Pain management options during labor and delivery

This page has been medically reviewed by Rachael Summers, DO, at Allina Health.

Labor pain is one of the most common concerns for expectant parents. Whether you’re planning a natural birth or considering medical options, understanding your pain management options during labor can help you feel more confident and prepared.

Choosing between pain management options during labor is a deeply personal decision and varies from person to person. At The Mother Baby Center, we offer a wide range of options — both medicated and unmedicated — so you can choose what’s right for you and your family. In this blog, we’ll walk through the available medicated and unmedicated pain relief options during labor, answer frequently asked questions about pain relief options during birth, and more.

Learn more about how to have a healthy pregnancy.

Labor pain management options

Many people wonder about the different pain management methods during labor that are available. At The Mother Baby Center, you will have different options for pain relief while giving birth — both medicated and unmedicated — available to you. Not all medicines are right for all pregnancies, so please talk to your health care provider about what the best pain medication for labor is for you and what is right for you and your family.

We want this experience to be right for you. That’s why The Mother Baby Center can tailor each labor and delivery experience to each person, their individual preferences and birthing plans.

Learn more about some of the different types of delivery methods.

Analgesics

One type of pain medication during labour available is called analgesics. These are designed to reduce and relieve pain. There are different types of analgesics available, and they are given through an injection or an IV. These will help you relax between contractions. You will still feel the contractions, but this can help “take the edge off.”

Epidurals

Another option for labor pain control is through an epidural. There are times when you will feel that more pain relief is needed than what you’re getting from the IV pain medication. In these cases, a procedural called an epidural can be done. An epidural is a procedure where a small tube is placed through the skin of your back using a needle. The needle is then removed, and special pain medicine is given through that tube to provide you with a higher level of pain relief. This medicine is typically delivered right up until the baby is delivered.

Epidurals cause numbness from below the breastbone to your toes and reduce pain during labor and birth. You will probably still feel touch, movement and pressure at times. You may still be able to move your legs, and you can stay alert, rest or even sleep.

Local anesthetic

If you are looking for other pain meds during labor other than epidural, you can discuss the option of using local anesthetics. Local anesthetics are used to numb specific areas, like the perineum during an episiotomy and episiotomy repair. They take effect fairly quickly and may last for a short time after birth.

Other pain medications for labor

Additional pain medication options during labor include intrathecal narcotics, pudendal blocks and sedatives. These medications vary in how they’re administered and their effects. For example, intrathecal narcotics offer pain relief, but you will feel touch and pressure, and you can still be mobile, and pudendal blocks numb the vaginal area, but you will still feel contractions.

Some Allina Health hospitals offer nitrous oxide sedation to help manage labor pain. Nitrous oxide is a medicine given to make you comfortable, relaxed and drowsy for a procedure. Talk with your health care provider if you want more information about nitrous oxide.

Learn more about your pain management options from Allina Health.

Non-medical pain relief options for labor

While there are many medicated pain relief options during childbirth, we also offer non-medicated pain relief options. Non-medical pain management during natural childbirth can look like breathing exercises, position changes, acupuncture, massage and more. Each of these are tailored to your needs and conditions.

Integrative medicine and labor pain relief

At The Mother Baby Center, we offer different integrative medicine options for you. Integrative medicine is a holistic, evidence-based care that is integrated into your usual care.

Integrative medicine:

• Focuses on the whole person, including the mind, body and spirit.
• Promotes health through education, coaching, self-care and wellness practices.
• Taps into the body’s natural healing capabilities.
• Treats individuals as empowered partners.

Labor pain relief techniques such as aromatherapy, therapeutic massage, acupuncture, energy work and mind/body therapies are tailored to your needs and conditions. Your physician or nurse can order integrative medicine to address pain, stress or anxiety that you may experience during your pregnancy, labor and/or postpartum stay.

Frequently asked questions