Various methods of pain relief
Most women experience childbirth as very painful. In the preparation courses and also during the birth, the midwife instructs the expectant mother in the correct breathing techniques. These help to process the pain of labor without tensing up, as otherwise the birth canal could become blocked.
If a woman can no longer cope with other supportive measures such as acupuncture, homeopathy, aromatherapy and relaxing baths on her own, or if she wants something to relieve the pain from the outset, there are several options for pain relief with medication. The woman giving birth decides for herself what she wants. The midwife and doctor can only explain the benefits and side effects to her.
Antispasmodics
So-called antispasmodics can be administered to the expectant mother as suppositories or infusions. They have an antispasmodic effect, which supports the opening of the cervix. Spasmolytics can be administered several times and generally do not cause any side effects in the child.
Pain injection into the gluteal muscle
Opiates, derivatives of morphine, are usually administered. These strong painkillers are particularly useful in the opening period – they have an analgesic and calming effect. The resulting relaxation effect makes it easier to open the cervix.
Peridural anesthesia (PDA)
An epidural anesthesia (epidural anesthesia) can be particularly helpful in cases of severe labor pain and prolonged labor. Other indications for an epidural during labor induction are, for example, pregnancy-related high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia), planned operative deliveries (e.g. if the pregnant woman should not actively push due to other illnesses) or pelvic deliveries to reduce the urge to push during the expulsion phase. An epidural is also often recommended for twin deliveries or premature births.
An epidural is usually administered by an anesthetist: After local anaesthesia and disinfection, he carefully inserts a thin tube (catheter) into the so-called epidural space (area around the spinal cord membranes) on the spine using a needle. A local anesthetic is administered to the pregnant woman continuously or as required via this catheter, which can remain in place for a longer period of time. During the epidural, the pregnant woman’s circulation is monitored and the supply to the unborn child is checked using a CTG (“contractions recorder”).
Spinal anesthesia
Spinal anesthesia is administered before a caesarean section and is similar to an epidural. However, the anesthetist injects the local anesthetic directly into the spinal canal and removes the needle immediately afterwards. The analgesic effect also occurs more quickly than with an epidural.
Some women complain of headaches after spinal anesthesia.
Nerve block (pudendal block)
The pudendal block is no longer performed in all clinics. The pregnant woman is injected with a local anesthetic at a specific point on the pelvic floor shortly before the start of the pushing phase. As a result, the pelvic floor relaxes and becomes pain-free. This form of pain therapy can be used, for example, before forceps or suction bell deliveries and before an episiotomy.
Complications can arise if the pain medication is inadvertently injected directly into a blood vessel. Bruising can also occur in the vaginal wall. Very rarely, such a hematoma has to be surgically removed. In even rarer cases, infections and abscess formation can occur.
Local anesthesia in the perineal incision area
The anesthetist injects a local anesthetic into the tissue in the perineal area. The perineal incision and its subsequent treatment (suturing) are then hardly or not at all painful for the woman.
