The Mummy Guides - Your pain relief choices at a glance

We can’t pretend that giving birth won’t hurt, but the good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to lessen the pain, from bathing in warm water to being numbed from the waist down.

But what will suit you? Arm yourself with the facts you need with our quick and pain-free guide…

Want to do it naturally? Try….

TENS machine
Small electrode pads are attached to your back, controlled by a portable handset with tiny electrical impulses to block the pain and encourage your body to release endorphins (your own natural painkillers). Hire one from your hospital or from childbirth organisations such as the NCT.
Pros:
- It’s safe for you and your baby, means you can stay active, and you control it. Many women find it particularly useful in the early stages of labour.
Cons:
- Can’t be used in water.

Water
A warm bath or birthing pool can really help you relax, reducing tension and pain and make contractions more bearable.
Pros:
- It allows you to stay active, and reduces the chances of you needing other kinds of pain relief.
Cons:
- At hospital, there may be a queue for a bath or birthing pool (and some hospitals don’t have pools at all).

Acupuncture
Using fine needles to stimulate the body’s energy channels, acupuncture helps the body release endorphins. Acupressure, which involves using key pressure points rather than needles, can also be effective in reducing pain.
Pros:
-It doesn’t affect your baby, and you can have control over it.
Cons:
-You will need to make private (and costly) arrangements with a therapist to attend the birth.

Hypnotherapy
Simple self-hypnosis techniques can help you stay calm during labour.
Pros:
- It’s safe for you and your baby, and can be used at any time, anywhere.
Cons:
- It can take quite a bit of advance preparation to get it right, and a course in hypnotherapy can cost around £300.

Mums’ top tip
"Mix a few drops of clary sage oil with some carrier oil, put it in your hospital bag, and ask your partner to give you a massage when the pain starts. It really helped me."
Sonja Madan, 29, mum to Tilly, two months.

Want to take the edge off the pain? Try…

Gas and air (entonox)
This mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen is inhaled through a mouthpiece or facemask to provide mild analgesia and relieve tension.
Pros:
- It’s safe for you and your baby, you are in control, and it won’t restrict your movements or other choices of pain relief (you can even use it in a birthing pool).
Cons:
-May cause nausea.

Want the strong stuff? Try….

Diamorphine, Pethidine or Meptazinol
These are mood-altering narcotic drugs that are injected into your buttock or thigh by a midwife. They take 20 minutes to have an effect, and last for up to three hours.
Pros:
- The drugs will make you relax and feel drowsy, relieving tension and anxiety. Cons:
- They cross the placenta and can make your baby sleepy after birth, so your baby will need to be closely monitored. They can also cause nausea, and may restrict your movement.

Epidural
A fine tube, inserted by an anaesthetist into the base of your spine, is used to administer anaesthetic, which can be topped up or given continuously through an infusion pump. Most epidurals are ‘mobile’, so shouldn’t numb your legs, allowing you to move around.
Pros:
- It won’t affect your baby (or your brain).
- It’s generally considered the most effective form of pain relief.
Cons:
- An anaesthetist needs to be available at the hospital. 
- You may need to be catheterized and have a drip in case your blood pressure falls.
- There is risk of a prolonged and severe headache if the needle accidentally pierces the spinal cord.
- Epidurals can slow contractions, so you may need another drip to speed things up.

Spinal block
An anaesthetist injects anaesthetic into the fluid around the spinal cord, numbing you from the waist down. This won’t affect your baby, unless your blood pressure drops (a possible side effect).
Pros:
- It provides quick and very effective pain relief.
Cons:
- Most of the drawbacks are similar to those of epidurals (see above).
- Can take five hours to wear off.

Did you know…
Doing water aerobics during pregnancy can reduce your need for pain relief in labour. A Brazilian study found that around three quarters of women who did thrice-weekly sessions of aqua aerobics requested no pain relief at all, compared with one third of women who didn’t do the exercises.