The trust said the Instagram post was shared as information to facilitate choice and personalisation in early labour and help women can seek control without intervention. An NHS trust that had to suspend the use of gas and air has suggested women should squeeze a hair comb during labour to ease pain. I organised to hire the machine not knowing if I was going to get the VBAC labour/birth that I hoped for but I did! In a 2019 article, she wrote that its effects are thought to be down to it acting as a distraction, acupuncture or the brain only being able to process so many sensations at once — and therefore acting as something else to feel instead of contractions.

The nerve endings are closer on your hands and as a result they reach your brain faster assisting your body to forget about the contractions. Using the Gate Control theory and acupressure points, you may use the comb by squeezing it into the palm or base of your fingers to elevate the pain of contractions. The nerve endings in your hands are close to the skin surface, therefore the pressure signals they send to the brain can override the pain signals being sent to your brain from contractions or surges,' the post says.

Emily Neiman, a nurse-midwife at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, has previously explained that holding a comb may work for some women during labour. I went in to labour on Saturday night in the early hours and focussed on my breathing and used the comb when the contractions peaked.

Other methods that also work on this theory include TENS machines, massage, sacral pressure and heat packs, according to the trust. The NHS recommends other alternative pain relief methods for labour, including acupuncture, aromatherapy, homeopathy, hypnosis, massage and reflexology. Working through a difficult physical challenge, like giving birth, can often be an empowering and affirming experience. A birthing comb can be used in conjunction with other natural pain management techniques, such as hypnobirthing, breathing exercises, and visualization. Love Island All Stars fans slam Liberty Poole for crying over Mitchel Taylor again despite pair's bitter split: 'They broke up like 10 times!If you’d like to try using pressure points during labor, a few good ones to target can be found in the center of your palm. Some people prefer to use a wooden one or to find a plastic comb with more rounded, rather than super sharp teeth as you don’t want to cause any damage to your skin, especially if you end up using it for a long period of time. SASH said the idea was based on “pain gate control theory, which suggests your brain can only focus on a certain number of sensations at one time”. If the item comes direct from a manufacturer, it may be delivered in non-retail packaging, such as a plain or unprinted box or plastic bag. The NHS suggests learning to relax, stay calm and breath deeply can help as well as taking paracetamol to relieve pain in the early stages of labour.

There’s no right or wrong techniques for managing pain in labour, natural and pharmacological alike. By squeezing the comb into your palm it acts as a distraction, diverting your brain so your body can adjust to the pain.The idea is that hitting these pressure points triggers the release of brain chemicals like endorphins, which help block pain signals.