Pain Management for Obstetrical Patients

The birth of a child may be one of the most significant events in a women’s life, and it is associated with significant emotional, physical, and painful events during the labor and delivery process. It is critical to give the patient control in decision-making for the labor and delivery process including methods of pain relief. Studies reveal the extent to which a parturient pain is controlled during and after delivery has implications for short- and long-term psychological consequences including but not limited to depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and negative thoughts about sexual relationships. There are many available methods of pain relief during labor including nonpharmacologic, pharmacologic, regional, and neuraxial techniques. The goal of this book chapter is to discuss the various pain management modalities available during labor, operative deliveries, and the immediate postpartum period.