Labor Pain Relief

Collecting information on the pros and cons of pain relief options during labor is a valuable first step. How you wish to handle labor pain truly depends on your personality, past experiences, personal values and goals, and resources. Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be educated about all of your options so you can adapt your plan in real time during labor.

According to Childbirth Connection, “Labor pain differs from other kinds of pain in ways that make coping easier. Labor pain:

  • Is not a symptom of injury or illness: When pain signals that something is wrong, anxiety can increase pain. But labor pain is simply a sign that your body is working hard and well.

  • Only lasts a certain amount of time: Labor rarely takes more than 24 hours.

  • Is predictable: Contractions usually last only a minute and come in a regular pattern, with a few (usually) pain-free minutes in between them. This means you can predict and prepare for each contraction and rest between them.

  • Intensifies gradually over time: Contractions almost always start off mild and gradually grow longer, stronger and closer together. This gives you time to adapt.”

 

Non-Drug Options

  • Mental Strategies: music, hypnosis, meditation, relaxation, etc.

  • Comfort Measures: massage, using a birth ball, getting in a tub or shower, creating a calm environment, dancing, climbing stairs, doing pelvic tilts, applying hot/cold packs, etc.

  • Continuous labor support: hiring a doula (evidence-based information available here).

 

Drug Options

  • Epidural or combined spinal analgesia (CSE): one or more medications are injected into the spinal canal to numb a specific area of the body.

  • Narcotics: depressant drugs (also known as opioids) are given through an IV drip, by injection, or through a nasal spray.

  • Nitrous oxide: an anesthetic gas (also known as “laughing gas”) that is inhaled using a hand-held mask and is controlled by the birthing person. Nitrous oxide has no known negative effects on labor or the baby, provides instant pain relief, and can be immediately discontinued.

 

Click on the buttons below for additional information. Penny Simkin’s Pain Medications Preference Scale is an excellent resource for the laboring person and their partner to determine their individual preferences regarding the use of pain medication in labor.