The Birth - Pain Relief

There are many different methods of pain relief available for women during labour. It is important to have considered what methods of pain relief are available and which ones you would like during the labour. However, you not necessarily have to decide before the birth you could just see how things go for you.

Gas: Oxygen and nitrous are mixed together to form the gas, which is given for pain relief during labour. At the beginning of a contraction you must breath the gas in through a mask. It will take effect fifteen to twenty seconds later. It is instant and there are no side effects except if you breath in too much it can make you feel sick and sleepy.smooth and progressively intense. Sometimes contractions slow down or even stop. It’s important to stay calm, patient and be prepared to move around until they start again. If contractions slow down for a long period of time, it may be beneficial for things to be helped along. Hormonal stimulation is how labour is brought on medically. When you're induced, hormones are introduced into your bloodstream, and they stimulate the start of contractions. These open your cervix, to allow the baby to come downwards, and then out. The main drawback of this intervention is that it can bring on contractions very intensely which can be very difficult to cope with.

Injection: The injection given to woman in labour is usually pethidine. It is quick and easy to use. It takes effect within twenty minutes and lasts up to three hours. Although pethidine takes the edge off the pain it does not make it disappear completely. Side effects include the feeling of sickness and sleepiness. The baby may also suffer the side effects of the pethidine and start breathing slowly. However, in general the injection is a safe pain relief.

Epidural: This is an injection given in your spine. It can take up to twenty minutes to inject. A plastic tube is placed in your spine and anesthetic is injected as and when it is needed. The injection is held in place by a plaster. The advantage of an epidural is that it gives complete pain relief as it numbs the nerves carrying the pain from the birth canal to the brain. The disadvantage is that you may feel helpless as you can only push when the midwife directs you to, as you cannot feel anything.

Tens: Tens stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Electrode pads are placed on your back and are connected to wires controlled from a battery stimulator. The advantages of this are that you can control the power of the current and tens encourage your body to produce its own natural painkillers by stimulation. Tens are not known to have any disadvantages.

Self-help: Self-help includes relaxation, breathing, massage, position, movement and partners support.