Toiletries tool could help fight off the pain of childbirth

Women everywhere will tell you childbirth is an agonising experience, but a simple tool, hiding in your toiletries bag, could change that.

If there’s one thing that undoubtedly comes with childbirth, it’s serious amounts of pain — but a new trick may help to ease the agony during labour.

And before any expectant mums begin to panic about cramming some new contraption into their hospital bag, this item is no bigger than a ruler.

Behold, the fine-tooth comb:

The fine-tooth comb is being praised as a miracle worker in labour theatres.

The humble toiletries bag staple has taken Facebook by storm after an American birth photography and videography company, Fox Valley Birth and Baby, shared the childbirth hack on its page last week.

It claimed the comb could be used during labour to fight off aches and pains associated with childbirth.

“When gripped in your hands, a comb can help hit acupuncture points in your hands helping your body forget about the contractions,” the post said.

According to the company, the comb “plays into the gate control pain theory”.

“This theory states that the brain can only focus on a select number of sensations at once,” it said.

“Because the nerve ending on your hands are closer to your brain, they reach your brain faster.”

According to the company, the best way to hold the comb is to ensure it hits the base of your fingers, with the teeth pressing into the palm of your hand.

And while many mums may have heard old wive’s tales surrounding pain relief during labour, many took to the comments to claim the comb does, in fact, ease pain.

“I do this every time I get a tattoo,” one woman wrote.

“It totally works!”

Another said: “I am a doula birthing partner, and I keep a pack of combs in my bag for every birth.”

Another commenter said she thought the idea could “really work”.

“I asked my sister to dig her long nails into my arms when I was in labour because it distracted me from the pain,” she wrote.

Many other mums admitted they wished they had thought of the trick during their births, and some even planned to put a comb in their hospital bag.

“I will now be packing my hospital bag with a comb,” one expectant mum wrote.

Another added: “This is going straight in my bag. Can’t wait to try.”

A second-time mum said while she wished she had known about the comb hack with her first son, she was definitely trying it with her second.

“My second son is due in October and a comb will definitely be packed!” she wrote.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission