Types of pain relief during labour

• Pethidine is a drug that is injected into a deep muscle either in the leg or bottom.

Advantages:

• helps to relieve pain

Disadvantages:

• it takes 20 minutes to kick in 
• the baby may be born drowsy, and slower ot breath
• the mother may feel disoriented 

• An epidural, is a fine plastic tube which is placed in the lower part of the spine. A liquid anaesthetic is put into this.

Advantages:

• It helps stop all pain quickly by blocking the nerves that send messages to the brain. So, the mother is numb from the waist dwn.

Disadvantages:

• Epidural's must be administered by an anaesthetist, so they can only be given in hospital. 
• As the mother is numb, she will not know when to push, and will not be able to feel a push.
• may cause headaches, or backaches after birth.
• take time to kick in
• may increase the length of labour, and the need of either a forceps, or ventouse delievery.
• she may need a fluids drip
• may need a Catheter, as she's unable to feel when her bladder is full. 

• Entonox (Gas and air) is a mixture of Nitrous oxide and Oxygen. It is inhaled through a mouthpiece or mask, which is controlled by the mother.

Advantages: 

• It helps to relieve pain 
• Is not harmful to the baby 

Disdcantages:

• It must be used as soon as any discomfort from a contraction is felt. This is because, it takes 15 seconds to have any effect and 35 seconds to get maximum relief. 
• It wears off quickly.
• pain isn't completely removed.
• Mother may feel sick.
• Mother may also have a dry mouth.

• A Tens machine has 4 pads containing electrodes. When she feels pain, she sends electrical impulses to her back through a hand held contorol. This releases endorphins, which block out pain messages to the brain.

Advantages:

• may be available in hospitals 
• can be hired, or bought 
• no side effects

Disadvantages:

• cannot be used in water births
• can't shower or bathe during labour 
• don't work well if pain is intense - mosst effective is stage 1 of labour