page_title: Pain management during childbirth
section_title: Non-pharmacological
hierarchical_section_title: Pain management during childbirth / Non-pharmacological
context_page_description: Pain management during childbirth is the treatment or prevention of pain that a woman may experience during labor and delivery. The amount of pain a woman feels during labor depends partly on the size and position of her baby, the size of her pelvis, her emotions, the strength of the contractions, and her outlook. Tension increases pain during labor. Virtually all women worry about how they will cope with the pain of labor and delivery. Childbirth is different for each woman and predicting the amount of pain experienced during birth and delivery can not be certain.
  Some women do fine with "natural methods" of pain relief alone. Many women blend "natural methods" with medications and medical interventions that relieve pain. Building a positive outlook on childbirth and managing fear may also help some women cope with the pain. Labor pain is not like pain due to illness or injury. Instead, it is caused by contractions of the uterus that are pushing the baby down and out of the birth canal. In other words, labor pain has a purpose.
context_section_description: Many methods help women to relax and make pain more manageable.   A review of the effectiveness of non-medical approaches to pain relief found that water immersion, relaxation methods, and acupuncture relieved pain. These and other non-pharmacologic pain management options are further discussed below.
  Breathing and relaxation techniques
  Relaxation methods may be helpful in reducing the risk of assisted vaginal births.
  Warm showers or baths
  Massage
  Many types of massage can be used during various stages of labor.  Literature suggests light touch or stroke massage techniques may aid in the release of oxytocin, which may help stimulate contractions and facilitate cervical dilatation.  Various types of massage may also help soothe and distract from the pain of labor.
  Warm or cold compresses, such as heat on lower back or cold washcloth on forehead
  Applying warm compresses, especially to the lower back area, while the cervix is dilating may help reduce pain during the first stage of labor and may even help to decrease the length of labor itself, however, the evidence supporting this is limited.
  Changing positions while in labor (stand, crouch, sit, walk, etc.)
  Use of a labor ball
  Using a labor ball during childbirth first began in the 1980s.  It is best used during the first stage of labor.  Evidence suggests using a birthing ball can facilitate pain relief by supporting the perineum and providing gentle stimulation to the area during cervical dilatation.  It may also aid in fetal descent  through various positioning exercises and with gravity.  
  Listening to music
  Although little evidence supports music as an effective method in decreasing pain, it may provide a distraction or assist in creating a more positive birth experience which may ultimately decrease the chance of negative postpartum outcomes.
  Acupuncture
  The use of acupuncture  may be associated with fewer assisted vaginal births and caesarean sections.
  Continuous supportive care of a loved one, hospital staff member, or doula
  The presence of a doula or support attendant may decrease the need for pharmacological pain control and increase the likelihood of spontaneous vaginal births as opposed to cesarean section.  A positive support person may also assist in creating an environment leading to a more positive birth experience.
  Other methods include hypnosis, biofeedback, sterile water injection, aromatherapy, and TENS, however there are limited studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of  in reducing pain during labor and delivery by using these methods.
caption: Moche – female figure in birthing position
exif: {}