Pain relief and anaesthesia choices during labour
Labour can be painful. It can help to learn about the pain relief options available to you. The main methods fall into two groups: with medication and without medication. Your anaesthetist will guide you through your options.
Entonox® (gas and air)
A gas mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen that you breathe in. It helps make your pain more manageable.
Gas pain relief
Opioid injections
Opioids commonly used on labour wards include morphine, pethidine, and diamorphine.
Injection information
Epidurals
Local anaesthetic and a painkiller are given through a fine tube in your back to numb your nerves.
About epidurals
Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia
A way to manage pain where you give yourself small doses of pain relief through a drip, as required.
Intravenous analgesia
Pain relief methods without medication
There are several pain relief strategies available that don't involve medication. You may choose to use these on their own, or along with other pain relief medicines.
Although the evidence supporting these therapies is not as strong as it is for medical options, studies show that complementary and alternative pain relief methods may have a positive effect on women’s experience of labour or birth. They may also reduce anxiety and help you feel more in control.
It's also reassuring to know that these options are generally considered safe for you and your baby, and that there are very few side effects or complications reported with their use. Most of these techniques can be used at home in early labour before going into hospital.
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 birth
Giving birth in a water pool can assist with pain relief by helping you to relax. It can also improve 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 feel overwhelming. Our comparison table can help you see the different choices and how they are differ from each other.
Other information related to labour pain relief
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