There are many assumptions circulating in the community that giving birth to a baby boy is more painful than a baby girl. Is it true that the sex of the fetus determines whether labor is painful or not? Check out the explanation here.
Every woman who gives birth will definitely feel contractions, especially if she gives birth normally. Contractions, controlled by the hormones oxytocin and prostaglandins, are the main source of the pain you feel during childbirth. Through these contractions, the cervix will slowly open and allow the baby to descend into the birth canal.
Risks of Giving Birth to a Boy
One study found that most women who gave birth to boys took longer than women who gave birth to girls.
This means that women who give birth to boys may feel the contractions longer. This of course can make the pain felt more severe because it is also mixed with fatigue.
Even so, the difference in the time of pregnant women who gave birth to male and female babies in this study was not significant. So, giving birth to a boy cannot be said to be more painful than giving birth to a girl.
Although pain during labor is unrelated to gender, there is some evidence that male pregnancies are at higher risk for complications, such as gestational diabetes, premature birth, and preeclampsia. This condition will indirectly increase the risk of difficulties during childbirth.
How to Relieve Pain During Labor
Pain is unavoidable when giving birth to a baby boy or girl because the onset of pain is caused by the opening of the cervix and the contraction of the uterine muscles needed to expel the baby from the womb.
To relieve it, here are a number of ways that may be done before or during the normal delivery process:
- Follow pregnancy exercise, yoga, hypnosis, acupuncture, and acupressure before delivery.
- Do a lower back massage to reduce pain and practice breathing techniques each time you feel a contraction.
- Try to increase the amount of standing or walking slowly while waiting for the opening as this is considered to help speed up the labor process.
- Turn on the television or listen to music to take your mind off the pain.
- Compress the area between the vaginal canal and the anus (perineum) using warm water or soak in warm water.
There is no evidence that giving birth to a baby boy is more painful than a baby girl. So regardless of gender, what is important is that you always take care of your physical and mental health during pregnancy.
Pregnant women are encouraged to always lead a healthy lifestyle, eat healthy food, keep physical activity every day, maintain an ideal body weight, and avoid smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages.
Establish a quality relationship with your partner during pregnancy, so that your thoughts are always positive. Surround yourself with people who support you so you can avoid anxiety before giving birth.
In addition, do regular pregnancy check-ups to the doctor so that the health condition of you and the baby in the womb can be monitored from the beginning of pregnancy until it's time to give birth.
