Opioids

Opioids can be used to lessen pain during labor. They can be injected into a muscle or given through an intravenous (IV) catheter.

Pros

Opioids can help you relax. Most take effect within minutes.

Cons

Opioids don't offer great relief from labor pain. They typically don't work for pain during delivery. They can cause nausea, vomiting and drowsiness. These drugs can affect the newborn's breathing and cause the baby to be drowsy, which might hamper the first breastfeeding.