Everyone knows that giving birth is no walk in the park, but there are lots of safe and healthy ways to manage the pain. Your experience will be unique, so it helps to learn about all of your options, from deep breathing to more powerful anesthesia. As you learn about childbirth and write your birth plan, don’t hesitate to ask your provider all of your questions. Now, let’s get to your options! We’ll focus here on pharmacological choices.
The most commonly used pain relief option in the US is epidural anesthesia. But there are other types of anesthesia as well.
Epidural, or regional, anesthesia is generally safe for you and Baby, and because your experience is your own, you may request it early or later in labor. Talking through the timing of when to get your epidural with your medical team can be really helpful as labor progresses. It should start working about 15-30 minutes after the procedure is finished, and works for the duration of your labor and birth. It can also be used during a cesarean birth when needed.
Side effects
Most will choose to use some sort of labor pain control, but there are a few side effects of anesthesia that you should know:
- Low blood pressure: Your blood pressure will be monitored and treated with IV fluids or medication if it drops to a concerning level to make sure that Baby is receiving adequate blood flow. This typically happens soon after epidural placement.
- Headache: This is a very rare side effect, but some people have a severe headache caused by spinal fluid leakage. It can be treated for some folks by drinking fluids and caffeine, but you may need an additional procedure to treat this if your symptoms don’t improve.
- Bruising: It’s common to have a bruise or sore area for a week or two after epidural placement in the exact spot where the catheter was placed.
You may also have the option for IV pain medication or inhaled pain medication that isn’t as long-lasting or thorough as an epidural, but can provide short-term pain relief and distraction. Keep in mind that IV medication generally isn’t an option when birth is imminent because it can make Baby sleepy, and make it harder for them to breathe on their own. Inhaled options are very short-acting, so they can often be used even during the pushing phase.
If you aren’t interested in pharmacological options for pain relief, look into relaxation techniques or soothing music that can distract you and help you feel in control. We have many more details about those choices here. And don’t worry if your predetermined choices change during labor — your comfort is very important and everyone’s birthing process is different.
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
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Sources
- DJ Baumgarder, P Muehl, M Fischer, B Pribbenow. “Effect of labor epidural anesthesia on breast-feeding of healthy full-term newborns delivered vaginally.” The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. 16(1):7-13. Web. January-February 2003.
- Committee on Obstetric Practice. “Analgesia and Cesarean Delivery Rates: Committee Opinion Number 339.” ACOG. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 6/6/2015. Web.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. “Labor pain: Weigh your options for relief.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 6/13/2014. Web.
