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14. Pain

India Rakusen explores the final stages of labour through to crowning, and examines how pain has been acknowledged historically and in the modern day.

The baby is almost here. In this episode, India Rakusen explores how the baby moves through the cervix into the birth canal to the moment the baby鈥檚 head starts to crown.

And through all of this, how is pain acknowledged and addressed? India looks at the history of pain relief - and finds out from historian Randi Hutter-Epstein about an extreme form called Twilight Sleep that gained popularity at the start of the 20th Century. She also speaks to research midwife Rachel Ibikunle about the horrific beliefs about pain for Black and Asian women, and to Siobhan Miller of the Positive Birth Company about how understanding our body can help manage pain.

Presented by India Rakusen
Producer: Ellie Sans
Series Producer: Ellie Sans
Production Team: Ella McLeod & Georgia Arundell
Executive Producer: Suzy Grant.
Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts
Original music composed and performed by ESKA
Mix and Mastering by Charlie Brandon-King

A Listen production for 大象传媒 Radio 4

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14 minutes

Last on

Fri 30 Aug 2024 00:30

Broadcasts

  • Thu 21 Mar 2024 13:45
  • Thu 29 Aug 2024 11:45
  • Fri 30 Aug 2024 00:30

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