Pain Relief

 
If some form of medical pain relief has been requested, then it is now that an anesthesiologist will visit the mother and set up for the epidural procedure. The procedure takes about 10-20 minutes and involves two steps. First, a local anesthetic is given to the mother's back to numb the area for injection. Then a thin, hollow needle is inserted into the epidural space - the region around the spinal cord, inside the spinal column. A thin tube is threaded inside the needle and used as catheter through which the anesthetic is delivered. The effects take place within minutes and should prevent the spread of pain from the mother's uterus by acting as a nerve block in her spine. If done correctly, the mother will lose all sensation from her waist to her knees but will still remain conscious.

Narcotics, such as Demerol (meperidine) are morphine derivatives that are given by injection into the thigh or buttock. They dull the sensation of pain and take about 20 minutes to start working. Be ware, narcotics can cause the mother side effects of drowsiness, dizziness and nausea and can also make the baby have breathing difficulties and be drowsy.

Inhalation analgesics are administered by face mask and are used as needed during contractions. The mother may feel a sensation of floating along with her numbed pain.

Drug-Free Pain Relief

If one of the following drug-free pain relief methods is the mother's choice, it is important that she practice this with her birthing assistant in order to gain the full benefit of the technique. The mother will probably need to combine a few of these techniques together in order to gain the most comfort possible.

Technique	Directions
Massage	Backache can be relieved by rubbing, applying circular and deep pressure to the sacrum (lower back).
Change positions	Walking, leaning and rocking the pelvis will be more comfortable than lying on the back.
Sounds	Moaning, sighing and grunting can relieve tension, as can listening to soothing or stimulating music.
Visualization	Wish to visualize warm sunshine, waves or even a favorite flower blooming, petal by petal, as labor progresses.
Acupuncture	If acupuncture has worked for you before, it may work now for pain and nausea reduction.
Hypnosis	Practice this technique beforehand to ensure it works for pain suppression.
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)	Pain sensation is blocked by electrical stimulation of the spine a handset can be used to adjust the amount of pain relief.
Water	Lying in warm water, along with the feeling of being weightless can be relaxing. Birthing pools are becoming popular and are available in some hospitals.

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