Hair Pulling!?!

Babydoll1224 · 11-17-2006, 03:50 AM

Has anyone else heard of using this in labor?

I learned it a couple of clients ago from a 2nd time mom who's MIL is a doula. She used it on her for the first labor and it worked. Basically you pull the mom's hair into a ponytail and pull it tight/hard during contractions. Something about it equalizing out the pressure of the ctx. The dad did it for my client and when I tried I was afriad to pull to hard, but she kept asking for it to be pulled harder.

I just used it again with my last client and it worked as well! She even asked "pull my hair!" It was harder since her hair was shorter, but I'd defintaly recommend using it for those with longer hair.

I do forewarn them in early labor to make sure they are ok with me trying it later down the line as the labor progresses.

Anyone else use this method?

raddoula · 11-17-2006, 10:12 AM

wow! never heard of it. thanks for sharing. sounds cool.

peace, radhe.

MothertheMother · 11-17-2006, 10:42 AM

I have heard of twisting the hair into a ponytail and gently pulling because there are so many nerve ending in the scalp area (as part of the Gate Control Theory) but I wouldn't have expected a mom to ask for it to be pulled harder. Interesting....

emmabella · 11-17-2006, 11:05 AM

I've done the head squeeze: one palm on the forehead and the other on the back on the head and press together. I've found this to be the most effective in transition. Maybe a good alternative to the hair pull for girls with short hair?

AmandaB · 11-17-2006, 12:30 PM

Also using the Tingler, scalp massager helps with relaxation and it stimulates the nerve ending in the scalp.

RosyDoula · 11-17-2006, 02:06 PM

Wow, interesting!

tlcdoula · 11-17-2006, 02:08 PM

I have heard of it, but never used it before. I have used a comb in the hands though (gate control theory).

sumama · 11-17-2006, 02:13 PM

I can see how this will work really well for a laboring woman. I love for my hair to be brushed and I used that as a comfort measure during labor with my first and second child.

DL · 11-17-2006, 03:41 PM

I do this sometimes, but it's not a really hard pull to where it would hurt. Basically, I take her hair in my hands like it's a ponytail (if not already in one), pull it up high on her head....twist, then pull and give slack, moving in a circular motion...varying between pulling and giving slack. I honestly have not had anyone beg me to continue, but I've not had any complaints, either.

I also do the forehead-in-hand with my other hand on the back of her neck, as well as the spine tingler and/or mom holding combs in her hand (not all at the same time, as I'm not an octopus

). LOTS of my moms have loved holding those two cheap combs! Many of my moms HAVE asked me to continue with these last three things whenever they've been done.

Matrescence · 11-17-2006, 04:04 PM

I've never done it but had it done to me during a massage (not in labor) and it felt really good. I can see how it would work... interesting, will have to try

fearlessbirth · 11-17-2006, 04:31 PM

What's this 'gate control theory' everyone but me seems to know about?

Babydoll1224 · 11-17-2006, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmabella

I've done the head squeeze: one palm on the forehead and the other on the back on the head and press together. I've found this to be the most effective in transition. Maybe a good alternative to the hair pull for girls with short hair?

Thanks for the tip, I'll use this with a short haired person next time I have the opportuntity to do so!

Babydoll1224 · 11-17-2006, 09:20 PM

So when they hold the combs in thier hands which way do the spikes face? What point of labor have you found this most effective in?

MothertheMother · 11-17-2006, 10:01 PM

I can't remember which book I first read about it in but here's a quick run down I found...

Gate Control Theory of Pain
The gate control theory was first proposed in 1965 by psychologist Ronald Melzack and anatomist Patrick Wall. They suggested that there is a "gating system" in the central nervous system that opens and closes to let pain messages through to the brain or to block them.

According to the gate control theory of pain, our thoughts, beliefs, and emotions may affect how much pain we feel from a given physical sensation. The fundamental basis for this theory is the belief that psychological as well as physical factors guide the brain's interpretation of painful sensations and the subsequent response. Many athletes do not experience pain during the intense activity of the game. After the game, when they turn their attention to their injuries, the pain suddenly appears to come from nowhere. Many pain sufferers find that their pain is worst when they feel depressed and hopeless-feelings that may open the pain gate-and that it's not so bothersome when they are focused on doing something that demands attention or is enjoyable. Although the physical cause of pain may be identical, the perception of pain is dramatically different.

Here's how the gate control theory works. (See also acupuncture for a description of the gate control theory and how that is used to explain the effect of acupuncture in controlling pain.)

First, sensory messages travel from stimulated nerves to the spinal cord-the body's pain highway. There, they are reprocessed and sent through open gates to the thalamus, the brain's depot for tactile information. Sharp pains, such as a sudden burn, stimulate different nerves than gnawing, dull pains.
Once the nerve signal reaches the brain, the sensory information is processed in the context of the individual's current mood, state of attention, and prior experience. The integration of all this information influences the perception and experience of pain, and guides the individual's response.

The brain's response to these information will determine the extent of pain we get. If the brain sends a message back down to close the gate, the pain signals to the brain are blocked and we experience lower pain. (That message may be carried by endorphins, natural painkillers in the body that are chemically similar to morphine.) If the brain orders the pain gates to open wider, the pain signal intensifies and we can often feel debilitating pain such as migraine headache.

DL · 11-17-2006, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babydoll1224

So when they hold the combs in thier hands which way do the spikes face? What point of labor have you found this most effective in?

The spikes face into the palm; I usually give her one for each hand. The spikes will press into the pressure points in her palms, and mom has total control over how hard she squeezes them. IME, I have found it best for mid-late active labor, but I have had some moms that wanted to continue it through transition. I use those small, cheap black combs (I think of them as men's combs). I bought a packet of two for maybe $1?