How Painful Is Childbirth? 10 Natural Pain Relief Options

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Childbirth is one of the most fulfilling experiences for mothers, but it can be painful. But how painful is childbirth? It may vary among women depending on various factors. Research also shows some women opt for cesarean sections due to the fear of labor pain (1). However, there are various natural ways and medications to reduce the pain during labor and delivery.

If you haven’t used pain relief earlier during pregnancy, do not hesitate to ask for some relief if overwhelmed by pain during labor. Considering all options of pain relief can be helpful for mothers, especially first-time mothers. Knowing the options available ahead of time could reduce your fear and anxiety, and you may avail them if required.

Read about how painful childbirth is, what giving birth feels like, and the natural and pharmacological ways of pain relief before and during labor and childbirth.

How Painful Is Childbirth?

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No two births are the same, whether natural or emergency cesarean section. The labor and delivery experience is complex and subjective, and several factors influence a woman’s perception of labor pain and make the experience unique. Labor pain is ranked high on the pain rating scale compared to other pains.

Most women experience discomfort and dull ache in their back and lower abdomen and pressure in the pelvis. Pain can also radiate to the thighs and sides of the body. Uterine contractions are different for each pregnancy. Some might feel them as strong as menstrual cramps, while others feel them as strong waves similar to diarrhea cramps (2).

Recalling her times when she experienced contractions during childbirth, mother of four, Dr. Rixa Freeze, recounts, “The closest I can come to describing what a contraction feels like is: a sharp, knifelike menstrual cramp that I feel right above my pubic bone. It’s funny that I use menstrual cramps as my analogy, because for me cramps are a dull, constant ache, whereas contractions are strong, sharp, and intermittent. But that’s the closest sensation I can compare it to (i).”

According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), up to 45% of pregnant women report their level of delivery pain equivalent to the pain of an extreme menstrual cramp, while 15% of them related it to a broken bone, and 16% to a bad back pain.

Most women, including those who experienced severe labor pain, had a short memory of this pain and 90% of them experienced satisfaction in pain relief three months later. Short-term memory can be due to the positive outcome and excitement of seeing the baby at the end of labor (3).

Point to consider

According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, about 46% of women said that their experience with labor and childbirth was better than they anticipated. So, ask your doctor about it rather than depending on unreliable sources for information (22).

What Does Giving Birth Feel Like?

It is normal for expectant mothers to wonder what childbirth feels like, especially when the due date is approaching. The correct information may help the women make necessary decisions during the labor and delivery process.

Although each birth is different, the process of vaginal delivery occurs in four stages (4):

• The first stage includes early labor, active labor, and transition. Early labor is the longest part of labor, and it lasts for 12 to 24 hours. In early labor, you will experience tightening sensations in the abdomen, referred to as uterine contractions. Active labor is a phase lasting four to eight hours with the strongest and longer contractions. These contractions are closest together in the transition phase, the shortest phase of the first stage of labor.

• The second stage involves pushing and childbirth. CervixⁱThe lowest portion of the uterus that connects to the vagina to form a passage between the two organs is fully dilated, and you may have to push when you experience contractions as per the delivery assistant’s suggestions to give birth. This stage may last from one and a half to two hours and ends with birth.

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• The third stage is the delivery of the placenta, and it may take around a maximum of 30 minutes. You may experience chills and shakes during this stage.

• The fourth stage is the first two hours after delivery, where the uterus contracts to stop the bleeding and expel any remaining contents. Many women may experience uterine cramps.

What Can You Do To Decrease Pain During Birth?

Natural and pharmacological methods help reduce the pangs and throes of labor and childbirth. The following ways can prepare you for labor and decrease or modify the perception of unbearable labor pain and improve pain tolerance (5):

• Practice regular prenatal exercises, especially abdominal exercises during pregnancy

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• Maintain a healthy balanced diet
• Know what to expect in each stage of labor

Maintain a good physical condition to tolerate the pain during labor and delivery.

It is also beneficial to attend antenatal classes or meditations to learn more about childbirth and reduce anxiety and fear.

What Are Natural Pain Relief Options During Labor And Delivery?

The following ways can help ease the suffering, agony, and anguish you experience during natural childbirth or vaginal delivery without medications (6) (7):

1. Continuous labor support

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Some women may feel better in the company of their partner or someone close during labor. Advice and reassurance from the loved ones can help them throughout the labor and delivery. You can also access continuous emotional, physical, and informational support from professional labor assistants such as a doula other than a family member.

2. Activity and movement

Moving around, such as walking or frequently changing positions, may help women reduce labor pain perception. This may also enhance the labor progression, thus shortening the duration. You may also use birthing balls to encourage movement in labor. Sitting on the birthing ball allows swaying movements and muscle relaxations. This can help in the rotation and descent of the baby and reduce the labor time.

3. Distraction

Distractions may help reduce the perception of labor pain in most women. Various movements and activities, such as dancing, yoga, showering or bath, reading a book, or music, can distract you from perceiving the pain. You may also have a soothing atmosphere for delivery. Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and other mind-body techniques, such as biofeedbackⁱA technique that helps an individual learn and regulate their own bodily processes , can also be beneficial to ease labor pain.

4. Massage

Massages help ease labor pain and can also reduce stress and anxiety. Touch and rhythmic stroking of the muscles could help you reduce pain perception. You may get professional prenatal massages or try self-massage on the abdomen, such as effleurage (8).

5. Hydrotherapy (still controversial)

Hydrotherapy is the immersion in warm water during any stage of labor. It helps relax and reduce the perception of pain. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), hydrotherapy shortens labor and reduces spinal and epidural analgesiaⁱA procedure where local anesthetics are administered into the epidural space during surgery or childbirth . Hydrotherapy is not waterbirth. However, the results are inconclusive (9).

6. Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy uses soothing scents, such as essential oils, to have calming effects during labor and delivery. This may also reduce pain perception and stress in many women. Eucalyptus, lavender, citrus, and peppermint oils can help reduce stress during labor and delivery. Dr. Shivani Patel, an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, specializing in maternal-fetal medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says, “One particular caution is to use essential oils in the way they’re intended. Some are safe to use right on the skin, while others should be used only in a diffuser. We advise patients to avoid oils that seem “off the beaten path” unless specifically prescribed by a doctor. When we don’t have a lot of data or research about oil, it’s better to play it safe and avoid it than to run the risk of an adverse reaction to its ingredients.”

You may choose fragrance- or oil-based oils upon expert advice since not all oils work the same. However, like all interventions, it’s essential to understand how to use essential oils and their quality. Always seek approval from your doctor or midwife before using essential oil to manage labor pain (10).

7. Acupuncture or acupressure

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Acupuncture and acupressure can relieve labor pain. The results from some randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of acupuncture in easing labor pain were promising. However, studies including larger groups are required to establish convincing recommendations (11).

According to the Cochrane review, acupuncture may reduce pain during labor and delivery, and acupressure may reduce the perception of pain intensity. This might increase the satisfaction of pain relief in many cases (12).

8. Hypnosis

Hypnosis or hypnotherapy gives you a trance-like state with increased focus and concentration. This may help reduce the use of pharmacological interventions to reduce labor pains. In this process of hypnobirthing, the practitioner can directly give hypnotherapy to the mother or teach the mother to induce a state of consciousness similar to meditation. This can also be practiced with expert audio records (13).

9. Electrical stimulation to nerve fibers

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) uses small doses of electrical stimulation to nerve fibers to enhance the release of pain-relieving substances in the body. Small voltage electric impulses of varying frequency and intensity are used in TENS, and this does not cause any harm to the mother or the baby. Acupuncture points can also be simulated using these electrical impulses to reduce labor pain (14).

10. Sterile water injections

Sterile water injection on the skin over the lower back may help reduce the intense lower back pain during labor. This is also known as back labor. As per current recommendations, up to four sterile water injections can be given to a laboring woman to ease the pain. There have been no reported adverse effects on the mother or the fetus due to sterile water injections other than the pain of injections (15).

Quick fact

A calm environment, soothing music, and soft lighting may also help relieve the pain associated with labor (23).

Which Pain Relief Medications Can Ease Labor And Delivery Pain?

Most women require medications to ease pain during labor and delivery. Usually, two medications are recommended for pain relief, including (16):

• Analgesics reduce the pain without the loss of muscle movements or sensations.

• Anesthetics relieve pain by blocking physical sensations with or without loss of consciousness.

Pain medications can also be categorized depending on their effects. The following medications are recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) for pain relief during labor and childbirth (16):

1. Systemic medications

Systemic medications work on the entire body by providing calming effects and decreasing pain awareness. Usually, the following systemic medications are given during labor:

• Opioids are given as shots or intravenous (IV) lines to reduce the pain. This will not make you lose consciousness. Doctors may suggest other pain management methods if the opioids do not provide the desired relief.

• Nitrous oxide is an odorless and tasteless gas often used for labor analgesia. It is administered with oxygen and inhaled through a mask. As per doctors ‘ recommendations, women can hold the mask and inhale before the contractions begin. This may reduce anxiety and decrease pain perception.

2. Local medications

Local anesthesia with medications gives relief in a small body area. The anesthetic drug is injected around the nerves that carry sensations from the vagina, vulva, and perineumⁱA layer of skin present between the genitals and anus (inside the thighs) in females just before childbirth. This may help prevent the sense of pain due to stretching of the vagina during delivery. Doctors may also administer local anesthesia before episiotomy and after delivery.

3. Regional medications

Pain related to labor and delivery can be lessened and blocked by regional anesthesia or regional analgesia. Regional medications impact a particular body region, such as below the waist. It can be administered as shots (injections) or through a thin tube in the lower back. Usually, opioid analgesics and anesthetic medications are given to manage labor and delivery pain.

Regional methods of pain relief include (16):

• Epidural block, often referred to as epidural, is the most common pain relief for labor and birth in the US. This may cause loss of sensation in the lower areas of the body. But, you will be awake and alert and push down during the contractions. Epidurals are also used for postpartum sterilization or permanent birth control procedures (tubectomy).

• A spinal block is a form of regional anesthesia where the medication is given as a single shot into the spinal fluid. This can give quick relief from pain lasting for an hour or two. It is commonly used in C-section delivery.

• Combined spinal-epidural (CSE) block is a form of regional anesthesia that benefits epidural and spinal block. Spinal blocks give quick pain relief, and epidurals give continuous effects. Lower doses of medications are needed in epidurals when combined with spinal block.

All types of regional pain management have benefits and risks. All three types of anesthesia have the same risks and benefits. You may choose the method of pain management based on your healthcare provider’s recommendations depending on individual factors. Learning the risks and benefits could help you choose the right option without delay and confusion.

Illustration: How Painful Is Childbirth? 10 Natural Pain Relief Options

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Infographic: How To Naturally Relieve Pain During Labor And Childbirth?

Preparing for labor and childbirth can be both exciting and daunting. While there are various medications a doctor may offer to provide labor pain relief, if you’re seeking natural alternatives, check out the infographic below. These remedies are safe and help make your childbirth experience better.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Labor can be an intense experience, and the pain can be overwhelming. Learn how to manage the pain and make labor more bearable in this video.

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Dr. Evert PangkahilaM. Biomed, SpOG(K), Subspes- KFM

Dr. Evert Pangkahila is an obstetrician & gynecologist, and a maternal and fetal medicine consultant in Indonesia with eight years of experience. He is a lecturer at Udayana University and runs a private hospital in Bali.

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Dr Bisny T. JosephMedical Doctor

Dr. Bisny T. Joseph is a Georgian Board-certified physician. She has completed her professional graduate degree as a medical doctor from Tbilisi State Medical University, Georgia. She has around 5 years of experience in various sectors of medical affairs as a physician, medical reviewer, medical writer, health coach, and Q&A expert.

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Rebecca MalachiBSc

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

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