Pain Relief Options During Labor

There are several options for pain relief to cope with the pain of contractions during labor.

Most mums-to-be will have done their research well before going into hospital, including checking what will be available at their hospital, and will have decided what they want - or don't want. But in the heat of the moment all those plans could change, so it's good to know what is available...

TENS

Trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation involves a gentle electrical current being passed through pads attached to the body. TENS is considered to be extremely effective in the early stages of labor and some women manage with just TENS throughout the delivery.

Epidural

This involves an anesthetic being injected via a catheter into the lower part of the spine to numb the nerves and therefore the pain. This catheter administers drugs throughout the delivery and can be topped up in stages. It can be used at any stage but takes 40 minutes to start providing pain relief. Once working it is very effective.

Side effects include numb legs, headache, backache, nausea and low blood pressure. It can also lessen the urge to pee so a tube may have to be inserted into the bladder to drain the urine.

Breathing techniques

Breathing calmly in long deep breaths increases the oxygen flowing to your muscles and can lessen the pain of contractions.

Warm water

Some maternity units now encourage mums in labor to relax in a warm bath once in established labor. Sitting or lying in the bath has been proven to help ease the more intense contractions. But it can slow labor down if used too early.

Pethidine

This is a popular painkiller from the same family as morphine. It's usually administered via an injection in the thigh or bottom. The effects take about 20 minutes to kick in and last around two to three hours. Pethidine causes mum to feel drowsy and pain is muffled. However, side effects can include slowing down the labor and (if the pethidine crosses the placenta) it can affect the unborn baby's breathing. Sometimes mum needs a boost of oxygen to "wake her up" again.

Gas and air

This is a popular method of pain relief involving breathing in a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide (entonox) through a mask. The gas builds up in the blood, relaxing muscles as the contractions build. Some women don't like it, however, as it can make them feel drunk and nauseous. It does not take the pain away, but makes it more bearable if used at the right moments.

Alternative therapies

Aromatherapy uses concentrated essential oils to improve mood and well being.Reflexology involves massaging key points on the feet that correspond to the areas of pain.Hypnosis is a very popular trend for pain relief and there are hypno-birthing classes held throughout the UK.Acupuncture uses needles placed - by an expert - in specific points of the body to help reduce the pain.Debra Aspinall is an experienced journalist and the editor and leading writer for the Emma's Diary website, one of the UKs foremost pregnancy and baby websites. Debra writes on pregnancy related topics such as signs of early labor, symptoms of labor, first signs of labor and etc. She also writes on women's health and beauty issues and contributes travel articles to glossy magazines in London and the Home Counties.