Pain Medicines
A variety of pain medicines can be used during labor and delivery, depending on
the situation. Many women rely on such medicines, and it can be a huge relief when
pain is quickly eased and energy can be focused on getting through the contractions.
Talk to your health care provider about the risks and benefits of each type of medicine.
Analgesics. Analgesics ease pain, but don't numb it completely.
They don’t affect sensation or muscle movement. They can be given many ways.
If they are given intravenously (through an IV into a vein) or through a shot into
a muscle, they can affect the whole body. These medicines can cause side effects in
the mother, including drowsiness and nausea. They also can have effects on the baby.
Regional anesthesia. This is what most women think of when they
consider pain medicine during labor. By blocking the feeling from specific regions
of the body, these methods can be used for pain relief in both vaginal and cesarean
section deliveries.
Epidurals, a form
of local anesthesia, relieve most of the pain from the entire body below the belly
button, including the vaginal walls, during labor and delivery. An epidural involves
medicine given by an anesthesiologist through a thin, tube-like catheter that's inserted
in the woman's lower back. The amount of medicine can be increased or decreased according
to a woman's needs. Very little medicine reaches the baby, so usually there are no
effects on the baby from this method of pain relief.
Epidurals do have some drawbacks — they can cause a woman's blood pressure
to drop and can make it difficult to pee. They can also cause itching, nausea, and
headaches in the mother. The risks to the baby are minimal, but include problems caused
by low blood pressure in the mother.
Tranquilizers. These drugs don't relieve pain, but they may help
to calm and relax women who are very anxious. Sometimes they are used along with analgesics.
These drugs can have effects on both the mother and baby, and are not often used.
They also can make it difficult for women to remember the details of the birth. Discuss
the risks of tranquilizers with your doctor.
Natural Childbirth
Some women choose to give birth using no medicine at all, relying instead on relaxation
techniques and controlled breathing for pain. If you'd like to experience childbirth
without pain medicine, discuss this with your health care provider.
Things to Consider
Here are some things to think about when considering pain control during labor:
- Medicines can relieve much of your pain, but probably won't relieve all of it.
- Labor may hurt more than you expected. Some women who had said they want no pain
medicine whatsoever end up changing their minds when they're actually in labor.
- Some medicines can affect your baby, making the baby drowsy or causing changes
in the heart rate.
Talking to Your Health Care Provider
You'll want to review your pain control options with the person who'll be delivering
your baby. Find out what's available, how effective they're likely to be, and when
it's best not to use some medicines.
If you want to use pain-control methods other than medicine, make sure your health
care provider and the hospital staff know. You might want to also consider writing
a birth plan that
makes your preferences clear.
Remember, many women make decisions about pain relief that they abandon —
often for very good reason — at the last minute. Your ability to endure the
pain of childbirth has nothing to do with your worth as a mother. By preparing and
educating yourself, you can be ready to decide what pain management works best for
you.