Reiki works with the energetic aspect of the body. When we understand what's happening energetically when we're in pain, we can understand how to use Reiki effectively as a pain management tool. The energetic aspect isn't the only one involved in pain, whether in labor or otherwise. We're looking at this energetic aspect to add to what we already know about pain and how to manage it, not to replace what we're already doing. In this article I'm also refering to the normal pain of labor, not the kind of pain that happens when something is wrong.

In energy medicine, pain happens when energy isn't moving properly. When energy isn't moving properly there's either too much energy that's stuck, or there's not enough energy.

Too much energy gives us the kind of pain that's hot, throbbing, we don't want to touch it. For example, when we get cut. Our body sends lots of energy to the injury to help it heal (from a physioloigcal perspective this is it sending white blood cells, lymphatic fluid and all the things it needs to kill germs, clot blood and start healing).

Too little energy gives us the kind of pain that feels better when we rub it, or put heat on it. For example, when we have menstrual cramps that feel better when we put a hot water bottle on our bellies.

When we look from an energetic perspective, both types of pain are energy not moving properly. So we can affect that pain by changing the way energy is moving in the body.

The idea that pain is energy that's not moving properly is true of all kinds of pain, including labor pain. Labor is an experience that requires a lot of energy. The body draws on its energetic reserves (mostly from the kidneys/adrenals) and it surges through the pelvis and abdomen. It's a lot more energy than is usually in this part of the body, so it doesn't flow so easily. And energy that isn't flowing well = pain.

We can reduce, or even eliminate, the energetic component of pain if we can get the energy in the body moving better. Some comfort measures you're already familiar with work on this energetic level. Anything that's physically moving the body, like massage, also moves energy. But the optimal way to move energy, is with energy.

As a technique, what Reiki is fundamentally doing is moving energy in the body. It works by balancing energy, so that means we don't need to figure out whether there's too much or too little energy. Reiki will balance that energy in whatever direction is needed.

Because we can effectively address the energetic comonent of pain with Reiki, receiving it during labor literally reduces the amount of pain we feel. It makes the level of pain we experience much more tolerable, and for some people takes pain away altogether. Most people who receive Reiki while they're laboring don't need any other form of pain relief.

Reiki has no side effects or downsides, so there are no risks in using it to support you having an unmedicated or minimally-medicated birth. Find a doula or midwife who's trained in Reiki for Birth, or have your birth partner learn Reiki for Birth Partners and look forward to a more comfortable birth experience.