Labour Pain: Can you ease it?

12 May

Can labour really be less painful, or is that just wishful thinking? It’s a question many mothers ask, sometimes quietly, sometimes with urgency. After all, labour is known for being intense. But what if the fear and tension around it are part of what can make it so overwhelming?

There’s no single fix, no magic switch to flick. But understanding how pain works in labour, and how we might soften it, can actually change the whole experience. Yes, seriously. It’s not about pretending the pain doesn’t exist. It’s about making it manageable. And that’s where a few simple strategies come in.

Let’s talk about the mind-body connection first. When we feel afraid, our body tightens. That includes the uterus and pelvic floor. Muscles that need to work in a smooth rhythm suddenly clamp up. This tension increases pain. That pain leads to more fear. And so the cycle spins. You’ve probably heard this referred to as the fear-tension-pain cycle. It’s a real thing. Breaking that loop can shift labour from feeling like a battle to something more bearable. Maybe even empowering.

Calm Birth classes are built around this very idea. They’re not about teaching you to float through labour in a trance. They’re about understanding what’s happening in your body and learning how breath and mindset can interrupt the panic response. That doesn’t mean the pain vanishes, but it often feels less intense and more purposeful. It's a bit like the difference between climbing a steep hill by choice or being shoved up it blindfolded. Same hill, different feeling.

One mum I worked with recently said that just knowing what to expect made a world of difference. “I still felt the contractions,” she told me. “But I wasn’t fighting them. That changed everything.”

And it’s not just anecdotal. A 2022 study published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth showed that women who took childbirth education programs like Calm Birth reported significantly lower pain scores during labour compared to those who didn’t (BMC, 2022). Even more compelling, a 2023 survey by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that over 65% of mothers who felt in control during labour attributed that confidence to prenatal education and supportive environments (AIHW, 2023).

So what can families actually do to reduce labour pain?

Here’s the quick version:

Get informed. Knowing what’s happening removes a layer of panic. Calm Birth and similar programs help with that.
Use your breath. It sounds simple, but breathing with awareness can regulate your nervous system and reduce tension.
Move your body. Standing, squatting, leaning forward, or swaying can help baby move down and ease back pressure.
Bring a support person. Whether it’s a partner, doula, or friend, someone calm in the room can anchor you when things feel intense.
Stay flexible. Sometimes labour goes off script. That’s okay. The tools still work, just in different ways.

And maybe you’re wondering, “What if I change my mind? What if I want an epidural?” That’s fine too. Reducing pain doesn’t have to mean going completely without medication. It just means having options and feeling equipped, so the decisions you make come from a place of clarity instead of panic. That’s the real win.

You don’t have to figure this out alone. If you’re in Melbourne and curious about how to prepare for labour in a way that reduces fear and builds confidence, I offer Calm Birth classes and workshops in Albert Park. They’re practical, reassuring, and designed to help you feel ready.

Sources: