If I need some pain relief what can you give me?

Pamphlet - pain relief choices

 Non-medical (non-pharmacological) pain relief

• Water. We have showers in every birthing room and some baths. Water helps reduce pain and helps you relax
• Heat packs – We have our own. Safety rules mean we cannot use your wheat bags or hot water bottles
• Movement and touch. Your midwife will make suggestions of things for you and your supporters to try. If you are on your own, your midwife will be your supporter
• Music - bring your favourite relaxing music  
• pamphlet non-pharmacologocal

Medical pain relief

• Entenox (gas & air/laughing gas) in every birthing room. We use mouthpieces (not masks) for you to breathe it through
• Pethidine – this is an injection which goes into a large muscle e.g. your bottom, or into a vein in your hand/arm through a special tube called a luer (venflon)
• Epidural. We have a 24 hour epidural service.  Sometimes you may have to wait if the specialist doctor (anaesthetist) is busy with someone else. pamphlet epidural from anaesthetics
• Other medicines. There is a small group of women who cannot safely have an epidural but need strong pain relief. Your midwife will call the anaesthetist for you to discuss this