Pain Relief

• Gas and Air (Entonox)

  • Mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide gas
  • Takes 15-20 seconds to work
  • Doesn’t take away all pain but makes it more bearable
• Water birth

  • Helps to relax and make contractions seem less painful
  • Temperature monitored every hour as it must not go over 37.5 degrees
• Pethidine

  • Injection into thigh or buttock to relieve pain and relax
  • Takes 20 minutes to work
  • Can affect baby’s breathing
• Breathing Techniques


  Helps redirect thought process from pain to relaxed response
• TENS Machine

  • Stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
  • Some hospitals have them but they can be hired
  • Shown to be effective during active phase of labour when contractions get stronger
• Epidural

  • Type of local anaesthetic
  • Numbs nerves that carry pain
  • In most cases it gives complete pain relief