There is a range of effective pain-relief options for you to choose from in labour. Write your choices into your birth plan and make sure your birth partner knows what you plan to use.
Natural techniques
- Massage, breathing exercises and staying mobile can all help you to cope with the pain of contractions during labour
- Having a supportive birth partner helps too
- Some women find labouring in water helps to ease the pain of contractions
- Others find that giving birth in familiar surroundings at home helps them to stay relaxed and so cope with the pain better
TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
- This is a device that emits small electrical pulses via electrodes stuck to your back
- These pulses block pain signals to your brain and encourage your body to release natural pain killers called endorphins
- TENS is only effective in early labour
- It has no harmful side effects for you or your baby
Gas and air (Entonox)
- This is a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide gas breathed in through a mouthpiece or mask
- It helps to reduce pain almost straight away
- You control how much you have
- Some women complain it makes them feel sick or lightheaded
- Gas and air has no harmful side effects for you and your baby
Pethidine
- Pethidine is an injected pain reliever
- It works by relaxing you and so eases pain
- Midwives sometimes use a drug called diamorphine instead
- The effects last for up to four hours
- Some women find pethidine make them feel very woozy, which can make it difficult to push
- Pethidine can’t be used if you are labouring in water
- If it's given too close to delivery it may affect your baby’s breathing and ability to feed
Epidural
- A pain-relieving drug is injected into the space around your spinal cord using a fine, flexible tube
- An epidural usually gives excellent pain relief
- It can take a while to administer and take effect
- You'll also need to have a catheter inserted into your bladder to help you wee
- Your baby's heart beat will need constant monitoring
- Epidurals can’t be administered in some midwife-led units or at home
- An epidural may make it harder to push because you lose sensation below your waist