Pain Relief in Labor

Abstract

Labor pain is a complex entity composed of physical, emotional, and psychological factors. The physical treatment of pain is most effectively managed with pharmacologic therapies. Pharmacologic treatments are distinguished by being administered in the neuraxis (spinal or epidural) or systemically. All pharmacologic therapies have side effects associated with the medications being used. Nonpharmacologic methods have undergone refinement in the last century. These methods focus on the emotional and psychological factors surrounding labor. Both psychological methods, exemplified by the practice of Lamaze, and physical methods, such as continuous labor support, can be effective in producing a satisfying labor experience. This review contains 2 figures, 5 tables and 42 references Key words: combined spinal epidural, doula, epidural analgesia, labor pain, neuraxial analgesia, nitrous oxide, opioid therapy, parturient, psychoprophylaxis