Pain relief during labour
Every labour is different. While it can be challenging and painful, there are ways to help manage your pain.
On this page
Understanding labour pain
Labour pain is caused by:
- your womb (uterus) getting tight and then relaxing (contractions)
- pressure on the opening to your womb (cervix) and your pelvis
- your baby moving down the birth canal.
Pain feels different for everyone. Talk to your GP, midwife or obstetrician if you have any questions about pain relief or have any fears or anxiety about labour.
How to choose pain relief
Pain relief in labour can be medical or non-medical. You might want to start with non-medical options and move to medical ones later. Or you might choose to use medical pain relief straight away.
Non-medical pain relief
These methods help your body relax and reduce pain without medicine. Some people find they're enough to manage the pain. Others use them along with medical pain relief.
- Breathing, relaxation and affirmations
- Active birth – moving around and changing positions during labour
- Massage and acupressure
- Heat and cold
- Showers, baths or birth pool
- Sterile water injections – injections just under the skin in the lower part of the back for pain relief
- TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) machines – use a low voltage electrical current to stimulate nerves and block pain signals
Medical pain relief
The following medical options are given by health professionals to reduce or block pain.
- Gas
- Morphine
- Epidural
- Spinal block
- Patient controlled analgesia
Read more about pain relief during labour on the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website.