Labor and Delivery

Labor and Delivery

Dr. Shweta Wazir  chooses to offer labour and birthing options at The Motherhood Hospitals, sector 57, Gurgaon.
It is important to recognise the signs of labour. When you are experiencing regular contractions, coming every 10 minutes or you have ruptured your membranes (‘waters’) you should ring either  Dr Shweta or the Motherhood Hospitals on 1800 108 8008   and they will advise you what to do.

Pain Relief in labour

The pain experienced through childbirth varies between women and so  does the desire or requirement for pain relief.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT:

  • Some women find the breathing and relaxation techniques taught in antenatal classes are all they require.
  • Hypnobirthing has also been shown to reduce the need for pharmacological pain relief.

SENSORY STIMULATION:

  • Sensory stimulation, e.g. massage

OPIOIDS

  • Pethidine and Morphine are usually given as injections into the muscle.
  • Fentanyl and alfentanil are shorter-acting and are often given through a patient-controlled analgesia pump (PCA).
  • Opioids are often more effective in early labour where they have a sedative effect. They work less well in later stages of labour at which time they may also be associated with breathing difficulties in the baby.

NITROUS

  • Nitrous has been shown to be effective in 50% of women in early labour.
  • Can be used as an adjuvant with other local anaesthetic for forceps delivery, perineal repair and manual removal of placenta.

PERINEAL INFILTRATION

  • Interrupts pain transmissions from the nerves to the outer parts of the vagina.
  • Useful for the repair of perineal tears sustained during birth.

EPIDURAL ANAESTHETIC

  • One of the most effective methods of pain relief for labour and birth.
  • Analgesia titrated as required and topped up for operative birth, such as caesarean, forceps or vacuum assisted birth.
  • Adequate sensory analgesia with minimal motor blockade is the goal, to allow a sense of pressure, without pain, with each contraction.