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.
