Non-medical pain relief options during labour

There are many options available to you to reduce pain during labour. Pain relief preferences are different for everyone. It's a good idea to discuss your preferences with your doctor or midwife before your labour begins.

Many pain relief options do not involve medicines or procedures. You may also choose non-medical pain relief alongside medical pain relief during your labour. Different pain relief combinations are available.

Some non-medical pain relief options include:

• being active during labour
• having a support person
• massage and touch
• water and warmth
• relaxation techniques

Other pain relief methods may include:

• aromatherapy
• acupuncture (Opens in new tab) and acupressure
• TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
• sterile water injections
• hypnobirthing and hypnotherapy

It’s your choice if you want pain relief during your labour. Your doctor or midwife can explain the risks and benefits of different options to help you make your choice.

Active birth

An active birth is when you choose to move your body in different positions during labour. This can make you feel more comfortable during labour by helping your baby move into a better position for birth.

Staying active is one of the most helpful things you can do to manage the pain of labour and birth. This may include:

• moving around freely (walking, dancing or squatting)
• changing positions
• rocking your pelvis
• using a birth ball

Moving around can help with comfort, relaxation and your confidence to manage pain. Staying upright also allows gravity to help move your baby down into your pelvis.

Ask your midwife if your hospital or birthing centre provides a birth ball for use during your labour.

Support person

Having a support person during labour may help you manage your pain. This may be your:

• partner
• a close friend or family member
• a paid support person, such as a doula

Some people choose to have more than one support person.

Your support person can provide practical support with non-medical pain relief techniques (for example, touch or massage), emotional support and encouragement. Having someone who knows you during labour may also help you feel more comfortable. They may also help communicate your needs and alert your healthcare team if they notice anything.

Massage and touch

Massage (Opens in new tab) and touch may help ease your pain in labour. Your support person can provide massage and touch during your labour, if you choose. Massage can help:

• distract you from the pain so you can cope better
• reduce muscle tension
• reduce anxiety
• provide a calm and relaxed environment

Sometimes, massage during labour will feel good. But at other times, you may find it irritating. It’s a good idea to discuss this with your support person before labour.

Water and warmth

You may choose to use heat and warmth to help you feel more relaxed while in labour. Feeling heat on your body can also reduce feelings of pain, especially backaches.

Hot and cold packs or towels may help with pain in labour.

Most hospitals and birthing centres have facilities that allow you to have a warm bath or shower during the first stage of labour. You may find that being in a warm bath or shower:

• is relaxing
• relieves pain
• helps you cope with the contractions
• helps with backache

Your midwife will still need to monitor you if you are in the bath. Warm baths and showers may not be possible for some people during labour.

Having a bath or shower to ease pain during labour is not the same as having a water birth.

Relaxation techniques

Relaxation methods can help ease pain in labour. They may distract you and help you to focus your attention away from the pain. They can also create a calm and peaceful environment.

You can choose different things to help you relax, such as:

• music
• yoga
• breathing techniques
• mindfulness (Opens in new tab)

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a technique that uses essential oils to help you relax. You may choose to use essential oils in different forms, such as:

• together with massage
• in a warm bath
• diffused into the air

Choosing aromatherapy as a pain relief option may help reduce anxiety and the intensity of pain during birth by helping you feel calmer.

Aromatherapy should only be used with advice from a qualified complementary health practitioner. If you're thinking of using aromatherapy, check that your hospital or birth centre allows it.

Acupuncture and acupressure

Acupuncture and acupressure stimulate certain points in the body that may help reduce pain during labour. They can also help you feel more relaxed and reduce stress. More research is needed to better understand how well it may work. Read more about acupuncture (Opens in new tab) and acupressure.

Only a trained person should perform acupuncture. Not all hospitals have an acupuncture therapist on staff, so if you choose this option, you may need to arrange your own practitioner.

Hypnobirthing and hypnotherapy

Hypnobirthing is a pain relief technique that uses hypnosis to prepare you for birth.  

You may choose to attend a hypnobirthing course or class during pregnancy to prepare for labour.

During your labour, you can use self-hypnosis techniques to stay relaxed and calm.

TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)

TENS is a non-invasive pain relief method that passes small electrical currents across your skin. TENS is given via a TENS machine — a small, portable machine that runs on batteries.

TENS may help relieve pain during labour.

It is not completely clear how TENS works to relieve pain. It's possible that TENS:

• blocks pain signals by stimulating different nerve pathways
• helps your body release endorphins — natural pain relievers
• works as a distraction by drawing your focus away from the pain

TENS may also help by giving you a sense of control and providing a distraction, which can reduce anxiety and improve your sense of wellbeing.

While there is not a lot of evidence to show that TENS works to reduce pain, some people find it helpful.

If you decide to use TENS to relieve labour pain, you might need to bring or privately hire your own TENS machine, if your hospital or birth centre does not provide one.

Sterile water injections

Sterile water can be injected just under the skin of your lower back to help with back pain in labour. During labour, your midwife can do this to help relieve lower back pain for around 90 minutes. They may offer 2 or 4 injections at once. Pain relief for your lower back pain usually starts straight away after the injection.

There is limited evidence that sterile water injections are effective, but many people report relief. You have the option to use other pain relief options in combination, if you choose to.

The injections may sting for around 30 seconds after being injected. There are no other known side effects for you or your baby. Not all hospitals or birthing centres offer sterile water injections.

Some questions you may want to ask your healthcare professionals include:

• the type of pain relief that might suit you best
• if there are any extra costs involved
• what kind of pain relief is available at your chosen hospital
• the risks associated with pain relief options and your birth

You can talk with your midwife before giving birth and create a birth plan. They can help you understand the different pain relief options available to you. You can change your mind at any time, even while you are giving birth.

The pain relief you choose, if any, during your labour is your decision. Your doctors and nurses are there to help you understand the procedures and any benefits and risks relating to these procedures.

Different hospitals and birthing centres may have different maternity models of care.

Ask your health professional about the services available and how they can support the decisions you make about your labour.

Read more on pain relief during labour and making a birth plan.

You can ask your midwife, doctor or obstetrician about non-medical pain relief options for labour. They can answer your questions.

The Royal Women’s Hospital (Opens in new tab) has information on managing pain in labour (Opens in new tab).

Languages other than English

The Royal Women’s Hospital has fact sheets on pain during labour available in community languages (Opens in new tab).

The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists provides resources on pain relief during labour and birth (Opens in new tab) in many languages.