The Brain, Pain & Birth: Using Pain Science to Help During Labour

The majority of birthers experience pain during labor and childbirth, however not all people experience it in the same way (and some birthers report no pain at all). Is pain an inevitable part of childbirth? Generally, pain is often poorly understood and actively avoided!

However, pain scientists are starting to think differently about pain and its causes. The current evolved understanding of pain is that not only is it complex, but it is an output from the brain. In this presentation, we will discuss the basics of pain science, how we can use it to better support pregnant people, and how pregnant people can use it to better support themselves.

Pain is changeable! Let’s take principles from modern pain science and neuroscience and apply them to the context of birth.