Epidurals and Labor Medications
Types of Labor Medications
Labor can be intense, and pain relief options like epidurals or other medications may help you cope. Knowing your choices can make you feel more prepared and confident. Your OB or nurse midwife and anesthesiologist will discuss your options for pain relief and offer suggestions based on your needs.
Guidelines
Your childbirth experience isn’t defined by whether or not you use pain medication. All medications can affect labor and your baby in some way, but with careful monitoring, serious side effects are rare.
Reasons for Pain Medication in Labor
- Medical concerns, such as high blood pressure or stalled progress
- Extreme discomfort from your baby’s position, the intensity of contractions or the length of labor
- Fatigue from a long or difficult labor
Deciding to Use Medication
Your OB, nurse midwife and anesthesiologist will talk through your options for pain relief and suggest what may work best for you. They can also offer non-medication options if you’d prefer to try those first.
Your Labor Partner's Role
- Know the mother’s feelings about medications before labor starts
- Offer support and encouragement no matter what she decides
Ways to Minimize the Need for Medication
- Set realistic expectations. Labor is like running a marathon — hard work with a big reward.
- Take contractions one at a time and trust your body’s strength
- Ask how far along you are before making decisions — it may help to know whether you’re six or nine centimeters dilated
- Avoid making medication decisions during a contraction, when you and your baby are most vulnerable
- Accept coaching and support from your care team
- Rest or nap whenever possible late in pregnancy to save energy
Questions to Ask Before a Procedure or Medication
To make an informed decision, you may want to ask your doctor or midwife:
- What’s the purpose?
- What are the benefits and risks?
- Could any risks require other interventions?
- What other options can we try?
- What could happen if we wait an hour or two?
Every labor is different, and so is every decision about pain relief. What matters most is that you feel supported, informed and cared for throughout the process. Lean on your care team and know that whatever choices you make, the goal is a safe and positive birth experience for you and your baby.
Support at Every Step
From conception to delivery and after, our pregnancy and childbirth providers put you first.