What medication is commonly used for pain relief during labor?

Epidural analgesia is a widely used method for pain relief during labor due to its effectiveness in providing significant pain relief while allowing the laboring person to remain alert and active. This method involves the administration of anesthetic agents into the epidural space around the spinal cord, which inhibits the transmission of pain signals from the uterus and cervix.

The advantage of epidural analgesia is that it can be tailored to provide varying levels of pain relief and can be adjusted as labor progresses. It allows for continued mobility if lighter doses are used, and it can also offer substantial relief during the later stages of labor and delivery. Additionally, epidural analgesia can be beneficial in various types of labor, making it a preferred choice in many hospitals.

In contrast, other medications listed, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol, are non-opioid analgesics that may be useful for mild to moderate pain relief but are generally inadequate for the severe pain often experienced during labor. Local anesthesia typically provides targeted pain relief but is used for specific procedures rather than continuous pain management during an entire labor process.