- Follows the Gate Control Theory
- Three techniques to help gating mechanisms are: Cutaneous stimulation, Distraction, and Reduction of Anxiety.
- Methods Include:
- Stresses on the role of husband.
- Muscle toning exercise.
- Diets contain no animal fats, preservatives or high salts
- Walking is encouraged during labor and used of internal focus point as disassociation technique.
- A program of conscientious relaxation and levels of progressive breathing to "go with the flow" of contractions.
- Eliminates fear to tension and eventually pain sensation.
- Done with relaxation exercises and abdominal breathing during labor.
- Follows the concept of stimulus- response conditioning: Preventing pain in labor by use of the mind guided by the premise.
- Pain does not have to occur during contraction
- Sensation such as uterine contraction can be inhibited from reaching the brain cortex and registering as pain.
- Conditioned reflexes are positive action use to replace pain sensations of labor.
- This method is for those whose AOG is at least 26 weeks only.
- Typical exercises include:
- The cleansing breath- breaths in deeply and exhales deeply to begin any breathing exercises.
- Conscious relaxation- deliberately contracts and relaxes body portions from head to toe.
- Consciously controlled breathing- Chest breathing following these pattern: slow> shallow> Pant blow> shallow chest panting.
- Effleurage- light abdominal massage.
- Focusing/ Imaging.
