Relaxation For Childbirth (Part 5)

Posted on Sun Jul 13th, 2025 @ 6:22am by Captain Maho Takahashi & Lieutenant Commander Brennyn Scott M.D.

1,750 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: The Next Myogi

Previously, on Star Trek: Myogi:

As Bree watched Maho withstand the ice with little trouble, she contemplated what to do next. Should she trust her initial plan? After all, this first step was a simulation of a very mild contraction. There was also the possibility the ice was not at all sufficient. If that was true, what in the galaxy could she do? Inducing pain in a pregnant woman who wasn't looking to give birth right now could look like torture if she wasn't careful.

She had an idea but decided to run it by Maho first. "No pun intended, but am I right in thinking this was child's play for you?"

"Certainly." Maho responded with a nod. "If anything, this has felt more like cold weather training than labor exercise."

And now, the continuation:

Scott nodded. She thought as much. “I have an idea for something else else.“ Without another word, she went to the replicator, and after a few taps of a button, she came back with a device that had several wires coming from it. The wires were attached to pads that would be familiar to anyone working in healthcare from about a century before. There were more high-tech ways to do this, but not quite as portable. Sometimes the old ways were more valuable.

Holding up the device, she went on to explain, “This is what’s called an electrical muscle stimulator, or EMS. These pads can be placed against your skin in various places, and when the machine is active, it sends electrical impulses which cause your muscles to contract at varying levels of intensity. Using this machine will not cause you to go into labor, but it will allow you to experience muscle contractions in places, places, like your lower back, that become tense during uterine contractions in addition to your uterus. I promise not to torture you. Would you like to give it a try?”

Maho contemplated the counselor's offer: The device that looked like it came from Kirk's time did little to inspire confidence. However, this was her opportunity to get accustomed to what to look out for when she went into labor for real.

"Sure." Maho finally said, before realizing how she was sitting. "Uh... Do I need to reposition for this?"

Scott considered the question for a moment, then offered, “ it may be best to keep you sitting for now, just to give you an opportunity to get used to the lower levels. As you get familiar with how all of this feels, we can have you assume different positions, like standing, kneeling, and being on your hands and knees. I think you’ll find that as we experiment with greater intensities, within manageable limits of course, you’ll find that being in different positions actually helps you feel better.“

"Alright;" Maho muttered. "Then go ahead and hook me up."

It took a few moments for Bree to place the pads, which she mostly adhered to different areas of Maho’s lower back, a common place of discomfort for women in labor. She purposely avoided any part of the mother to be‘s abdomen, not because placing a pad there would be unsafe, but because she didn’t want to give the little one more excitement than she already had. Reaching for the control panel, Bree said, “ Ready? I’ll start it on the third level out of 10. This will simulate a contraction slightly stronger than the typical Braxton Hicks contractions. You may have already felt. I promise not to advance things without your permission and without making sure you’re ready. We certainly don’t have to go to the highest level today or ever if it becomes too much.“

Maho nodded.

"At your leisure, Commander." She instructed.

Scott nodded, and with a press of a button, she directed the device to stimulate tension in Maho’s lower back that represented a possible three out of 10 in intensity. This level would represent the strongest likely contraction in the early phase of labor. This level of intensity wasn’t terribly intense, but it would be noticeable.

Maho's eyes widened near immediately as the sensation of the simulated contractions hit.

"Okay..." She muttered. "That's... Definitely stronger than a Braxton Hicks..."

Scott nodded. "I know you can still talk through these, but now's a good time to practice slow deep breaths and to focus on exhaling completely. As things intensify, you'll likely instinctually hold your breath or breathe quickly and shallowly, but that can increase a sense of panic, so the people around you will offer encouragement."

"Okay..." Maho muttered as she focused on taking deep breaths as instructed. "Okay..."

“ Great job, Captain,” Bree encouraged. “Are you ready to try something just a little more intense?“

Maho didn't answer right away, instead taking a moment (rightfully so) to contemplate if she was ready to move forward to more advanced labor pain.

However, it didn't take too long, and Scott found her Captain giving her a nod of approval:

"Turn it up." She said.

Bree contemplated whether she wanted to help Maho into a different position before increasing the intensity of the muscular contractions, but she decided to wait and just up the intensity one step, from a three to a four out of 10. “I’ve just increased the intensity, one step. Get your bearings, and then perhaps we can stand up and practice some simple movements along with breathing, like swaying.“

Maho seriously wondered why she hadn't been helped up sooner than this. But, she entrusted that the counselor knew what she was doing:

"Is this setting to the point where the contractions start getting closer together?" Maho asked in order to get a reference for where she was supposed to be in the simulated labor pains.

Bree nodded. "Yes. This setting approximates the beginning of active labor, so these contractions aren't the most intense you'll experience, even in the active lqbor phase, but by now, if all follows the normal course, you'll start to get in a rhythm of sorts, with contractions coming more consistently and gradually becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and becoming more intense. This is when you'll want to change positions frequently and seek support, whether that's massage, a shower for relaxation, or just simple verbal encouragement."

Maho nodded. With confirmation that the simulated labor pains were exactly at the point she suspected, she could focus on the next step. The thought on whether or not this exercise could potentially rupture her water prematurely briefly crossed her mind, but if the counselor thought that this was a safe thing to do, then Maho needed to have similar faith.

"Well, then..." Maho said. "Shall we see about trying to stand up?"

Bree nodded and she came forward to help ease Maho into a standing position. “Perhaps one of these days we can get the Dad to be to join us, so he can practice some of these relaxation techniques with you. For now, I’m happy to fill-in, though perhaps you want to start by figuring out how it feels to manage on your own in this position?”

"Yeah, unfortunately he couldn't be here tonight." Maho lamented as she was helped to her feet. "Though it wouldn't be a bad idea to involve him so he has an idea of what to do when it's time for real."

As Maho spoke, she began to familiarize herself with how the contractions she was feeling affected her in a standing position.

Scott nodded. “I’ll make sure we get at least a couple of sessions in with him. I know this isn’t a perfect simulation of the sensations you’ll feel, but this is a decent approximation. How are you coping so far?“

"Starting to acclimate here." Maho responded. "Starting to get... Used to the pain here... Starting to become more of an annoyance..."

"Would you like some massage from me, or would you like me to offer some coping strategies you can try on your own?" Bree was open to either answer, and knew how important it was to continue to give Maho a sense of control."

"I don't think a massage is what I need right now..." Maho responded.

"That's fine," Bree replied evenly. "I'm happy to sit with you quietly and allow you to ask for what you want as you discover it." Scott recognized the the fine line she was treading between empowerment and nurturing, especially for a woman like Maho who was used to being in control and giving orders, not accepting help or support she may not even know she needed or wanted. There was also the long held wisdom of not interfering in a process that was going well, wise for childbirth as much as anything else.

"And you're sure this won't accidentally trigger real labor?" Maho asked. "I'm not in the mood to have my child born prematurely here."

"I hear you," Bree reassured. "This won't trigger labor by itself. For labor to happen, your body has to release a series of hormones and the conditions have to be right, like consistent contractions and the baby's position. This machine is contracting external muscles to simulate labor. During the real thing, your uterus will contract which involves internal muscalature. When babies come early, it's typically because the conditions for labor were met physiologically, not because of what you did or didn't do."

"Regardless, I still don't think it's a risk I want to take." Maho sighed. "Do you suppose we could call it here?"

"Sure," Bree replied. "Maybe we make it a couple's session next time with the three of us?"

"I'll talk to Keisuke about it and see if he's on board." Maho said as Bree turned the machine off.

Once Maho was unhooked from the machine, Scott returned the materials to the replicator to be recycled. Once the last pillow had been recycled, Maho thanked the counselor for taking time out of her evening to discuss labor and even help her prepare for it, even if Maho was scared to go past the early stages.

Once Scott had left, and Maho was alone, Maho looked down at her oversized belly and stroked it:

"Well, child;" She said. "It seems like you and I are going to be in for quite an adventure in nine weeks' time..."

A Mission Post by

Captain Maho Takahashi
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Commander Brennyn Scott
Chief Counselor

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