Irene Vine | Independent Midwife | Homebirth Midwife on Instagram: "PART 9. Pain relief options: Pethidine Pethidine is an opioid medication sometimes used for pain relief in labour, particularly when contractions are becoming difficult to cope with and stronger analgesia is requested. It is usually given as an intramuscular injection (IM) into the thigh or buttock, and it works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, reducing the perception of pain and often causing sedatio