You don't have to take pain medication when you're giving birth, but some women choose this option. Whether or not you decide that pain medication is right for you, it's important to be educated about the different options available and their side effects. Review these quick facts about the different types of medications used to ease labor pain and be aware of possible side effects.

Analgesics as Labor Pain Medication
What they do: Analgesics act on the whole nervous system, rather than on any particular area. Analgesics don't completely erase pain, but they can lessen its intensity.

When they're used: Analgesics are used mainly during early labor and after birth. They help to reduce anxiety, and are especially good for long, tense labors.

How they're given: They're usually given as a shot into a muscle or through an IV. Some can be self-administered, wherein you control the amount of medication you receive by pushing a button attached to the IV tube. You'll generally respond to the drug within 15-30 minutes.

Pros:

• They provide pain relief over the entire body without causing loss of consciousness.
• You'll be able to rest during the early part of labor, saving energy for the second stage.

Cons:

• You may experience drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
• Your baby may experience respiratory difficulties, exhibit poor sucking, and have slower reflexes at birth.

Local Anesthetics as Labor Pain Medication
What they do: Local anesthetics relieve pain by numbing or reducing sensation in a small area. They ease the pain of delivery, but they don't lessen the pain of contractions.

When they're used: This type of drug is used in the second stage of labor to numb your birth canal and perineum for forceps delivery, episiotomy, and repair.

How they're given: Local anesthetics are generally injected around the pudendal nerves inside the vagina. You'll usually respond in about two to three minutes and the effects of the drug may last one hour.

Pros: You probably won't experience any lingering aftereffects. There are no known negative side effects for your baby.

Cons: Pain relief is limited to specific area and it's relatively short-lived. Also, it doesn't relieve the pain of uterine contractions.