About
Spartanburg Medical Center offers several options that will help you feel more comfortable during labor and delivery. Be sure to talk to your doctor about which option is best for you.
- Breathing techniques
- Cold or hot therapy
- Epidural
- Nitrous oxide
- Pain medicine
Epidural FAQ
What is an epidural?
An epidural block is a numbing medicine given by injection in the lower back. It numbs or causes a loss of feeling in the lower half of your body. This lessens the pain of contractions during childbirth. You should expect significant, but not complete pain relief from an epidural.
What can you expect from an epidural for labor pain?
Local anesthetic, or numbing medication, will be placed prior to insertion of the epidural. Once the epidural is in place, you will receive medications through a catheter to help relieve your labor pain. An epidural may take 5-15 minutes to start working after insertion.
Nitrous Oxide FAQ
What is nitrous oxide?
Nitrous oxide is a mix of nitrous gas and oxygen that you breathe through a mask or mouthpiece during labor. Nitrous oxide may not take away all pain, but it might make you more comfortable or not as aware of your pain.
What can you expect from nitrous oxide for labor pain?
You can breathe the nitrous oxide for about 30 seconds before your contraction and then through the contraction to help ease pain. You may feel warm and sleepy or like you are floating. You may have tingling sensations.
Hydrotherapy FAQ
What is hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy is using warm water from a shower or bath to increase comfort during labor.
What can you expect from hydrotherapy?
For many women, hydrotherapy can help with pain relief and can reduce the need for some pain medications. Water that is heated to your body temperature can help muscles be more relaxed, which can help increase flexibility and lower stress hormones.
*Spartanburg Medical Center offers hydrotherapy during early stages of labor but does not offer water births. All patient rooms include either a shower or a tub.
