Childbirth pain has no gain say doctors in a bid to bust the myth that mothers are better if they shun painkillers

Medical experts are to condemn the myth that painful childbirth is better
Evidence is to be discussed that supports medication and epidurals
Pain relief does not have adverse effects on mother or baby during labour

Published: 19:25 GMT, 6 November 2016 | Updated: 21:03 GMT, 6 November 2016

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Women should not feel ashamed to ask for pain relief when they are giving birth.

Doctors are expected to condemn the myth that painful childbirth is better for mothers and babies at a meeting of the Royal Society of Medicine next month.

Evidence will be presented that supports medication such as epidurals have no adverse effects during labour.

Doctors are expected to condemn the myth that painful childbirth is better for mothers and babies

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Dr Felicity Plaat, president-elect of the Obstetric Anaesthetists’ Association, said: ‘We decided it was about time the public were told about pain and pain relief in labour by a group without a ‘natural’ agenda.

‘Too often have I been asked to discuss or provide epidural analgesia to women not just suffering from extreme pain of labour but a feeling that they have failed because they ask for or need epidural analgesia — a feeling sometimes amounting to shame.

Pain relief, including epidurals - a numbing injection - should not be viewed so negatively by women

‘We want to inform women so they enter labour not afraid and for those women who need pain relief, we want them to use it proud of the amazing thing they are doing.’

Those attending the Royal Society of Medicine meeting are expected to hear how pain increases the amount of work that the body has to do on top of the effort of labour itself, potentially increasing the level of stress hormones in the body.

While this may have no long-term consequences for healthy women with healthy babies, it can be detrimental to women with certain medical conditions or where the unborn child is already vulnerable.

Research by doctors at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre in the US suggests that the greater the pain suffered by women during labour, the more likely they are to suffer depression in the months after the birth.

An estimated 140,000 women giving birth each year in the UK are thought to suffer depression, anxiety or other mental health problems during pregnancy or in the months after birth which is now believed to be closely linked with labour pains.

But woman continued to have to fight off comments that they are ‘not real women’ and have not ‘really given birth’ if they take pain relief.

Outspoken mother-of-three Katie Hopkins has previously said: ‘If you give birth naturally then you are a stronger, more powerful woman.’

Katie Hopkins pictured with her three children (l-r) Poppy, Max and India, who she gave birth to without pain relief

Female celebrities continue to be judged when they choose to have an epidural or even a C-section, but why should this make you less of a woman.

In contrast to Mrs Hopkins, TV presenter Kirstie Allsop said women who have c-sections, like she did, should not be made to feel like failures.

Kirstie Allsopp, pictured on an episode of Kirstie's Vintage Home, says women shouldn't feel like failures if they don't give birth naturally or without pain relief

Women should not be made to feel that they need to go through pain to truly give birth and not be judged by others.

The medical profession has been split on the issue of pain during childbirth, but it is hoped more will come to light at next month’s conference.