Combs for Pain Relief

🙌 Holding Combs for pain relief during labor

My client was literally married to her combs during her whole labor. Everywhere she went and no matter what position she was in the combs went with her. 

They are a simple yet effective pain management tool that helps during labor.  They act as a  powerful distraction or a focal point by activating the Gate Control Theory. Researchers have long observed that factors such as thoughts, emotions, and expectations can influence our perceptions of pain.

The Gate Control Theory of pain states that non-painful input closes the nerve “gates” to painful input, which prevents pain sensation from traveling to the central nervous system. The comb works on the Pain Gate Control Theory, distracting the brain which allows more of your attention to focus on the sensation of what is happening with your hand and away from the sensations of contractions. Simply Grip the comb in the palm of your hand and squeeze the teeth at the base of your fingers where it joins the palm.

The teeth of the comb can put pressure onto specific acupressure points. The points lie along the creases of the hands where the fingers join the palm. This is usually more useful when the labor sensations have increased and you need to concentrate on getting through each contraction. They also help to release endorphins into the body.