First it is important to understand that pain is actually an ally to health and well-being. If a child is born without the ability to sense pain this is a serious health condition. We need the signals of pain to tell us when our health is in jeapordy.
Midwives have a variety of supports that do just that.
The most potent aide is the relationship with their client. This is almost absent in the medical model of maternity care. By encouraging and educating and monitoring optimum nutritional guidance in pregnancy a mother reaches term in much better health. This means less pain and better labors. Most women undergoing medical care have a different doctor actually present for the birth than the one who they saw during pregnancy.