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Birth

Feature: Coping with pain during childbirth

When they look back, many women and their partners say they found it helpful to plan what kind of pain relief they would like to use during childbirth. We describe traditional pain relief options, medicines and alternative approaches as well as their possible adverse effects. You will also find out whether emotional support can help relieve pain during labour.

Research summaries

Labour pain: Does getting into a bathtub or jacuzzi help?

Getting into water in labour is really just a matter of preference for a woman. There are not very strong medical reasons either for or against birthing pools during labour. more...

Epidurals in labour: What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Epidurals reduce pain more effectively than other drugs in labour. However births take on average a bit longer and more medical help might be needed for the birth. more...

Epidurals in labour: Is the birth shorter if the epidural is stopped late in labour?

Some hospitals recommend stopping epidurals late in labour to try and end the birth with less medical help. However there is no evidence that this brings the hoped-for advantages. more...

Epidurals in labour: Is it better to delay pushing?

Waiting longer to start pushing in labour with an epidural could add about one hour of waiting to the length of birth. However, it might not have major advantages or other disadvantages. more...

Epidurals in labour: Will the birth be quicker if the woman is upright?

Women who have epidurals can give birth sitting or propped up. The more upright position might shorten the birth. more...

Epidurals in labour: Does walking around help?

Walking around during the first stage of labour may be an option for many women using an epidural. But it may have very little influence on the labour or the birth. more...

Weight loss: What are the best ways to lose the extra weight gained in pregnancy?

It is normal for the extra weight gained in pregnancy to only be lost gradually in the months after childbirth. If not much of this weight has been lost within about six months or so, then dieting and exercise could help. Extreme efforts to lose weight might, however, have a negative impact on breastfeeding. more...