There are lots of options for different methods of pain relief in labour. Some women might use some, some might use many and some might not use any of the options below. Every woman’s labour is different and there is no right or wrong pain relief option to choose. It is worth knowing what is available to help you to make informed choices during labour.
Options for pain relief
Advantages:
- Maximises your body’s ability to give birth and keep your labour going
- No effects on baby
Disadvantages:
- Try not to wear yourself out and remember to also try to save energy. Resting on your left hand side is optimum position in labour
Advantages:
- Can be soothing during contractions, especially for relieving back pain
- Helps to release oxytocin
- Involves your birthing partner
- No effects on baby
Disadvantages:
- Some women do not enjoy massage during labour
Advantages:
- Promotes a positive state of mind and body health
- Promotes optimum conditions for normal physiology in labour
- No effects on baby
Disadvantages:
- Available to low risk women only
Advantages:
- Use of relaxation and breathing methods aiming to achieve a calm birth.
- No effects on baby
Disadvantages:
- Antenatal preparation necessary
Tens is a small machine which transmits electrical impulses onto your back which block pain signals and help your body produce endorphins.
Advantages:
- You can still move around freely and use for as long as you want
- Can be used at home
Disadvantages:
- Cannot be used in water
- Needs to be hired or bought antenatally
We have 3 birthing pools at RSCH and 2 at PRH. The pools can be used for pain relief and birth itself.
Advantages:
- Warm water is soothing and calming
- Deep water allows a sense of weightlessness and soothes tension
- Helps with the normal processes of labour
- Can use Entonox whilst in the pool
- Can be used at home
Disadvantages:
- Available to low risk women only
Further information:
BSUH: Waterbirth
A mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide gas which you breathe through a tube when required
Advantages:
- You are in control of when the Entonox is delivered
- Effects quickly go away so you feel yourself between contractions
- You can still move freely/use the pool
- Can be used at home with a midwife present
- No effects on baby
Disadvantages:
- Some women do not like the effects of Entonox or do not find it effective
- Can make you feel very thirsty
An opioid injection
Advantages:
- Can help you relax and get some rest
- Can be given by a midwife so you don’t have to wait for a doctor to prescribe
- Does not ‘slow labour down’
Disadvantages:
- Can make some women feel nauseated but is given with an anti-sickness medication just in case
- Not available at home
- Some women don’t like the sensation of feeling sleepy/woozy and it takes a few hours for the effects to fade
- Pethidine crosses the placental barrier. If your labour is quicker than expected your baby may be sleepy at birth and could require additional support to start breathing or an antidote drug
A local anaesthetic delivered through a tube which is inserted into the space between two vertebra in your back.
Advantages:
- Aims to take away pain in labour. The pressure sensation of contractions remains so that you are still able to push when you need to.
- Does not make you feel woozy/sleepy
- ‘Low dose’ mix used at both hospitals, allows you to be more mobile. Some women are able to walk and empty their bladder. Allows for more mobility and position changes
- Patient controlled top-ups allow you to be in control of your labour
Disadvantages:
- Can only be performed by an anaesthetist
- You will need a cannula in your hand/arm to deliver fluid (a drip) as the epidural can cause your blood pressure to drop
- Your baby will need to be monitored continuously when the epidural is first inserted in case your blood pressure drops
- You may need a catheter (tube in your bladder) if you are unable to wee
- The epidural takes around 40 minutes to insert (whilst you sit very still) and around 20 minutes to start working. Your labour might be progressing too fast for the epidural to have time to work effectively
- You are more likely to have an instrumental birth (forceps or ventouse) as you may not be able to push as effectively.
- We aim to have started performing an epidural within an hour of the woman requesting one. The vast majority of the time we are able to achieve this, however due to clinical workload occasionally you may have to wait longer. If this is the case you will be offered other choices of pain relief.
Further information:
Obstetric Anaesthetists’ Association: Epidurals in labour -what you need to know
