This Simple Trick May Help Ease the Pain During Labour

A simple tip to ease pain has taken Facebook by storm after an American birth photography and videography company, Fox Valley Birth and Baby, shared it last week.

The page claims a simple hair comb could be used during labour to ease the pains associated with childbirth.

“When gripped in your hands, a comb can help hit acupuncture points in your hands helping your body forget about the contractions,” the post said.

The comb is said to “play into the gate control pain theory”.

“This theory states that the brain can only focus on a select number of sensations at once,” it said.

“Because the nerve ending on your hands are closer to your brain, they reach your brain faster.”

According to the company, the best way to hold the comb is to ensure it hits the base of your fingers, with the teeth pressing into the palm of your hand.

comb comb 2

Their post has gone viral after it attracted over 20,000 shares and 23,000 comments.

Comments include:

“This is true lots of doulas use this. I am training to be a doula now and I hear many doulas using it as counter-pressure.”

“I do this when I get a tattoo! Totally works.”

“Yes! My doula have me little plastic hedgehog with sharp spikes to squeeze … it was the most helpful thing during the whole labor!”

“I used combs!!”

“I didn’t know that! Would have also probably helped me relax my hands instead of squeezing so hard.”

“They taught us to hold ice cubes in our hands the cold pain helped to forget about labor pains!”

“It totally worked with me! I had my second baby completely naturally just by breathing evenly, moving and gripping a comb through out my labor”

One mum also added, “Combs are also great for when your breast are engorged with milk. Comb towards the nipple , it feels very relieving and helps get milk out and lumps etc”

Were you already aware of this little trick? Share your comments below

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15 Comments

- - mom119776 said
  - 02 Sep 2019
    9:19 pm
My friend is about to have another baby and is so scared about labour. Ill let her know this trick. Hopefully it works for her.

- - becstalou said
  - 09 Aug 2019
    6:53 pm
I hadn’t heard of it but worth a try, although too late for me.

- - mom93821 said
  - 28 Jul 2019
    1:01 pm
Applying pressure to pressure points to relieve pain has been a technique used for a long time.
I use this technique but not with a comb.

- - mom90758 said
  - 26 Jul 2019
    1:19 pm
Well, acupuncture functions. I’ve tried it different times. Not so strange thus that the comb could helps pressing the right point. I would definitely try it.
- mom93821 replied
  
  30 Jul 2019 , 2:30 am
  Pressure point application and technique is such an interesting area to research.
- - DaffyD said
  - 26 Jul 2019
    6:28 am
interesting idea wonder if it works or placebo, but if it helps why not

- - Ellen said
  - 26 Jul 2019
    2:49 am
No, I’ve never heard of this trick. Wonder if it works for other pains as well.

- - mom265671 said
  - 26 Jul 2019
    12:54 am
Interesting! I’ll be giving it a go

- - mom206279 said
  - 25 Jul 2019
    8:12 pm
I love the comment about someone who uses this trick for tattoos. Cos that is totally the same thing as childbirth!

- - mom129591 said
  - 25 Jul 2019
    6:13 pm
No I’ve never heard of this little trick but I did have a bath during contractions and that helped a lot for me.

- - ashna9 said
  - 25 Jul 2019
    5:56 pm
I’ve never heard of this pain relief but worth a try

- - AmbieBambi said
  - 25 Jul 2019
    5:17 pm
I didn’t know this but I feel like I’d have holes in my hands afterwards. lol

- - mom152736 said
  - 25 Jul 2019
    1:44 pm
That’s an interesting read..

- - serotonin said
  - 25 Jul 2019
    1:30 pm
I’d love to have known this when I had my three. Won’t be able to test it for myself but it’s very interesting! I can imagine my comb being embedded into my hand and getting stitches there too, though. haha

- - Blossom said
  - 25 Jul 2019
    1:22 pm
Acupuncture without the needles. I hope the comb is sterilised before use though.