For some women, labor is not such a difficult experience. For others, labor can be very painful and uncomfortable, but this can be avoided. There are many ways to make labor easier. You can learn and practice natural pain relief techniques before labor, and try other methods during labor. You can also use medications and medical procedures if necessary. Before deciding which method or combination of methods to use during labor, you should weigh the benefits and risks of each. Consider the following options:
Non-medical ways to relieve pain
Relaxation Techniques Childbirth educators, nurses, and women who have used this approach recommend it primarily as a noninvasive way to reduce muscle tension and pain during labor. Progressive body relaxation—mentally “walking” through your body to release tension—is something you can learn in advance and practice before and during labor.Massage Ask your partner to massage your arms, legs, or back during labor to help you relax and reduce tension and pain.Rocking After the amniotic fluid has been released, you are not allowed to sit, only sitting on a duck or toilet seat. During contractions, you can try to gently rock back and forth, breathing and relaxing.Walking Walking, even just along your bed, can reduce discomfort while also helping to make contractions stronger and more regular.Change your position Don’t stay in the same position for more than an hour, and don’t lie on your back. Instead, try sitting up in your bed or chair, lying on your side, squatting, rocking on a birthing ball, or leaning forward over the back of a chair or bed. You can lie on your back only if you don’t feel dizzy (which can happen when your pregnant uterus compresses your abdominal aorta) and if it’s comfortable for you.Hydrotherapy Try sitting in the shower with the jets of water massaging your back, or soaking in a Jacuzzi. Not all birthing centers or hospitals have tubs or showers in their rooms, so if you want to use this relaxation method during labor, plan ahead and choose a facility that does.Applying Heat or Cold A heating pad or ice pack applied to your back can help reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, and dull pain.Breathing techniques Special breathing techniques will help you relax and distract yourself from the pain during contractions. Three techniques are used sequentially during labor (slow breathing, light breathing, and alternating breathing).Music Find out in advance at the maternity hospital whether you can take a phone or player with you to the delivery room. If so, take it and listen to your favorite relaxing music on headphones.Much of the above is taught in childbirth preparation courses.
Medicines and pain relief
Relaxants Medicines given by injection that help you relax if you are feeling tense; however, they may make you drowsy. They can be given at any stage of labor. Sometimes a relaxant, along with the non-medical techniques listed above, will be enough to get you through the contractions.Epidurals An epidural, an injection of medication into the spine, relieves most of the pain of contractions. It takes about 30 minutes to take effect. Epidurals provide nearly complete pain relief for most women, but there are risks: if given too early, before active labor, they can slow or stop labor, requiring the use of other drugs.An epidural can cause a drop in blood pressure, which increases the likelihood that your doctor will need to use forceps during labor because your abdominal muscles will be relaxed, making it harder for you to push. This decreased ability to push and abdominal relaxation may even lead to the need for a cesarean section if labor does not progress.An epidural can also raise your body temperature, which in turn may require separation from your baby after birth until infection is ruled out. Be sure to discuss the benefits and risks of an epidural with your doctor before labor begins.It’s hard to know ahead of time what medical or nonmedical pain relief options you’ll want to use. Once the time comes, you’ll be able to make decisions based on the intensity and length of your labor. The most important thing now is to do your homework: learn as much as you can about your options, talk to your doctor, and trust that you can make the right decision.You might be interested to learn what else to expect during the last few weeks of pregnancy and read other articles on childbirth.
