To use or not to use any form of pain control at all during a vaginal delivery is a very personal choice. At North Texas Women’s Healthcare, we encourage patients to explore their options for pain control and choose the best option for their situation.

Overall there are three broad categories. 

"Natural" Delivery

The first option is to use no medication for pain.  Many patients today are choosing to deliver without the assistance of any anesthesia, which we encourage as a completely acceptable option.

IV Pain Medication

Secondly, there is the option of IV pain medications. There are several IV options that each physician may choose from.  They have been shown to provide some pain relief with delivery, although, a Cochrane review, (a large think tank that reviews all research), found that overall the relief was poor, and that rates of nausea and vomiting increased. For me personally, I also do not offer IV pain medications to individuals with advanced cervical dilation. The reasoning behind this is that this class of medications can decrease respiratory drive. Mom can easily overcome this reaction, however, if baby is born with the medication still in his/her system it can provide a confusing picture to the infants caregiver.

Epidural

Finally there is an epidural.  With this option, a qualified Anesthesiologist will be at the hospital who will place your epidural. Currently over 60% of all women giving birth in the United States use an epidural as their choice for pain control. It is important to be aware, that to date, there is no evidence that has ever shown an epidural leading to an increased risk of a cesarean delivery.

Nitrous oxide is an option that is used rather extensively in the UK, however, the hospitals where we deliver do not currently offer this as an option.