Your family and support people are encouraged to be with you during your labor and delivery. It is your decision who you want with you, so don t feel pressured to have people in your room if it makes you uncomfortable. If your baby s monitor strip is reassuring, you have several options. A warm shower or hot tub can help you relax during contractions. Some women prefer to be up walking, which may help labor progress faster.
Some women are very anxious to receive pain medication.
Usually you have a choice between IV pain medicine or an epidural. IV pain medications are easily administered and work quickly. This won t completely take your pain away but will decrease the perceived intensity of the contractions and help you relax. IV meds can be repeated throughout labor but shouldn t be given when delivery is imminent as some of the medication will get to the baby. Once in place, medication is injected that bathes the nerves that go to the lower half of your body and is very effective in blocking out pain.