BookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxFilledCheckBoxCircleBumpCheckedFilledMedical

Virtual Reality Could Be the Next Big Thing in Easing Labor Pain

For women who want a drug-free labor, this could be a big help.
save article
profile picture of Laurie Ulster
By Laurie Ulster, Contributing Writer
Published September 16, 2019
woman holds her new baby after giving birth
Image: Cavan Images

There’s a new option on the table for women who want to deliver their babies without epidurals or other medications: virtual reality.

Lorna Massov, a Victoria University of Wellington PhD student from the School of Nursing, Midwifery, and Health Practice in New Zealand, is researching how virtual reality (VR) technology can help women in labor to manage their pain.

"There are many other methods used to help with drug-free labor, and I thought virtual reality would fit in well with this suite of techniques as it has previously been used for pain management in other areas,” she said in an article published by the Victoria University of Wellington. “Labor can be long, and you can get tired of using the same pain management techniques. Visualization is a very powerful tool that can take patients to their ‘happy place’ and help them relax and manage their pain.”

For her study, she recruited a group of pregnant women and had them use a VR headset to get comfortable with it. They then wore it during both the early and active stages of labor for 10-minute intervals. Massov had them assess their pain levels as well as measured their pulse and blood pressure, which are indicators of stress on the body.

The results? Many women reported that the VR experience helped them have a positive birth experience. While it didn’t reduce the actual pain, it was successful in distracting them from it, which ultimately helped them manage the pain. The most popular VR experiences were nature and underwater scenes, but the women said that most of the scenes that were available to them were too short, especially considering how long a labor can go. Still, most of them said they would use it again and recommend it to their pregnant friends as well.

It’s not the first time immersive VR has been studied as potential pain management. A report published earlier this year in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology also found that it “has been shown to be a valid, non-pharmacologic method to treat pain and anxiety.” And while statistically the women who participated in the study had similar levels of pain as those without VR, subjectively their experience of that pain differed: 77 percent of the women said it helped them feel less pain while in labor and that they would use it again.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

save article
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

mom holding newborn baby after birth in hospital bed
What Is a Lotus Birth—and Is It Safe?
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
pregnant mom with husband and toddler at home
Moms Tell All: What Childbirth Feels Like the Second Time Around
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
Natural Birth: What to Know When Planning for an Unmedicated Birth
Natural Birth: What to Know When Planning for an Unmedicated Birth
By Kylie McConville
ADVERTISEMENT
woman in labor in hospital bed
This Dilated Cervix Chart Shows Why Moms ‘Deserve All the Things’
By Stephanie Grassullo
What You Need to Know About AAP Home Birth Guidelines
What You Need to Know About AAP Home Birth Guidelines
By Kylie McConville
Natural Birth Stories
Natural Birth Stories
By Cynthia Ramnarace
New Research Suggests Planning a Home Birth Could Be Safer — Do You Agree?
New Research Suggests Planning a Home Birth Could Be Safer — Do You Agree?
By Kylie McConville
ADVERTISEMENT
Bumpie Tip of the Week: How to Prepare for Natural Birth
Bumpie Tip of the Week: How to Prepare for Natural Birth
By Jackie DiBella
sister with womb transplant gives birth to baby in the UK
Sisters Make History With UK’s First Womb Transplant Birth
By Wyndi Kappes
Adrian and Jordan Grenier with their newborn baby
Adrian Grenier and Jordan Roemmele Welcome Baby No. 2 in Home Birth
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
black pregnant woman talking to doctor
What Black Birthing People Should Know About Possible Medicaid Cuts
Fact Checked by G. O’Hara
African woman doctor examining a pregnant patient
Aid Cuts Could Lead to More Preventable Pregnancy Deaths, WHO Warns
By Wyndi Kappes
Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, visit Delia Zapata Art Center in Bogota, Colombia on August 15, 2024
Meghan Markle on Preeclampsia, Potty Training and Building a Business
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
pregnant woman doing exercises to induce labor
7 Exercises to Help Induce Labor, According to Experts (and Moms Who’ve Tried Them)
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
pregnant woman holding hands with husband in labor and delivery room
‘You Need to Watch Your Wife Give Birth,’ Dad Says in Viral Video
By Wyndi Kappes
pregnant woman with hands on belly
Maternal Cardiac Deaths Are on the Rise, Especially for Black Moms
By Wyndi Kappes
kylie kelce talking about pregnancy on her podcast not gonna lie
Kylie Kelce Reveals What She Will (and Won’t) Do to Induce Labor
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Olivia Culpo at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show held at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on October 15, 2024 in New York, New York
Olivia Culpo on the Pregnancy Complication That Left Her on Bed Rest
By Wyndi Kappes
Gal Gadot attends the World Premiere of Walt Disney Studios' "Snow White" at El Capitan Theatre on March 15, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Gal Gadot's Docs Misdiagnosed This Major Issue as Pregnancy Migraines
By Wyndi Kappes
close up of pregnant woman during labor and delivery in hospital
Labor & Delivery Nurse on What Surprised Her About Her Own Childbirth
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.