For first-time mothers, labour pains are a frightening prospect. Photograph: Robert Nystrom/Getty Images It's like a ghost which haunts every first pregnancy , making more frequent appearances as the due date approaches. Labour. The birth. More specifically, the pain. The pain of which so much is written and spoken. I think I was typical of most first-time mothers in being not so much scared of childbirth , as apprehensive about how I was going to handle it. In the last few months of my pregnancy I made sure I researched the various pain-relieving options available. For women who want to feel nothing or as close to nothing as possible, an epidural is the only real option. A small tube is inserted into your back and a local anaesthetic is delivered to the nerves that carry pain messages from the womb to the brain. It's a powerful pain reliever but can prolong childbirth, as you won't feel the contractions and will have to rely on your midwife to tell you when and how hard to push. It's also more likely to lead to interventions such as the use of forceps or a suction device for the same reason. 2. Injections Another option is an intramuscular injection of a painkilling drug such as pethidine or diamorphine. These reduce the pain of the contractions and help you to relax which, in turn, helps to lessen the pain. The downsides are that they can make you feel a little sleepy or sick and, if