Among women receiving epidural labor analgesia, those experiencing more effective pain relief face higher odds of developing ...

Almost all women find childbirth painful. During the first stage of labor, the opening to the uterus (called the cervix) slowly opens. Pain usually is felt in the abdomen or back during contractions ...

LAWRENCE LEEMAN, M.D., M.P.H. Pain in labor is a nearly universal experience for childbearing women. A recent evidence-based symposium on the nature and management of labor pain brought together ...

Thinking about getting an epidural? You're not alone – it's the most common form of pain relief during labor in the United States. Here's exactly how it works, what it feels like, and what to expect ...

J Midwifery Womens Health. 2008;53(2):115-122. The mechanisms of action for sterile water injections are not fully clear, but the Gate Control Theory is one logical explanation. This theory was ...

In a recent study published in the journal PLOS ONE, researchers explore the utility of virtual reality (VR) as a non-pharmacological intervention in managing labor pain and anxiety. Study: ‘Giving ...

Birthing and peanut exercise balls are two non-pharmacologic interventions that are frequently used during labor. Although midwives and nurses have been using birthing and peanut balls during labor ...

Having a child can be a labor of love, literally. And everyone will experience it differently. Here's what to expect if it's your first time giving birth. The first stage of labor is when you start ...

Childbirth is complicated, and it's understandable to have questions about the process if you've never gone through it before, including details about pain medication options like an epidural. The ...

In other cultures and languages, there are specific words for the feelings women experience during childbirth. In Swedish, the word is värkar. In Swahili, the phrase is maumivu ya uzazi. But in the ...