Labor and birth can be intense, that's no secret. But, we all know there are different kinds of pain, right? There's the pain of a headache and the pain​ of a migraine. There's the pain of a running a marathon and the pain of breaking a bone. There are levels and intricacies of pain and, of course, it's all relative. What is pain to one person may be suffering to the next and vise versa. 

The first step to understanding what options you have for pain management during labor is understanding what pain is. So let's start there, shall we? 

Nausea and/or vomiting is a common pregnancy symptom that effects 50-70% of pregnant women. So called "morning" sickness gets it's name because for some women they are most nauseated or even only nauseated in the early morning. However, "morning" sickness can actually take place at any time during the day or night, or may even last all day.
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On average, nausea starts before 9 weeks of pregnancy and has often resided by 14 weeks. But, of course, this is just the average so for some women it may last longer, possibly the entire pregnancy. 

​3% of women develop hyperemesis gravidarum, the most severe form of nausea and vomiting caused by pregnancy. This condition may need medical treatment as it increases your risk of dehydration. If you are concerned about your level of nausea and vomiting, please consult with your care provider.