door for the baby, and then stage two, which involves pushing, or showing the baby the exit with gentle encouragement. The third stage involves the delivery of the placenta, the organ that holds the umbilical cord and has helped ensure the baby has received nutrients and oxygen, and the fourth stage concerns the first few hours after birth when you and the baby will be adjusting to having her in the outside environment. The duration of each of these phases really varies between women and even between pregnancies, but generally speaking for first-time mothers, 20 hours or less to help open the exit door from being completely closed to about the size of a bagel when it's completely open. Pushing the baby into the world can take up to three hours if you have some sort of anesthesia, or about two hours if you don't. Pushing takes longer when you have some sort of anesthesia because while you're not in as much pain, that also means you don't have the same sensations and it can be difficult to push effectively."

Scott paused, then added, "Before I leave you completely traumatized by those numbers, remember, labor is about taking each contraction one at a time. No matter how long the process is at the different stages for you, you'll never be in constant agony the whole time. The time between contractions will get shorter and they will get more intense, yes, but i've seen even 30 second breaks give women enough time to center themselves and regain their sense of confidence. Instead of thinking this is a 20+ hour marathon, just think about managing one contraction at a time. Just to give you a better sense of what I mean, the first stage, the one in which you'll be opening up the exit door, is, for medical professionals divided further into phases. In the first, contractions will last about 30 to 45 seconds and later, come to be about 60 to 90 seconds in duration. I'll grant you, that is a long time when you are uncomfortable, but here's some thing else to consider. A contraction is like an ocean wave. There is a process of building the wave, having the we've reached its peak, and then having the wave calm down, or return to shore so to speak. That means even during that 90 seconds max, roughly 1/3 of that time will Have you experience a lessening of the discomfort."

Scott smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, I shouldn't just drone on like this. Do you have any questions so far?"

"So, you said somewhere in there that the hole would be about the size of a bagel." Maho said. "Are we talking the size of a whole bagel? Or just the center hole of the bagel?"

Bree chuckled. "I'm not surprised that would be important to you. To clarify, I meant the size of the bagel, not just the hole."

"And what's the size of the baby that I'm supposed to be pushing out of that size whole?" Maho asked, partially imploring Bree to continue:

Bree took a moment to consider her choice of words, mindful of the importance of accuracy but also the importance of not creating unnecessary anxiety.

"I promise to answer your question, but I'd like to provide some context first so as not to mislead you. First, unborn babies are quite clever at positioning themselves how they need to be born. That's not to say birth won't require effort on your part or that babies don't need help from time to time to be positioned just right, but I say that babies are babies are smart because I don't want you to think the baby's going to be like a champagne cork that comes roaring out by violent force or suprise. I will also add, when the time comes, if we've done a good job of helping you trust your own intuition, in addition to giving you coping skills and suggestions as things progress, you will also have a sense of what positions feel right for you to assume to allow your body to stretch and ease her out as comfortably as possible."

To be continued...

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