Welcome to Koyo’s series of trusted healthcare articles. If you need more personalised advice, you can chat with a Koyo doctor today.
Written by: Favour Francis | Reviewed by: Dr Ortega Ogomigo
INTRODUCTION
While the feeling of your baby’s arrival can be thrilling, it can also be challenging. The process of giving birth is not an easy one, and many mothers in Nigeria describe it as one of the most painful experiences they have ever gone through. Although pain during labour is normal, it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming or leave you without support.
Thankfully, there are different ways to help manage labour pain during childbirth. These include natural comfort techniques as well as medical options available in many hospitals in Nigeria. When you understand these options ahead of time, you become more informed, better prepared, and less anxious as your delivery day approaches.
So, in this article, we’ll walk through:
- What causes labour pain
- Pain relief options during childbirth
- Labour pain relief options available in Nigeria
- Frequently asked questions
What Causes Labour Pain?
Labour pain happens as your body works to bring your baby into the world. It is a natural part of childbirth, caused by several physical changes taking place during labour.
One of the main causes is uterine contractions. These contractions help open the cervix and move the baby down through the birth canal. As they become stronger and closer together, many women feel increasing discomfort or pain.
Another cause is the stretching of the cervix and birth canal. As labour progresses, the cervix gradually opens to allow the baby to pass through. This stretching can create pressure and intense sensations, especially during active labour.
Labour pain can feel different for every woman. Some experience waves of pain in the abdomen, while others feel it more in the back or hips. The pain intensity can also vary depending on a couple of factors, such as the baby’s position, the length of labour, and whether it is a first birth.
What Are Some Pain Relief Options for Childbirth?
There are several ways to manage pain during childbirth, and the right choice often depends on your health, labour progress, pain tolerance, and what is available at your hospital. Some women prefer natural comfort methods, while others choose medical pain relief. Many mothers use a combination of both.
Natural Pain Relief Methods for Childbirth
These options do not involve medication and can be helpful, especially in early labour.
- Practising slow breathing and relaxation can help you stay calm and loosen body tension.
- Changing positions often, walking around, standing, swaying your body, or sitting on a birthing ball can help reduce discomfort and may even help labour move along better.
- Getting a gentle massage and back rubs from your partner or support person can bring relief during contractions.
- Taking a warm bath or warm shower can help relax tired muscles, making you feel more comfortable.
- Having someone you trust close by, whether it is your husband, mother, sister, friend, or midwife, can give emotional support and encouragement when you need it most.
Medical Pain Relief Options for Childbirth
These methods are usually offered in hospitals or maternity centres. They include:
- Gas and air (Nitrous Oxide)
This is inhaled during contractions, and although it doesn’t take away all the pain, it can help reduce it. It works quickly, in about 15 to 20 seconds after inhaling, and can wear off just as fast. A side effect is that it can make you feel sleepy and lightheaded after a while.
- Opioid injections
Medicines such as pethidine are injected into your thigh or buttocks to help reduce pain and help you relax. After about 20 minutes, the effect can kick in, lasting about 2 – 4 hours. It is usually administered during early labour, and can sometimes cause drowsiness or nausea. These opioid injections are given close to the time of pushing, and hence can affect the baby’s breathing. If this happens, another medicine is given to reverse the effect.
- Epidural
An epidural is one of the strongest pain relief options for labour. It is a local anaesthetic that causes temporary numbness from the waist down. It is usually administered when the patient is having long or very painful labour. An epidural can only be given by a trained anaesthetist, so if you want one, you have to verify that anaesthetists are available at your hospital.
Which Labour Pain Relief Option Is Best?
There is no single best method for everyone. Some women cope well with natural methods, while others need stronger pain relief. Your healthcare provider can help you choose the safest and most suitable option based on your needs and labour progress.
What Labour Pain Relief Options Are Available in Nigeria?
In many Nigerian hospitals, natural pain relief methods are still the most common support used during labour. Women are often encouraged by midwives or their birth partners to walk around, change positions, and keep moving during early labour, since this can help ease discomfort. Breathing and relaxation exercises are also commonly encouraged, as they can help a woman stay calm and better manage contractions. Gentle massage, back rubbing, and physical support from a partner or caregiver can also bring comfort.
When it comes to medical pain relief, parenteral opioids are more commonly used in Nigeria. They can help reduce the intensity of the pain and make it easier for a woman to relax. Because they are easier to give than epidurals, they are more available in many hospitals.
An epidural is known to be one of the most effective ways to relieve labour pain, but it is still not very common in Nigeria. This is often not because women do not want it, but because it may be too expensive or simply unavailable.
Private hospitals are more likely to offer epidural services, but many families may not be able to afford the cost. Public hospitals, where many Nigerians receive care, may not always have the equipment, medications, or trained staff needed to provide epidurals regularly.
There is also a shortage of anaesthetists, the specialists trained to safely give epidurals, especially in rural and underserved areas. So, even when a pregnant woman in Nigeria knows about epidural pain relief and wants it, she may still be unable to access it because of cost, limited hospital resources, or a shortage of trained professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What does labour feel like?
Labour doesn’t feel the same for every woman, but most people describe it as strong, wave-like cramps that gradually get more intense and closer together. It can start off feeling like period pain or mild back discomfort, then slowly build into stronger contractions that come and go in a pattern.
As labour progresses, the pain may feel more intense in the lower abdomen, lower back, hips, or pelvis. Some women also feel pressure, especially when the baby moves further down.
Labour is usually experienced in stages, and each stage can feel slightly different as the body moves closer to delivery.
- How do I prepare for labour?
Preparing for labour is mainly about getting yourself ready physically, mentally, and practically, so you feel more confident when the time comes.
Start with your antenatal visits. These check-ups help your healthcare provider monitor your pregnancy and also give you a chance to ask questions about labour, delivery, and what to expect.
It also helps to learn the signs of labour, such as regular contractions, lasting back pain, or your water breaking. Knowing these signs makes it easier to recognise when it’s time to go to the hospital.
It is also helpful to plan ahead for pain relief options and discuss this with your doctor or midwife early, so you understand what is available in your hospital.
You can also prepare your hospital bag, including essentials for you and your baby, so you’re not rushing when labour begins.
Lastly, don’t underestimate the importance of support. Choosing someone you trust to be with you during labour can make the experience feel more manageable.
In simple terms, preparation helps you feel less anxious and more ready, even though labour itself can be unpredictable.
- Should I get an epidural during childbirth?
Whether or not to get an epidural during childbirth is a personal decision, and there is no single right answer for everyone. An epidural is a strong form of pain relief that can help reduce labour pain significantly.
Some women choose an epidural because they feel exhausted during a long labour or want to conserve energy for pushing. Others prefer to labour without one and use natural comfort methods or other pain relief options instead.
Getting an epidural can be a good option if your labour pain feels difficult to manage, if labour is prolonged, or if your healthcare provider believes it may help you cope better. However, some women may choose not to have one because of personal preference, limited availability, cost, or even medical reasons.
The best choice depends on your health, pain tolerance, and what is available at your hospital. You can discuss your options with your doctor or midwife during pregnancy so you understand the benefits and possible risks ahead of time.
In simple terms, you do not have to get an epidural. It is one option for pain relief, and the right choice is the one that feels safest and most suitable for you.
From the Desk of Koyo Doctors
Labour is a deeply personal experience, and no two births feel exactly the same. In fact, some mothers say their first birth felt easier than the second, while others say the opposite. Every pregnancy and delivery can be different, even for the same woman.
Whether you choose natural comfort methods, medical pain relief, or a combination of both, the most important thing is that you feel supported and safe throughout the process.
We encourage every expectant mother to speak with her healthcare provider early, ask questions about available pain relief options, and prepare with confidence. There is no shame in asking for support or choosing the pain relief that feels right for you. If you have questions or need clarity about childbirth or pregnancy concerns, you can always speak with a doctor on Koyo for trusted guidance.
At Koyo, we believe every mother deserves respectful maternity care and a childbirth experience centred on her wellbeing and that of her baby.
References
Akadri, A., Odelola, O., & Adepoju, A. (2019). Labor analgesia in South West Nigeria: Methods and self-reported effectiveness. Journal of West African College of Surgeons, 9(4), 15. https://doi.org/10.4103/jwas.jwas_30_21
https://www.facebook.com/nhswebsite. (2020a, December). Pain relief in labour. Nhs.uk. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/pain-relief-in-labour/
https://www.facebook.com/nhswebsite. (2020b, December). The stages of labour and birth. Nhs.uk. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/the-stages-of-labour-and-birth/
Q: What will labour feel like? Q: How do I prepare for labour? (n.d.). https://www.labourpains.org/downloads/english-resources/faqs—pain-relief-in-labour—english.pdf
