Pain Relief During Labor and
Delivery
Narcotic Analgesia · Paracervical Block
· Local infiltration
· Pudendal block
· Spinal (saddle block)
· Inhalation Analgesia
· Epidural
Different cultures approach the pain of labor differently and
individuals vary in their responses to labor pains.
Some
women will need little or no help with pain relief, while others will
benefit from it. While no analgesic is 100% safe 100% of the time, pain
relief is generally very safe and provides for a much happier experience
for the woman and her family.
The following principles may be helpful:
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A small number of women in labor will have virtually no pain and they do not need any
analgesia.
-
The majority of women will have moderate discomfort, particularly toward the end of
labor and they will generally appreciate some analgesia.
-
Some women will experience severe pain during labor and they will benefit from your most
intensive efforts.
-
Giving analgesics prior to the onset of active labor (before 4 cm dilatation) will
usually slow the labor process, although for some (those with a prolonged latent phase),
it may actually speed up labor.
Focused breathing (Lamaze techniques) during contractions can be very helpful in
reducing or eliminating the need for pharmacologic analgesia. Hypnotherapy can provide
similar relief, as can massage therapy.
Continuous lumbar epidural anesthetic is effective and versatile, but
requires skilled providers and is only rarely available in advanced military
settings..
Among specific labor pain relief strategies are:
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