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"Laughter has been shown to have lots of great health benefits (one study even showed it could protect against heart attacks). But could a good chuckle (a really good one) help ease the intense pains women feel during childbirth? When LaQuita McDaniel went into labor, her husband, Charles, whipped out the video camera--and some rap lyrics. Take a look at this video (it&amp;#x27;s cute!). Even though LaQuita&amp;#x27;s about to have a baby and she ends up shooing her husband away, she does so with a smile and a laugh. (She later gave birth to baby Kingston.) So can even a little laughter help quell some labor pains? Science says... yes! Laughter increases endorphins--your body&amp;#x27;s natural pain relievers--and decreases the number of bad stress hormones, causing your body to relax. Even a forced smile releases some endorphins, so some physicians suggest that dads-to-be get some jokes ready for when it&amp;#x27;s go time. I totally buy this--I always find myself laughing when I&amp;#x27;m about to get a shot or some other painful physical experience. It helps me get through it a lot more easily because I don&amp;#x27;t focus on how much something&amp;#x27;s going to hurt. (I think my doctor thinks I&amp;#x27;m a very jolly person.) Do you think laughter&amp;#x27;s the best medicine? Do you ever use humor to ease pain or discomfort--for yourself or others? More on laughter: * Your Happiness: Some Docs Prescribe Pups Instead of Prozac * Calling All Crankpantses! Try This Super Simple Get-Happy Trick * Are You A Gossip? Why Talking Smack Might Actually Be GOOD For You More Ways to Get Glamour Visit Shopglamour.com for cute stuff starting at just $10! Enter the latest Glamour sweepstakes! Follow us on Twitter Add us to your iGoogle homepage Photo: Thinkstock"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/blogs/vitamin-g/2012/01/can-laughter-ease-labor-pain-w>