Fear, Tension, Pain Cycle

The "Fear, Tension, Pain Cycle" is a pattern that some mothers experience while trying to manage contractions during labor. Here's how it works:

Fear: When a contraction begins, if the mother feels scared or anxious about the pain, her body reacts by tightening up.
Tension: This fear causes her to tense her muscles, including her jaw, shoulders, and pelvic area.
Pain: The tension makes the pain of the contraction feel even worse, which in turn can slow down the progress of labor.

To counteract the fear-tension-pain cycle we always teach the 3 R’s: Rhythm, Relaxation, and Ritual.

Rhythm: During a contraction, the mother should try to maintain some gentle movement or rhythm, such as swaying or rocking.
Relaxation: Between contractions, it's important for the mother to deeply rest and relax her body as much as possible.
Ritual: Establishing a calming ritual, like focusing on breathing or repeating a soothing phrase, can help keep her mind and body relaxed.

By following these three R's, the mother can manage contractions more effectively and avoid getting trapped in the fear-tension-pain cycle.