Pain Management

For most pregnant women, the anticipation of what to expect during labor is a major concern. Since pain is expected, or at least discomfort, the first question most ask is, “What can I do to prevent, or at least relieve to some degree, the pain associated with labor if I want to avoid medical interventions or side effects associated with medical pain relief such as epidurals and pain medication?”. This research study will look deep into this question and research the pros and cons of multiple natural pain relief/reduction methods such as; Lamaze, Bradley, Mongan (HypnoBirthing), birthing in water, Yoga/meditation, Supernatural Childbirth, and homeopathy methods (herbs, essential oils, minerals, other natural substances). Side effects and risks are associated with all medical pain methods such as epidurals and pain medication. These side effects can effect mother, as well as baby, and also lead to other medical
So instead of looking at the effects of the different pain management techniques, this study took a different approach, determining if determinants (such as pregnancy health and maternity care for the most recent and previous pregnancies) had any key effect on which pain management technique that the women used. The only real conclusion drawn was that the only determinant that had any effect was if the woman had a previous caesarean section. Although this study isn’t directly related to the question faced in this study it does provide some general numbers of what type of pain management techniques used in Australia around the year 2009, when the study was conducted. Out of the 1835 women included in the study 45% chose an epidural, 16% chose Pethidine (Demerol), and 42% chose the use of Nitrous oxide, showing that the use of medical pain relief is quite