What can help with labor pain?
There are many things you can do to help with labor pain. Some involve medicine and others are natural methods. There is no ‘best’ way for anyone to go through labor.
Keep an open mind. Every woman experiences labor differently and each labor is different. Be sure to talk with your doctor or midwife about pain relief options before labor starts.
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Natural methods include:
Massage
Movement
Position changes
Breathing techniques
Heat or cold packs
Shower or bath
Listening to music
What medicines are used?
There are medicines used to reduce labor pain. Some methods take away the pain (epidural) while other medicines dull the pain but do not take it away completely (through a shot or an IV).
Opioid medicines (Narcotics):
This medicine will dull the pain but it will not go away completely. It is given by a shot into the muscle or through an IV into a vein. This medicine works on the entire body rather than in just one area.
Epidural:
This method can block pain in the lower part of the body. It is given in the lower back into a small area called the epidural space. This is a place below the spinal cord. A needle is used to thread a tube (called a catheter) into the space. The medicine is given through the tube. An epidural block can take 10 to 20 minutes to start working.
There are some side effects for both of these methods. Be sure to talk with your doctor or midwife if you have questions about medicines used for pain relief in labor.