Gas and air (Entonox). Entonox is a colourless, odourless gas made up of half nitrous oxide and half oxygen. The woman will be given gas and air through a mouthpiece and guided on inhaling it.
Pethidine injections
Epidural is a local anaesthetic injected
Painkilling drugs: opioids such as pethidine, diamorphine, meptid and remifentanyl. Pethidine, diamorphine and meptid are pain relieving drugs given by injection into the thigh. Some hospitals offer remifentanil - a very strong, short-acting painkiller given via a drip.