PAIN RELIEF OPTIONS DURING LABOR & DELIVERY
Labour the App first and foremost says do whatever you (or your partner) wants for labor & delivery. It’s also okay to change your mind during. Labor and delivery is a deeply personal experience, and pain management can be an important part of the plan for birth. There is no one-size-fits-all approach—pain relief methods range from natural techniques to medical interventions, and none are ‘better’ than others.
Non-Medical (Natural) Pain Relief Options
Breathing and Relaxation Techniques: Deep, focused breathing and visualization help reduce anxiety and manage contractions. Many childbirth classes, like Lamaze or HypnoBirthing, teach these techniques.
Movement and Positioning: Changing positions (walking, rocking, squatting, using a birthing ball) can ease pressure, improve comfort, and help labor progress.
Massage and Counter-Pressure: Support persons or doulas can use massage or apply pressure to the lower back to relieve tension and pain during contractions.
Warm Water Therapy: Also called hydrotherapy, sitting in a warm bath or shower can reduce muscle tension and relieve pain.
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation): TENS units deliver mild electrical pulses to the skin to disrupt pain signals and are often used during early labor.
Medical Pain Relief Options
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas): A mild inhaled analgesic that can take the edge off contractions. It’s self-administered and works quickly, though it doesn’t eliminate pain entirely.
Opioids (Systemic Analgesics): Given via IV or injection, opioids like morphine or fentanyl provide moderate pain relief and help with relaxation. They may cause drowsiness and can affect the baby if given too close to delivery.
Epidural Anesthesia: One of the most common forms of pain relief during labor, an epidural involves injecting anesthetic near the spinal cord. It significantly reduces sensation from the waist down while allowing the person to remain awake and alert. It may require additional monitoring and can limit mobility.
Spinal Block: Similar to an epidural but administered as a single injection. It’s often used for planned cesarean deliveries and provides quick, short-term pain relief.
Local Anesthesia: Used to numb a small area (e.g., for an episiotomy or stitching after birth), but does not relieve contraction pain.
General Anesthesia: Rarely used, general anesthesia is typically reserved for emergency cesarean sections when there’s no time for a spinal or epidural. It renders the birthing person unconscious.
Choosing the Right Option
The right pain relief approach depends on personal preference, medical history, labor progression, and input from your healthcare team. It’s helpful to learn about the options in advance and discuss them with your care provider as part of your birth plan.
Sources: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG): www.acog.org, Mayo Clinic – “Pain relief options during childbirth”: www.mayoclinic.org, National Childbirth Trust (NCT): www.nct.org.uk, Cleveland Clinic – “Pain Management in Labor”: my.clevelandclinic.org
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