Pain Relief in Labour

Pain is a normal part of a healthy labour. As labour progresses, feeling comfortable and safe will help your body produce brain chemicals (called endorphins) that can reduce pain and help you manage it. There are a variety of ways to increase your ability to cope with pain and to lessen it in labour.

The below links include information on natural therapies, like baths, good positions for labour and herbal remedies and hypnotherapy to help you relax. In addition, there are resources on non-drug therapies like nerve stimulating machines (TENS), saline water injections and also prescription medications, like nitrous oxide (laughing gas), narcotics and epidurals.

• The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada - Labour 101 (scroll to "Reducing labour pain" heading)
• The MotHERS Program - Pain management in labour
• HealthyFamiliesBC - Pain relief options for labour and birth: side effects and benefits
• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists - Immersion in water during labour and delivery 
• King Edward Memorial Hospital - Pain management in labour: water therapy 
• Cochrane - Hypnosis for pain management during labour and childbirth 
• Hypnosis Canada - Finding a hypnotherapist for childbirth in your area
• Women's Health and Education Center - Pain management during labor and delivery 
• National Health Service (UK) - Pain relief in labour: your options 
• Alberta Health Services - Labour pain has a purpose