Strategies of Pain Relief in Childbirth

Many women take childbirth preparation classes to learn what to expect during labor and delivery. They also learn breathing methods, relaxation techniques, and other ways of coping with pain and discomfort during childbirth. These classes can be quite valuable, and some women are able to use these techniques to get through childbirth without needing pain medication. Other women find that using these techniques combined with some medications relieves the discomfort of labor and birth. Throughout delivery, your nurse will be available to reassure you and help make you more comfortable.

Your wishes will be taken into account in deciding what type of pain relief is best for you. Many other factors, including your well being and that of your baby, will affect this choice. Often your doctor will not be able to tell you exactly what kind of pain relief you will receive until you are in labor or are ready to deliver. Many times these choices must be left open and flexible until your doctor sees how your labor is going. Also, you may not always be able to have medication just when you feel you need it.

Pain-relieving medications fall into two general categories. Analgesia is the relief of pain without total loss of sensation. A person receiving and analgesic medication remains conscious. Al though analgesics don’t always completely stop pain, they do lessen it. Anesthesia refers to the total loss of sensation. Some forms of anesthesia cause a loss of consciousness, whereas others remove the sensation of pain from specific areas of the body while the patient remains conscious.

The decision to use a pain medication and what type to use will depend on several factors. Not all types of pain medications are available at all institutions, and not all doctors are able to give every type. Often the choice cannot be made until labor is under way. Your doctor may work with and anesthesiologist-a doctor who specializes in pain relief-in selecting the best method for you, depending on how your labor or delivery is going and the state of your health. And, of course, the effect of the medication on your baby must also be considered.