Pain Relief

Cause of Labour Pain

Epidural

Gas & Air (Entonox)

Pethidine

Natural Methods

Water Birth

Cause of Labour Pain

Giving birth is painful but you will be offered help if you want it. The main options are explained below with some facts about each type of pain relief to help you make an informed choice of what is right for you.

Epidural

With an epidural, an injection of local anaesthetic is given to numb the lower back. The anaesthetic is then fed continuously via a thin plastic tube into the epidural space, which lies between the spinal cord and the vertebrae in the spine. It must be done by a qualified anaesthetist. Depending on where on the spine the injection is made, you can have either total loss of feeling from the breasts downwards or loss of feeling in the abdomen only. With a mobile epidural, you can still move around, which helps your labour to progress more naturally.

Points to remember

1. An epidural may be particularly recommended if you have a difficult labour; pre-eclampsia or severe asthma or if you need a forceps delivery.
2. If you want to push your baby out yourself you will need to allow the effects of the epidural to wear off before the second stage of labour.
3. With an epidural you must have electronic fetal monitoring to check for distress. This is because the drug crosses the placenta within minutes of being given.
4. You may find it difficult to move and change positions so ask your midwife or partner for help.
5. It difficult to know when your feet are flat on the ground. Ask for support if you're walking around.
6. An epidural is the most effective way to completely eradicate any sensations of pain. There can however, be some discomfort associated with inability to move and an area of stitch which is intense in the side.

Gas & Air (Entonox)

Points to remember

1. The best time to use gas and air is at the end of the first stage during strong contractions of transition.
2. Inhaling gas and air can make you feel a bit nauseous, but has few side effects.
3. If gas and air is used during the second stage, the deep breaths you take to inhale may interfere with the bearing down needed to push your baby out.
4. To be most effective, you should place the mask over your mouth. Take three full breaths, slowly inhaling through your mouth and exhaling through your nose.As the contraction gets stronger, remove your mask and concentrate on quick breathing movements until the contraction has passed

Pethidine

Points to remember

1. Many women find it ineffective as a pain reliever and it can leave you feeling very disoriented.
2. It can make your baby drowsy and slow to feed after birth.
3. Nausea can be a side effect, so pethidine is sometimes given with tranquillisers to stop this. However it's best (for you and your baby) if it's taken, without the tranquillisers, before you're 7cm dilated.
4. Pethidine can slow down the second stage of labour and cause your baby distress if given too early (before you are 7cm dilated).

Natural Methods

Water Birth

Points to remember

1. Some birth experts believe that the best time to get into your birthing water pool is when you're around 5cm dilated (that is, when you're actually in 'established' labour) this is when the water is thought to be the most effective.
2. Many women also enjoy being in the pool before this time. The best guide is to follow your instincts.
3. You will have to check that your hospital has a birthing pool and book it. Even when you have booked, there is no guarantee that one will be available on the day.

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