Giving Birth

 

Pain Relief Options

Labour pain is different for every woman. Many women cope with pain with the help of:

  • a supportive person
  • breathing techniques
  • relaxation
  • warm baths
  • showers
  • changing positions
  • massage and/or visualization
  • ice packs
  • acupuncture and/or acupressure
  • hypnosis

Sometimes women in labour need additional pain relief. This table outlines some options for pain relief medications during labour and birth.

 

Pain Relief Medication

Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen (Entonox)
Commonly known as laughing gas.
Benefits
  • Can be used right up to the birth with no effect on the baby.
  • The woman in labour holds the face mask and breathes in the amount she requires.
 Side effects
  • Only recommended for 2-3 hours.
  • May make some women feel dizzy and have temporary tingling in their face or hands.
  • Will only dull the pain, but will not take the pain away.
Narcotic Pain Medications
(such as Demerol, Fentanyl)
Benefits
  • Can be given by a health care professional by one of two routes:
    • Intramuscularly (IM) - the medication is injected directly into a muscle.
    • Intravenously (IV) - the medication is injected directly into a vein.
  • Most given by IM will work within 20 - 30 minutes and will last 2 - 4 hours.
  • Most given by IV will work within 2 - 3 minutes and will last 1 - 2 hours.
  • These time frames may vary depending on the medication.
  • In general, narcotic medications will make most women feel sleepy and relaxed.
 Side effects
  • May make the baby sleepy. If a narcotic is given near birth, it may affect the ability of some babies to breastfeed.
  • Usually given before the late part of the first stage of labour due to its effect on the baby at birth. This way, it can wear off before the baby's birth.
  • May makes some women feel drowsy, dizzy, or nauseated.
  • Will only dull the pain, but will not take the pain away.
Epidural/Spinal
Local anaesthetic is injected into the space around the spinal cord, providing pain relief from the waist down. During a caesarean birth, pain relief is from the breastbone down.
Benefits
  • Used at any time during labour.
  • Provides the most effective pain relief.
  • Women in labour can have more medication if needed.
  • May be used for a caesarean birth so women can be awake during the birth.
  • Women generally do not feel drowsy or groggy.
 Side effects
  • Women may have to stay in bed as they will not have good control of their legs.
  • Women may shiver at first and may itch from the medication.
  • Blood pressure will be checked frequently.
  • Most women will also need to have an intravenous (IV) during an epidural.
  • Women usually have a fetal monitor during an epidural, which may restrict movement.
  • Women may have a catheter inserted into their bladder to drain urine.
  • Women may not feel the urge to push or be able to push well.
  • There is an increased risk of forceps delivery.
  • Pain relief may not be complete.
  • Some women have a headache after an epidural.
Pudendal Block
Local anaesthetic is injected to numb the pain around the vagina. This blocks the pain in the vagina, vulva, and perineum.
Benefits
  • May be given at the time of birth.
Side effects
  • May affect the ability of some babies to breastfeed immediately after birth.
General Anaesthetic
The mother is completely asleep during caesarean and birth.
Benefits
  • Is used when an epidural or spinal is not possible or safe to give.
  • Is used when there is not enough time for an epidural.
  • Is used in an emergency situation.
 Side effects
  • A woman may react to anaesthesia or other medications during the surgery. This can be dangerous to her health. An example of a reaction is her blood pressure dropping quickly.
  • Her throat may feel dry and sore after the anaesthetic. This is due to the breathing tube placed in her windpipe while she's asleep.
  • She may feel nauseated and vomit after surgery.