Pain Management for the Obstetric Patient

Pain management in obstetric patients
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Introduction
Obstetric patients denote the women in the process of pregnancy, birth and recovery. These stages involve discomfort and pain which require management in order to give comfort to the mothers. It is the duty of the health workers including the registered nurses to offer management of the pain and the discomfort that is associated with the obstetric patients. The right intervention, when given at the right time can help to reduce the discomforts and pain that is experienced by the ante partum, intra partum and the postpartum patients. This paper analyses the measures taken to manage the discomfort and pain that is experienced by obstetric patients whether the pregnancy has had complications or not.
Pain in obstetric patients
Obstetric patients are bound to experience discomfort and pain even with the most uncomplicated pregnancy, birth and recovery. The pain during pregnancy, birth and recovery is deemed natural. However measures are taken to manage the pain so as to prevent too much suffering of the mothers. There are different sources of pain at each stage of the obstetric patients. During ante partum, the sources of pain are from the dilation and stretching of the cervix. Garthus, Knoph, Nielsen & Eberhard (2014) state that; during the ante partum stage, the cervix dilates and stretches in preparation for the passage of the baby.
Although the body starts to prepare for the expulsion of the baby from an earlier time which is estimated to be three months; on the onset of labor there is thorough dilation of the cervix which leads to excruciating pain. These activities result to immense pain that increases with each next contraction. Another source of pain at this stage is the contraction of the uterus. During labor, the uterus contracts as a way of pushing out the baby. The contractions are gradual such that it takes time for the uterus to release the baby. The contractions in the uterus result to immense pain which call for management in order for the mothers to bear.
During intra partum, pain comes from the pressure in the vagina and the perineum. The pain is usually described as burning and tearing. During the time of fetal descent and expulsion, the vagina and the perineum experience pressure and distention. This causes a burning sensation which is very painful. Another source of pain at this stage is the laceration of the soft tissues. Garthus, Knoph, Nielsen & Eberhard (2014) observe that; during the expulsion of the baby, the soft tissues in the vagina, cervix and perineum get lacerated from the pressure exerted by the baby.
During post partum, there is also experience of pain emanating from pressure and pulling of uterine structures. These pull back in a bid to return to the normal shape. Pain from the distention and stretching of the vagina experienced during intra partum, continue to exert pain during post partum.
Pain management measures
Pain management measures in the obstetric patients can be categorized into two. There are the pharmacologic and the non pharmacologic measures. Whitburn (2013) clarifies that; Pharmacologic measures involve administration of medicine in order to manage the pain...