Mothers In Severe Pain:Embodied Experience And Action Strategies In Labor Practice

Childbirth is a significant event for women and their families,characterized by a unique experience.However,labor pain,the second most common type of pain after burning injury,is a major contributor to adverse pregnancy outcomes for both mothers and infants,as well as an increased rate of cesarean delivery.Given the low fertility rate and high cesarean section rate in China,it is crucial to investigate the maternal experience of labor pain and analgesic choices during labor practice.This paper employs a medical-historical-psycho-social approach to examine maternal pain experiences and coping strategies during childbirth,as well as to explore the underlying reasons for maternal pain tolerance and pain relief choices.The study indicates that for the vast majority of women,labor pain is the most intense pain they experience in their lives,and not just a subjective experience but the most objectively real perception derived from both the body and broader societal and cultural factors.Nowadays,women tend to view labor pain primarily through the lens of pain,emphasizing its unpleasant nature,and considering it meaningless to endure,often failing to associate it with the transformative experience of motherhood.Labor analgesia plays a crucial role in easing severe pain during labor,facilitating a more comfortable delivery,and dignified passage through a challenging period.Mothers’ choices and use of labor analgesia are influenced by their physical coping abilities,economic status,family support,trust in labor analgesia technology,and evolving attitudes towards childbirth in our society.However,incidental factors like anesthesiologist availability may also impact their decision-making.The study’s findings suggest that maternal coping strategies are integrated throughout the labor process,involving preparation and coordination before,during,and after delivery.However,unexpected situations can cause mothers to change their minds.Patience is the dominant theme in mothers’ personal experiences of labor and delivery,but is often expressed as "helplessness".The interplay of power and coordination among technology,culture,and the body underlies the choice between patience and analgesia,with the body being the primary consideration.Labor analgesia can effectively alleviate the severe pain caused by contractions during labor and delivery,challenging our traditional cultural concept of "childbirth is about pain" and highlighting its instrumental properties.If the pain and discomfort are within the body’s tolerance range,mothers are more likely to endure it rather than opt for analgesia.However,if the pain and discomfort exceed the body’s tolerance range,mothers may choose labor analgesia or even a cesarean section to address the unbearable pain and discomfort.Women exhibit a high degree of agency in both coping strategies and specific actions during childbirth,highlighting their subjectivity.Providing women with more choices during childbirth is a genuine expression of care for women’s bodies and a crucial indicator of social progress and civilization.