Pain relief in labour

For pain treatment with medication you have to go to the hospital. You can choose the following pain treatment methods:

Injections with pethidine

Pethidine is administered via an injection into your buttock or thigh. Pethidine is similar to morphine. It works within half an hour and works 2 to 4 hours.

Epidural
An epidural is an injection in your lower back with a combination of various analgesic medicines. The anaesthesiologist has to put a local anaesthetic in your lower back to numb the area before inserting the needle. A thin, flexible tube is then inserted into the back. The needle goes out again, the tube remains in place. Through this tube you will receive pain-relieving medication during the entire delivery. Within 15 minutes you feel that the pain is considerably less.

Pump with remifentanil
Remifentanil is a morphine-like substance that is administered via a tube in the arm (drip) that is attached to a pump. With a push button you can determine the amount of remifentanil that you will receive. The pump is adjusted so that you can never give yourself too much.

Entonox
Entonox is a mixture of (di) nitrogen (oxide) (N2O) and oxygen (O2). You give yourself gas during a contraction through a mouth / nose mask. You put a cap over your nose and mouth, put on a chin mask and breathe in the gas. After the contraction you can stop inhaling it and the application stops automatically. The midwife monitors your blood pressure, pulse and oxygen levels..

The information film was developed by the professional organization of midwives (KNOV), in collaboration with midwives, gynaecologists, maternity assistants and other birth care professionals.