Managing Your Pain
Managing Your Pain
When you are admitted to the hospital, you need to decide your goal for pain control.
Your nurse will ask you to rate your pain level on a scale of 0 to 10 by using the pain
scale on the next page. This helps us to more effectively manage your pain. Few people are able
to meet a goal of “0.” Just as each person is different, each person’s
response to pain is also different.
Our goal is to help you reach a tolerable level
of pain control. Even with pain medicine, you CAN expect to have some pain during the labor
process and recovery.
Options for Pain Management
Comfort Measures
You will need to tell your nurse when your pain level is higher than your goal.
Your nurse will work with you to make a plan to manage pain.
Medication is only one part of pain control. Pain can also be relieved by:
- Changing position
- Massage
- Having your support person put a cool or warm cloth on your forehead
- Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing
- Daydreaming about pleasant things (visual imagery)
- Focusing on a color, picture, or photo
- Listening to music
All of our rooms are equipped with video cassette players. We have relaxation
videos that you can use.
Pain Medications
There are many different types of pain medication.
These include:
- Sedatives
- Pain relievers (analgesics)
- Regional and local anesthesia (epidural, perineal injection, pudendal block, spinal block)
- General anesthesia (not routinely used in labor and delivery)
All of these pain medications provide different levels of relief.
Which one your doctor chooses to use will depend on your symptoms and where you are having pain.
For example, if you are nauseated, you may be given medication that relieves vomiting and nausea.
Some pain medications can cause nausea and itching.
Tell your nurse if this happens. These side effects can be treated.
Use your call light to ask your nurse for pain medicine.
All patients may not reach their comfort level “goal.” Working together,
we will make every effort to keep you as comfortable as possible
while maintaining your safety.
Getting Your Medicine
The doctor will order all medications and how they are to be given.
Ask questions about the medications you receive. You should become familiar
with the name of the medication: what it looks like, why you are taking it,
and its possible side effects.
Your nurse must give you all medications
while you are in the hospital.
You may receive medication in one or more
of the following ways:
- Mouth: Pills are given by mouth.
- Intramuscular Injection: Your nurse prepares the medication in a syringe with a needle and gives it through a muscle (usually in the hip).
- Intravenous Medication: Your nurse prepares the medication in a syringe and gives it through your IV. Not all medication can be given this way.
- Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) Pump: A pump with pain medication is attached to your IV line. A certain amount of medicine is given when you push the button. It is very important that your family knows that only you should push the PCA button.
Visitors in the Labor, Delivery and Recovery Unit
- Each patient receives four visitor passes, which includes one for your support person. You choose to whom you give these passes.
These four persons may be with you during labor. Once the time of birth approaches,
only three persons may be present.
- If any unforeseen complications happen,
all family and visitors may be asked to leave the LDR room.
- Children under the age of 14 must have a support person—other than the mother
or father of the baby—present at all times.
- You must have the permission of your obstetrician and the attending doctor
to have children under the age of 14 years present during a vaginal birth in the LDR room.
- Sometimes moving to an operating suite is needed for a vaginal or
cesarean delivery of your baby. (Discuss the possibilities with your doctor.) Two persons
(this includes your support person) may attend the birth of your baby in the operating suite
if your doctor approves. These persons must also be older than 14 years and change into sterile
cover attire provided by the hospital.
