Pain relief and anaesthesia choices during labour
Labour can be painful, so it can help to learn about the pain relief options available to you. The main methods fall into two categories: with medication and without medication. Your anaesthetist will guide you through your options to find the one that works best for you and your baby.
Gas and air
A gas mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen you breathe in, which helps make your pain more manageable.
Gas pain relief
Opioid Injections
Opioids commonly used on labour wards include morphine, pethidine, and diamorphine, which are injected into your muscle.
Injection information
Epidurals
Local anaesthetic and a painkiller is given through a fine tube in your back to numb your nerves. It should not make you sick or drowsy.
About epidurals
Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia
Allows you to administer small doses of pain relief through a drip, as required.
Intravenous analgesia
Pain relief methods without medication
TENS machine
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) provides pain relief by passing a gentle electrical current through pads on your back.
TENS pain relief
Water pool
Giving birth in a water pool can assist with pain relief by helping to relax you as well as improving back pain and feelings of pressure.
Water births
Complementary therapies
Therapies such as acupuncture or hypnotherapy can help to reduce backache or pelvic pain.
Alternative options
Compare different pain relief methods
Understanding your pain relief options can be daunting. To help in your decision making, use our comparison table to learn more about the different options available and how they vary from each other.
Other information related to labour pain relief
FAQs about labour
Labour can be a daunting time and you may have a lot of unanswered questions. To help prepare you, see our list of the most common questions asked.
Read the FAQs
Risks of epidurals, spinals and general anaesthetics
As an expectant parent it is completely normal to have questions about the risks associated with epidurals, spinals and general anaesthetics.
Find out about the risks
Anaesthetics with a high BMI
Some women may need extra help with delivering their baby. One thing that can make this more likely is a high body mass index.
About high BMI
Pain relief for giving birth if your baby has died
Finding out that your baby has died before birth is devastating. Learn about the pain relief options that may be available to you during labour and birth.
Learn about your options
Environmental impact of pain relief for labour
In addition to the benefits and risks of different pain relief options, you may wish to compare their environmental impact when choosing your pain relief for labour.
Find out more
