Do epidurals take away the pain of childbirth?

.logo__image{--wpr-bg-e3890e5e-0c2b-413e-8e77-4b0c50e8ef9f: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/logo.svg');}.search-form__search-icon{--wpr-bg-1907fd76-f628-4cfd-8c2a-8d0b26b69def: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/search-icon.svg');}.search-form__submit{--wpr-bg-88a17d25-4f54-439b-ae91-85e5dea58502: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/search-submit.svg');}.sbi_lb-loader span{--wpr-bg-4a979d56-c5d7-47b2-9650-1785a839fd5b: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/css/../img/sbi-sprite.png');}.sbi_lb-nav span{--wpr-bg-a59bed0d-cafd-49b5-b3dc-1c45611cfc9a: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/css/../img/sbi-sprite.png');}.chosen-container-single .chosen-single abbr{--wpr-bg-91b85dca-5662-429e-88de-16b19abc1988: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/plugins/jet-search/assets/lib/chosen/chosen-sprite.png');}.chosen-container-single .chosen-single div b{--wpr-bg-079015ea-6333-4ed2-aae0-5a91934eb494: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/plugins/jet-search/assets/lib/chosen/chosen-sprite.png');}.chosen-container-single .chosen-search input[type=text]{--wpr-bg-c1fbbd3b-0d3f-4342-898a-018a27c27e09: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/plugins/jet-search/assets/lib/chosen/chosen-sprite.png');}.chosen-container-multi .chosen-choices li.search-choice .search-choice-close{--wpr-bg-594981d9-8b8c-4a4b-9d37-ea0ffe2ee58b: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/plugins/jet-search/assets/lib/chosen/chosen-sprite.png');}.chosen-rtl .chosen-search input[type=text]{--wpr-bg-eaf7f867-526f-4b05-9669-4cadd61e5ace: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/plugins/jet-search/assets/lib/chosen/chosen-sprite.png');}.chosen-container .chosen-results-scroll-down span,.chosen-container .chosen-results-scroll-up span,.chosen-container-multi .chosen-choices .search-choice .search-choice-close,.chosen-container-single .chosen-search input[type=text],.chosen-container-single .chosen-single abbr,.chosen-container-single .chosen-single div b,.chosen-rtl .chosen-search input[type=text]{--wpr-bg-630f10b5-5fd8-47f4-a614-4625873f1b3a: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/plugins/jet-search/assets/lib/chosen/chosen-sprite@2x.png');}.header-mobile .header-mobile__menu-toggle.is-active:before{--wpr-bg-941a254d-399f-4e57-90fb-2942456b4481: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/close.svg');}.my-journey-cards .top_wrapper select{--wpr-bg-ed4da4fe-f4d6-4a90-99b6-622d60e53b1f: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/css/assets/images/down_arrow.svg');}.journeyDropDown select{--wpr-bg-f756cd80-82fb-4514-b638-8c65c705b2b9: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/css/assets/images/down_arrow-2.svg');}.five-cards-slider-pc__cards .flickity-prev-next-button::before{--wpr-bg-e6318de3-a991-42f4-8299-b25523b918a6: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/chevron.svg');}.five-cards-slider-pc__cards .flickity-prev-next-button.previous:before{--wpr-bg-fcd24466-9f63-4730-a106-889a38db119c: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/chevron-back.svg');}#main-content .hero-author{--wpr-bg-9d7925fa-3012-4909-a3be-c4454e5781ee: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/img/bg-author.jpg');}.toc-item-arrow-bottom{--wpr-bg-159e24ae-0aef-432f-8cea-ed9b4c513ddd: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/img/article-navigation-arrow-top.png');}.toc-item-arrow-bottom{--wpr-bg-1a41eb05-8b59-4bc5-bfa0-21bd70b8f59d: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/img/article-navigation-arrow-bottom.png');}body .recommend-posts-container .recommend-posts-arrow-bottom{--wpr-bg-70a2df8a-0e4a-458d-ab8d-5301f6de2f10: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/img/article-navigation-arrow-top.png');}body .recommend-posts-container .recommend-posts-arrow-bottom{--wpr-bg-ff97be4d-48fb-423b-bbf2-123fe4b90012: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/img/article-navigation-arrow-bottom.png');}.mama-stories__image-title{--wpr-bg-8e87c0d3-812a-44e5-87b2-71247f56ea4e: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/from-mama-to-mama.svg');}.social-icons-list__icon span,.social-link__icon span{--wpr-bg-474499a1-df74-415e-b7b5-1f9c7b4cdef9: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/website.svg');}.social-icons-list__icon span.instagram,.social-link__icon span.instagram{--wpr-bg-de1ce3a3-147e-4dfb-b675-4d3a84305e31: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/instagram.svg');}.social-icons-list__icon span.twitter,.social-link__icon span.twitter{--wpr-bg-3e50abf7-656f-4751-90a0-f84d14030d6e: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/x.svg');}.social-icons-list__icon span.facebook,.social-link__icon span.facebook{--wpr-bg-dcbeec34-b4f9-4298-8c7a-7d270c0734e2: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/facebook.svg');}.social-icons-list__icon span.pinterest,.social-link__icon span.pinterest{--wpr-bg-daa5a7bc-2a65-4714-9a3d-600d22715abe: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/pinterest.svg');}.social-icons-list__icon span.tiktok,.social-link__icon span.tiktok{--wpr-bg-30a39076-df7d-4580-9b3b-04931aaf147e: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/tiktok.svg');}.social-icons-list__icon span.email,.social-link__icon span.email{--wpr-bg-1f197e8f-9696-4d6e-8ae4-fa264ed3e0c0: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/email_nl.svg');}.social-icons-list__icon span.linkedin,.social-link__icon span.linkedin{--wpr-bg-583f2a4b-aba7-45e7-92ff-d4a94c9d651c: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/linkedin_nl.svg');}.header-mobile #menu-all-in-one-main-menu>li>div.menu-item.menu-item-arrow-bottom:after{--wpr-bg-be7e72d6-034a-4b0c-b209-9675d32dbece: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/arrow-bottom.svg');}.header-mobile #menu-all-in-one-main-menu>li>.menu-inner-container-depth-1>.menu-depth-1>li>div.menu-item.menu-item-arrow-bottom-small:after{--wpr-bg-061c6164-e8af-4df2-867c-4db0ca463214: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/arrow-bottom-small.svg');}.header-mobile .header-mobile__sub-menu-toggle:before{--wpr-bg-9105ab57-c687-4ca7-9c22-82dbff8de3fa: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/arrowLeft.svg');}.social-share__item.bookmarked span.social-share__link-bookmark{--wpr-bg-8eced8ea-b1d4-4249-b570-1699b59bd6df: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/bookmark-selected-sel.svg');}.social-share__item span.social-share__link-bookmark{--wpr-bg-bc654863-9219-4849-8ab4-f5878f2bef8f: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/bookmark-off.svg');}.header-mobile .header-mobile-menu__search .search-form__submit{--wpr-bg-6197f1ad-6957-4125-82a6-80929e038c9e: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/search-icon.svg');}.header-desktop__search-svg{--wpr-bg-9faabcc2-669c-4ad5-b69f-a8abbfaf4bca: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/search.svg');}.header-mobile-menu__tool-link--account{--wpr-bg-f8f6ab93-4356-4853-a438-e5ddb325ce94: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/account.svg');}.header-mobile-menu__tool-link--favorite{--wpr-bg-999b77c4-0058-4d6a-af0b-716d2bd714df: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/favorite-wine.svg');}.header-mobile-menu__tool-link--newsletter{--wpr-bg-433f0a23-0591-490c-a16b-72835b0afd91: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/newsletter.svg');}.card__bestseller:before{--wpr-bg-2f1231a5-6d2d-44d1-98b6-6cfaf29f59b7: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/bestseller.svg');}.card__star{--wpr-bg-b1d706ad-a54c-4dfa-b69e-076f95110105: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/Star.svg');}.cart__svg{--wpr-bg-68b924bf-6bcc-43a1-84d6-e07b6e7914bd: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/cart.svg');}.category-nav__arrow-button{--wpr-bg-3c94a6d8-f00e-42af-a63c-7494532fa545: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/arrow.svg');}.newsletter-cta{--wpr-bg-7d74ea23-4732-46b0-b2c9-047125d1a38c: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/img/bg-newsletter-cta.jpg');}.newsletter-cta__icon{--wpr-bg-1a9ddd5e-665c-4193-af05-a228cd1ee4d1: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/newsletter-stars.svg');}.related-stories:before{--wpr-bg-978304f1-e32a-4c75-857e-c004b8cae255: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/related-stories-flower.svg');}.search-flyout__close{--wpr-bg-64227995-6ddd-4d8e-8f5b-27d87d73e889: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/close.svg');}.social-share__link-facebook{--wpr-bg-a61ed178-38ca-4ef4-abb9-6f8df44f2646: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/facebook-wine.svg');}.social-share__link-pinterest{--wpr-bg-75b2d976-2a36-4d15-840e-d41f8a55474d: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/pinterest-wine.svg');}.social-share__link-link{--wpr-bg-ce0cea23-33fa-4099-bde6-90f44e2d58e3: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/link.svg');}.social-share__link-email{--wpr-bg-5e6f3432-3656-4def-bbd3-de49ec2dc46c: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/svg/email.svg');}.takeaways{--wpr-bg-482fad63-c628-4411-b2c5-176b9e24f475: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/themes/motherly/assets/img/bg-takeaways.png');}.rll-youtube-player .play{--wpr-bg-2aee2548-25db-4adb-a4d6-d9143d0dbde7: url('https://earfwtgrso9.exactdn.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-rocket/assets/img/youtube.png');}

Birth

The latest

Birth

Black Moms are being told to ‘speak up’ during birth—but they deserve better, too

Birth

Why every mom deserves a doula (and how Texas is stepping up to help)

News

Moms are getting $7,500 for having a baby in Michigan—here’s how it’s transforming lives

Birth

‘You kept me calm’: Michigan mom delivers baby in ambulance with help from heroic first responders