Clitoral stimulation during labour

[chrispt]

Hi all

I'm a Dad to be (7th Oct)and have been researching all sorts of subjects with regards to natural pain relief for my wife. In my searches (from the run of the mill to the bizarre) i found one which, although not popular in all circles, intrigued me and inspired me to ask for thoughts.

Who has used clitoral stimulation during labour? Not necessarily to orgasm but as a distraction. Did it help? Anything that flagged up as better than other methods?

This will be our first child so we are planning on going to hospital.

I would assume the increase in oxytocin would help along with massage and breathing.

Any feedback would be gratefully received.

Many thanks
Chris

Sorry, chris, despite ohmeohmy's manful attempts to be serious and raise the tone, I guess it's not a certain goer.

You could always suggest it to your wife and give her a bit of a laugh to distract her in labour!

But do talk to her about it first. No springing this on her in the delivery suite. Even if you have a home birth

LOL. This is my first pregnancy and I haven't had it yet so really can't comment.

However, a mate of mine (albeit a totally insane one) did try this during a home birth and said it def increased the speed of the labour as orgasm intensified the contractions. When she told me about this I have to confess to being pretty shocked and sceptical. She is nuts but whatever gets you through the experience I guess . . . [hmmm]

Don't think I'd fancy it myself..giving birth is not really a sexy experience. But for some people it might be. Just not anyone I know, including DP

Intensified the contractions? Yelp. Even more definitely no thanks then.

Spose it could be helpful if labour was slowing down and you were under threat of unwanted intervention... clutching at straws here!

Oh shut up!!

i don't think we are the ones you should be asking Chris!!!

persoanlly, in each of my labours i didn't want dp touching me AT ALL. I didn't want my hand held, i didn't want my back rubbed... i wanted to retreat into myself and basically just be alone.

however, I have read a few htings now about orgasmic birth and about masturbation and kissing during labour and some people do say it has helped them

i agree with previous posters though who have pointed out that you, and more to the point, your wife really may not want you doing that whilst surrounded by any number of HCP's!!!

I'm starting to think that the original poster might be starting to think he's entered the lion's den here...

"Flicking The Bean, a new kind of epidural"

No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no ....

There is nothing in THE WORLD I would have hated more than that!

5 years on, just the THOUGHT of it makes me want to rip heads off.

But all the best to you and your wife. You'll find your own way through to the other side

Plus, the midwives would all be talking about you or months. Years.

They would, you know.

I would have snapped each individual finger off my DP's hand in between contractions if he had tried this with me while I was in labour.

And then denied him a toke of gas and air.

But then again I was the most malevolent evil woman during labour to the point where he still won't tell me half the things I said while off my face on said gas and air...

Bless you for trying to help OP, but don't believe everything you read :)

I think it is great you are open to trying things to make it better for her but I have to say, in both of my labours, I just wanted to Be. Left. The. Fuck. Alone. I was quite surprised as had haranged DP into all the perineal massage, back rubbing etc type activities beforehand but, really, the pain of natural childbirth was (for me at least) so intense that any competing intense feelings would have killed me I think.

There is a point in most labours where you calmly and resignedly accept that you are dying. You know that you can't be in that much pain for that long and survive it. Now I've had the late night pub chats with friends. You know what would you do if you won the lottery, what would you do if you had only a day left to live. Never, ever, ever has anybody answered 'I'd sprawl legs akimbo in a hospital bed in inordinate amounts of pain, surrounded by confused and embarrassed HCPs while DH firtled around for a few minutes'. I'd try the free drugs and go out on a guaranteed high.

Not something I would want myself, but it is up to your wife, if she is willing to try then it won't do any harm.

I had a midwife, paedratician and a visiting registrar when I was in labour, so plenty of people to take over if you get tired ;)
Seriously though I would ask her, but also bear in mind, she may well change her mind once the day comes.

No way! I would have killed my partner if he'd even tried it. the last thing I would have wanted.

What does your wife think of the idea? Whatever floats your boat I suppose but it wouldn't have been for me.

To the OP, it is refreshing to read your englightened attitude and also agree that it's worth exploring other avenues to try and help with pain relief. It really is up to your wife though and how comfortable she feels about the idea - have you discussed it with her?
Or a slightly different note, this is the funniest thread I have ever read. I am feeling really rough with morning sickness and it has made me cry with laughter.
For me, the idea of any sort of fiddling during labour would just have been hideous, my husband couldn't even rub my back in the right way and got resigned to just passing me the water when I got thirsty. Was great to have him there tho.
Good luck for the birth!

Probably better for your wife to try it on herself (if she feels up for it) rather than you doing it. Also might be easier if she is in a birthpool or bath as it can seem more natural to touch yourself when you are in water (maybe because you can immediately wash your hands off?!), and the pool gives more privacy.

It'd be much easier to do this kind of thing at home, and also some of the reasons for needing to do it (decreased oxytocin because of travelling to and then being in an unfamiliar place) are removed.

Women having homebirths tend to report less pain - there is no need to discount homebirth for a first baby if you are a low risk mum. The risks of bad outcomes are the same as hospital birth, but the overall risk of ending up with a CS are halved for homebirth, and interventions such as forceps and ventouse are way decreased also. See the homebirth reference site.

Crikey! Well, go with whatever works for you. I'd advise against cunnilingus however in the event of membranes rupturing

Begone image, begone!

there are very few reasons i would kick my Dp from between my legs but i reckon if there was a child trying to push its way out i don't think the first thing it wants to see is his dad's tongue!

having said that it all makes sense biologically speaking. just not practically.

The OP isn't coming back, is he?

OP, if you're for real why on earth are you asking us, why not speak to your wife about it?

This is the BEST thread EVER, best laugh I've had in ages!!!! Good on the OP for thinking 'outside the box' but god almighty I could not think of anything worse than DH going in for a tweak while I was labouring!!!!

OP, I think you are probably a troll but all the same I haven't laughed so much in ages, so thank you from the bottom of my heart for cheering up a heavily pregnant woman.

Mr Inferior attempted a spot of back-rubbing during my second (home) labour. I nearly punched him. Frankly, neither of my labours really made me feel particularly warm and fuzzy about anyone, least of all the HEARTLESS PRIAPIC BASTARD who had got me into this mess in the first place.