Editing Childbirth (section)

====Non-pharmaceutical====
Some women prefer to avoid [[analgesic]] medication during childbirth. Psychological preparation may be beneficial. Relaxation techniques, immersion in water, massage, and [[acupuncture]] may provide pain relief.  Acupuncture and relaxation were found to decrease the number of caesarean sections required.<ref name="Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews">{{cite journal | vauthors = Jones L, Othman M, Dowswell T, Alfirevic Z, Gates S, Newburn M, Jordan S, Lavender T, Neilson JP | title = Pain management for women in labour: an overview of systematic reviews | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 3 | issue = 3 | pages = CD009234 | date = March 2012 | pmid = 22419342 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD009234.pub2 | pmc = 7132546 }}</ref> Immersion in water has been found to relieve pain during the first stage of labour, reduce the need for anaesthesia, and shorten the duration of labour.<ref>{{cite journal | title = Immersion in water during labor and delivery | journal = Pediatrics | volume = 133 | issue = 4 | pages = 758–61 | date = April 2014 | pmid = 24652300 | doi = 10.1542/peds.2013-3794 | author1 = American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Fetus Newborn | author2 = American College of Obstetricians Gynecologists Committee on Obstetric Practice | doi-access = free | hdl = 11573/1473752 | hdl-access = free }}</ref> Additionally, [[water birth]] is associated with a decreased risk of postpartum hemorrhaging, low Apgar scores, neonatal infections, requirement for neonatal resuscitation, and neonatal admission to intensive care. However, there is a higher chance of cord avulsion.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=McKinney |first1=Jordan |last2=Vilchez |first2=Gustavo |last3=Jowers |first3=Alicia |last4=Atchoo |first4=Amanda |last5=Lin |first5=Lifeng |last6=Kaunitz |first6=Andrew |last7=Lewis |first7=Kendall |last8=Sanchez-Ramos |first8=Luis |title=Water birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis of maternal and neonatal outcomes |journal=American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology |date=March 2024 |volume=230 |issue=3 |pages=S961–S979.e33 |doi=10.1016/j.ajog.2023.08.034 |pmid=38462266 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000293782300604X |access-date=14 March 2024}}</ref>

Most women like to have someone to support them during labour and birth; such as a midwife, nurse, or [[doula]]; or a lay person such as the father of the baby, a family member, or a close friend.  Studies have found that continuous support during labour and delivery reduce the need for medication and a caesarean or operative vaginal delivery, and result in an improved [[Apgar score]] for the infant.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Bohren MA, Hofmeyr GJ, Sakala C, Fukuzawa RK, Cuthbert A | title = Continuous support for women during childbirth | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 7 | pages = CD003766 | date = July 2017 | issue = 8 | pmid = 28681500 |pmc=6483123 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub6 }}</ref><ref name=ACOG2014>{{cite journal | vauthors = Caughey AB, Cahill AG, Guise JM, Rouse DJ | title = Safe prevention of the primary cesarean delivery | journal = American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology | volume = 210 | issue = 3 | pages = 179–93 | date = March 2014 | pmid = 24565430 | doi = 10.1016/j.ajog.2014.01.026 }}</ref>