Labour & Birth Pain Relief - Guides & Information

How your support person can help reduce the pain of labour

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Can having an epidural reduce your chance of developing postnatal depression?

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An epidural takes up to 45 minutes to work, so if the baby’s coming it could be too late.

Explainer: what you need to know about epidurals

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Why are we still trying to talk women out of epidurals?

"Culturally, we're obsessed with women suffering as much as possible during childbirth," writes Kasey Edwards.

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Lead researcher Dr Julie Fleet with the spray.

Nose spray relieves childbirth pain, study finds

Women may soon be able to use a nasal spray for pain relief during childbirth following successful trials by an Australian midwifery researcher.

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What you need to know about using TENS in labour

Thinking about pain relief options in labour? It's worth considering TENS, says a mum of three.

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Thinking about using gas (nitrous oxide) in labour? Learn how to get the most from it first.

How to use gas effectively in labour

Many women in labour don't use gas effectively and suffer more side effects than benefits. Here's how to get the most out of this pain relief option.

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Natural pain relief in the early stages of labour

While managing labour pains on your own can be daunting, there are a number of natural pain relief options to help you cope until you are admitted to hospital.

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Decisions about an epidural should be made by the labouring woman.

When to ask for an epidural

When to start epidural pain relief during labour and delivery should be up to the mother, researchers say.

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Research says that listening to music throughout pregnancy and labour can have big benefits.

How music can help when you're in labour

Research has shown that listening to music during birth can help reduce pain and decrease anxiety. Mums share their advice on the music that helped them in labour.

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Does swearing during labour help reduce pain?

During my child's birth I had cursed like a sailor. It wasn't just the odd F-Bomb - it was more like an F-Annihilation.

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New drug to replace pethidine as birth pain relief

The use of pethidine to relieve pain during birth may be on its way out as a small but growing number of doctors recommend a more powerful opiate that appears safer for babies.

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Pain free labour: fact or fiction?

It’s a question that runs through the mind of every first time mum-to-be – how will I know when I’m in labour? And if you actually ask the question, you’ll usually get the same reply: “Oh, trust me, you’ll know”.

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HypnoBirthing isn't a hippie thing ... just ask Kate

Word is that Kate Middleton is considering HypnoBirthing when she delivers the new heir to the throne.

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