What pain relief can you have at a home birth

Read more about the pros and cons of epidurals. Being in water can help you relax and make the contractions seem less painful. Ask if you can have a bath or use a birth pool. The water will be kept at a comfortable temperature, but not above The National Childbirth Trust has information on using water during labour and birth. This stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

Some hospitals have TENS machines. If not, you can hire your own machine. TENS has not been shown to be effective during the active phase of labour, when contractions get longer, stronger and more frequent. It's probably most effective during the early stages, when you may have lower back pain. TENS may also be useful while you're at home in the early stages of labour or if you plan to give birth at home. If you're interested in TENS, learn how to use it in the later months of your pregnancy.

Ask your midwife to show you how it works. Electrodes are taped on to your back and connected by wires to a small battery-powered stimulator. Holding this, you give yourself small, safe amounts of current through the electrodes. You can move around while you use TENS. TENS is believed to work by stimulating the body to produce more of its own natural painkillers, called endorphins.

It also reduces the number of pain signals sent to the brain by the spinal cord. Read more about TENS. You may choose alternative treatments such as acupuncture, aromatherapy, homeopathy, hypnosis, massage and reflexology. Most of these techniques are not proven to provide effective pain relief. If you'd like to use any of these methods, it's important to discuss them with your midwife or doctor and let the hospital know beforehand.

Most hospitals do not offer them for pain relief during labour. If you want to try any of these techniques, make sure the practitioner is properly trained and experienced. Learn more about complementary and alternative medicines and how they're regulated. Find maternity services near you. Page last reviewed: 20 March Next review due: 20 March Home Pregnancy Labour and birth What happens in labour and birth Back to What happens in labour and birth.

Pain relief in labour. Your pain relief options Labour can be painful — it can help to learn about all the ways you can relieve the pain.

Self-help in labour You're likely to feel more relaxed in labour and better placed to cope with the pain if you: learn about labour — this can make you feel more in control and less frightened about what's going to happen; talk to your midwife or doctor, ask them questions, and go to antenatal classes learn how to relax, stay calm and breathe deeply keep moving — your position can make a difference, so try kneeling, walking around, or rocking backwards and forwards bring a partner, friend or relative to support you during labour, but do not worry if you do not have a partner — your midwife will give you all the support you need ask your partner to massage you — although you may find you do not want to be touched have a bath Gas and air Entonox for labour This is a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide gas.

Side effects there are no harmful side effects for you or the baby it can make you feel lightheaded, sick, sleepy or unable to concentrate, but if this happens you can stop using it If gas and air does not give you enough pain relief, you can ask for a painkilling injection as well. Pethidine injections in labour This is an injection of a medicine called pethidine into your thigh or buttock to relieve pain.

Side effects There are some side effects to be aware of: it can make you feel woozy, sick and forgetful if pethidine or diamorphine are given too close to the time of delivery, they may affect the baby's breathing — if this happens, another medicine to reverse the effect will be given these medicines can interfere with the baby's first feed Remifentanil Remifentanil goes into a vein in your arm.

Sometimes, babies arrive early. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website.

All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Healthy pregnancy. Home Healthy pregnancy.

Childbirth - pain relief options. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Non-medical pain relief options for childbirth Medical pain relief options for childbirth Where to get help Things to remember. Non-medical pain relief options for childbirth Research suggests that adequate preparation can help to reduce pain or at least modify the perception of pain and reduce anxiety, which can help you to better cope with labour. There are several non-drug pain relief options: Being in good physical condition is important.

Exercise gently and regularly throughout your pregnancy, avoid cigarettes and alcohol, and eat a healthy, balanced diet. Knowing what to expect during the various stages of labour can help reduce anxiety. Antenatal classes are strongly recommended. Constant, close support from your partner or a trusted friend or loved one for the duration of labour can reduce anxiety. Using distractions like music can help to take your mind off the pain.

Hot or cold packs, massage, a warm shower or immersion in a warm bath, and keeping active may all be helpful. Hypnosis, acupuncture and acupressure are areas in which there has been little research but these may be considered also. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation TENS TENS is a technique in which nerves in the lower back are stimulated using a small hand-held device controlled by the woman. Medical pain relief options for childbirth The three main medical pain-relieving options for labour include: Nitrous oxide Pethidine Epidural anaesthesia.

Pethidine Pethidine is a strong pain reliever related to morphine and heroin , usually injected directly into a muscle in the buttock. Possible problems with pethidine for the mother include: Giddiness and nausea Disorientation and altered perception Respiratory depression reduced breathing Lack of pain relief, in some cases.

Possible problems with pethidine for the baby include: The unborn baby is exposed to the drug via the umbilical cord and may experience respiratory depression at birth, particularly if several doses are given or the baby delivers soon after a pethidine injection.

In some cases, people make louder sounds for a short period of time as they are pushing their baby out. However, it is a personal decision whether you inform the neighbours in advance about your planned home birth.

Midwives are skilled in providing comfort measures to support you in labour. Giving birth at home does not mean you are without pain relief options. Comfort measures available to you at home may include:. Pain relieving medications such as epidural analgesia are only available in the hospital. Many, but not all, Ontario hospitals offer epidural. If you need, or choose, to have an epidural, you and your midwife will make a plan to move to the appropriate hospital to access it. You can talk to your midwife about what is available in your community.

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Who can be at my birth?