Labor and birth are thought of as painful, and rightfully so with all the ‘advertising’ as such it has been getting over the years. According to the bible, women bear children in pain because of Eve’s sins, the media and the film industry expose us to the horrors of childbirth pains and other women’s stories about their experience can sound horrific when you are expecting (usually the first time around) and already terrified.  In reality, every woman has her own level of tolerance for pain and will have her own unique birthing experience which includes personal and situational factors.

Some see this pain as a rite of passage into motherhood, while others prefer to avoid it at all cost. Regardless of your view, it is always a good idea to be armed with knowledge, in this case pain management tools, in order to make the best choices, for you, when the time comes.

If you prefer to avoid medication, it does not mean you have to suffer without relief. There are breathing and relaxation techniques you can use to manage your pain, which are taught at most birth preparation classes, offered at hospitals and birthing centers. Walking and moving around can also be helpful, as well as water therapy and massage.

Relaxation techniques start in your mind. When in pain, the body tends to tense up. This leads to even greater pain, which makes the body tense up even more. Start by enjoying the pain free moments between contractions to help your body relax.

Breathing can help you stay calm. There are different breathing techniques, and whichever one you use, just remember to stay focused. Do not worry about what sounds you are making or what you may look like, just stay focused on inhaling and exhaling.

Walking and moving around, changing positions and sitting on a birthing ball are all good ways to manage your labor pains, as well as speed things along. You can use gravity to your advantage and encouraging the movement and rotation of the baby down through the pelvic canal.

Warm water can work miracles on labor pains. A warm bath or shower can really help relieve pain and the steam of a hot shower will also massage you. Some healthcare providers, however, advise to avoid warm water during labor because it can slow things down.

Massage to help with labor pains can help, but try a harder, more pressure intensive one. Have your partner rub your feet or put pressure on your lower back.

Pain relief medications are available to you at the hospital and if you are interested in them, you should say so right away. You may not be able to receive the epidural after a certain point during labor and if you miss that window, you will have to go without it.  Another option is a spinal. If you prefer to avoid these two, you can receive Demerol and Stadol, which are also delivered via IV.

The epidural is given via a slow continuous drip in your back, so the medication does not leave you numb, but the pain relief is continuous. While very effective, it can take 10-25 minutes to start working.

If you do not want to wait, you can get the spinal, which goes into a slightly lower spot on your back and starts alleviating pain immediately.  Different from the epidural, which is continuous, the spinal is given by an injection that lasts for about 45 minutes.

Another option is opioids, like Demerol and Stadol, which are delivered via IV. Unlike spinals and epidurals, IV pain medicine can make you drowsy and nauseated and it does enter the baby’s bloodstream.

No matter which pain management tool you choose, pain will not be eliminated completely, so do not expect that. Remember that at the end of the day you will be holding your newborn in your arms and all this will be behind you. That is a great motivator to always keep in mind, especially during the real tough moments of childbirth.