Natural Pain Killers
If you’re pregnant or considering conceiving soon, are you worried about handling the pain of labor? I know I was, but I think my fear made me experience the pain at a higher level than I had to. I recently read some new information that neuroscientists have found about the way your brain can help you outwit pain. I know these techniques would have helped me during labor. The information was in a July 2007 article in Prevention magazine titled Natural Born Pain Killers.
Do you have any of the following mental pain magnifiers?: You dread what’s coming; You dwell on your pain; You catastrophize your pain (jump to the worst conclusions, like “This pain will never get better); or You are stressed? If so, researchers have found ways you can decrease your pain by using your thoughts.
Some of the pain management ideas in the article are:
• Understanding the biomechanics of pain which helps lessen its power
• Playing video games
• Using your imagination to watch pain floating out of your body
• Talking yourself down with phrases like, “This is tough, but I can manage it” and
• Mindfulness
I highly recommend you pick up a copy of the magazine if this topic interests you.
I remember during an especially difficult part of Danielle’s labor we turned on Jeopardy and I focused on answering the questions. It was probably similar to a video game distraction. By redirecting my brain, I was better able to handle contractions. I also kicked some serious butt with my answers! 
Maybe they should have women in labor on the show. Those moms may win a bunch of $.
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