Pain relief options

Entonox - gas and air

It’s a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen and is inhaled via a mouthpiece or tube

Advantages of entonox

Distracts from the pain, wears off quickly, doesn’t effect the baby, mother is in control

Disadvantages of Entonox

Can make the mother feel light-headed/sick, doesn’t take the pain away

Pethidine

An opiate drug that’s given by injection into the thigh.

Advantages of pethidine

Can be given quickly & easily by the midwife, it’s more useful in early labour to allow mother to rest or sleep

Disadvantages of pethidine

Crosses the placenta to baby & if given close to birth will cause the baby to be born sleepy causing breathing and feeding problems, mother can feel sick, disorientated & out of control, doesn’t take away the pain, takes 20mins to take affect

Epidural

An anaesthetist gives liquid anaesthetic through a tube directly via a needle into the mothers spine at waist level

Advantages of epidural

Makes mother completely numb from the waist down so she can’t feel the contractions, once in place and working the mother shouldn’t feel any pain

Disadvantages of epidural

Can’t feel contractions or baby movements so an electronic monitor is used to check on the baby’s heart rate throughout, epidurals take 45 minutes to set up and take effect, the mother needs to remain on the bed, can have a longer labour so the baby may be born via forceps or ventouse delivery, takes time to wear off so mum can’t move till its effects have finished.

TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)

TENs machines pass a small electrical current through pads attached to the mother’s lower back. It interferes with the pain messages in the body and triggers the release of endorphins which are the body’s natural painkillers

Advantages of TENS

Works well against mild pain, has no know side effects on the baby, self-administered by the mother

Disadvantages of TENS

Needs practice to be used effectively, mother needs to control during contractions, need to buy or rent a machine

Hypnobirthing

Breathing and visualisation. Breathing exercises are taught at antenatal class, this involves taking a deep breath in and breathing out very gently ad slowly. The idea is to be able to meditate through the pain.

Water birth

Mother is in a special pool either provided by the hospital or hired. It’s filled with warm water and kept at a constant temperature. The baby can be born in the water as it continues to breathe via the placenta for a short period of time.

Advantages of Water birth

Mother relaxed, feels lights, encourages release of endorphins

Disadvantages of water birth

Not many available in hospitals, can be tricky to get the mother out if there’s an issue