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Advice for Women About Labor Pain ReliefChildbirth Connection's advice to women about labor pain relief as early as possible in pregnancy:
For help with all three steps, see Childbirth Connection's special online resources, How will I cope with labor pain? You will find trustworthy information, help with decision-making, tips and resources for putting your plans in place. Choose your maternity caregiver and birth setting wisely, and be sure that you will receive support for your pain relief and other goals. Consider arranging for a friend, family member or doula who will be with you to provide continuous supportive care during labor. Labor support lowers your likelihood of using pain medications, having a cesarean, giving birth with vacuum extraction or forceps, and being dissatisfied with your birth. Labor support has no known downsides. Understand and be prepared to exercise your maternity rights, including your right to informed consent and informed refusal. Responsibilities of health professionals and health systemsChildbirth Connection believes that health professionals and health systems have responsibility to ensure that all pregnant and birthing women have:
Download the Executive Summary(PDF) from Childbirth Connection's "The Nature and Management of Labor Pain" project (best evidence on many labor pain topics). Most recent page update: 3/6/2006
© 2010 Childbirth Connection. All rights reserved.
Childbirth Connection is a national not-for-profit organization founded in 1918 as Maternity Center Association. Our mission is to improve the quality of maternity care through research, education, advocacy and policy. Childbirth Connection promotes safe, effective and satisfying evidence-based maternity care and is a voice for the needs and interests of childbearing families. |
News and Features
New VBAC Guidlines
ACOG has just issued new Guidlines for VBAC. What changed? What continues? We've Moved!
On July 1, 2010, the Childbirth Connection office moved to 260 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10016. All other contact information is unchanged. New Pregnancy Video Library Available
Our new Video Library features links to a wealth of resources for health professionals as well as for women who are planning pregnancy, are pregnant or are new mothers. Visit the Video Library  "2020 Vision" and "Blueprint for Action" Reports Available Learn about Transforming Maternity Care project Read the "2020 Vision" Read the "Blueprint for Action" Read the Consumer Workgroup report Help implement Blueprint recommendations Listen to report release event audio, 1/2010 eNews Sign Up
Help Transform Maternity Care! Rising Maternal Mortality
Updated Maternity Care Statistics Available
US Cochrane Center (USCC)/Consumers United for Evidence-based Healthcare (CUE) Evidence-Based Maternity Care Report Released New Mothers Speak Out National Report Released New Content!
 Journey to Parenthood Full Book Available Online! A family-friendly book covering the trimesters, pregnancy resources, and the latest information on baby's first year of development. Available online (free) and for purchase in the Bookstore. Browse through Journey to Parenthood  Buy this book and learn more
Popular Pages
"I had to fight with the nursing staff to keep them from giving my baby formula before I left the hospital. From what I've heard from other women, this is quite common. My baby is still breastfed and never needs formula."
Every woman has the right to decide collaboratively with caregivers when she and her baby will leave the birth site for home, based on their condition and circumstances.
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