The Pain of Labour

Abstract

• Labour is an emotional experience and involves both physiological and psychological mechanisms. • The pain of labour is severe but despite this its memory diminishes with time. • Labour pain has two components: visceral pain which occurs during the early first stage and the second stage of childbirth, and somatic pain which occurs during the late first stage and the second stage. • The pain of labour in the first stage is mediated by T10 to L1 spinal segments, whereas that in the second stage is carried by T12 to L1, and S2 to S4 spinal segments. • Pain relief in labour is complex and often challenging without regional analgesia. • Effective management of labour pain plays a relatively minor role in a woman's satisfaction with childbirth.