Choosing pain relief options

Exploring your pain-relief options through a birth plan helps ensure you don't overlook any choices that may be available to you. For example, you may decide that you want an epidural, but not until you are five centimeters dilated. Another major consideration is mobility. If being able to move around throughout your labor is important to you, you can ask for a walking epidural. There are also other pain options available (such as Stadol, Nubain and Demerol), that you can ask your physician or midwife about.

If you opt for an unmedicated birth, it's crucial to have a support network to help you naturally deal with the pain. "You need to realize you don't know what to expect," says Murry. Even if you're convinced you want a natural labor, it's a good idea to have a back-up "pain plan" just in case.

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