labor pain

USAGE SUMMARY

"labor pain" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe the intense physical discomfort experienced by a woman during childbirth. Example: The expectant mother was writhing in agony as she endured the excruciating labor pains.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Labor pain is probably the most painful event in a woman's life.

Acta Anaesthesiologica Taiwanica

It's like labor pain; the body has contractions to push out whatever has developed.

The New York Times

The decisions range widely: What's the best way to deal with labor pain?

The New York Times

"From the limo, I could see mothers crying as if they were in labor pain," she said.

The New York Times

One other intervention that clearly seems to decrease labor pain, length of labor and Caesarean section risk is the use of trained, dedicated labor attendants, known as doulas.

The New York Times

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of labor pain intensity and labor pain catastrophizing on maternity blues and postpartum social functioning.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Reducing labor pain and anxiety is one of the most important goals of maternity care.

Journal of Integrative Medicine

Some research exists on the effect of non-pharmacological approaches for labor pain relief.

Journal of Integrative Medicine

Nonpharmacologic measures to reduce labor pain have been used throughout history.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Objective: More than 50% of pregnant women in the United States are using epidural analgesia for labor pain.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Parenteral opioids are commonly used for labor pain relief and have been the subject of research for many years.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for the plural "labor pains" when describing the chronological progression or recurring nature of contractions during the birthing process.

Common error

Avoid switching between the American "labor" and British "labour" within the same document. Choose one spelling convention based on your target audience and maintain it consistently to ensure professional quality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "labor pain" functions as a compound noun where "labor" acts as an attributive noun modifying "pain". According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used as the direct object of verbs like "reduce", "manage", or "experience".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "labor pain" is a foundational term in both medical and general discourse regarding childbirth. Ludwig AI demonstrates that it appears with high frequency in scientific research, particularly in studies focused on analgesia, epidural interventions, and maternal comfort. While it is grammatically simple, its usage is highly nuanced depending on the regional spelling (American "labor" vs. British "labour"). The phrase is almost exclusively associated with the physiological process of birth, though it occasionally appears metaphorically in business or news to describe the difficult "birth" of a new project or company. Overall, it is a highly stable, universally recognized term that effectively bridges the gap between clinical terminology and everyday language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

labour pain

Standard British English spelling variation

labor pains

Plural form often used to describe the repeated episodes of contractions

childbirth contractions

Focuses on the physiological mechanism causing the discomfort

obstetric pain

More clinical or formal categorization within the medical field

delivery pain

Specifically refers to the pain during the final stage of birth

uterine contractions

The literal biological process that results in labor pain

birthing pains

Slightly more poetic or traditional phrasing

parturition pain

Highly technical term used in specialized biological or medical texts

maternal pain

Broadens the scope to the mother's subjective experience

active labor discomfort

Euphemistic or clinical variation used in patient-centered care

FAQs

What is the difference between "labor pain" and "labor pains"?

While often interchangeable, "labor pain" refers to the sensation as a singular physiological state, whereas "<a href="/s/labor+pains" target="_blank" rel="alternative">labor pains" usually describes the individual, rhythmic contractions occurring over time.

Is it more professional to say "labor pain" or "uterine contractions"?

It depends on the focus. Use "labor pain" to discuss the patient's experience and analgesia, but use "<a href="/s/uterine+contractions" target="_blank" rel="alternative">uterine contractions" if the focus is on the biomechanical or clinical measurement of the labor process.

Should I use "labour pain" if writing for a UK audience?

Yes, "<a href="/s/labour+pain" target="_blank" rel="alternative">labour pain" is the standard spelling in British English and is preferred for publications in the UK, Australia, and Canada.

How can I describe "labor pain" in a more clinical way?

In a medical context, you might use terms like "<a href="/s/obstetric+pain" target="_blank" rel="alternative">obstetric pain" or refer to specific phases such as the pain of the "<a href="/s/first+stage+of+labor" target="_blank" rel="alternative">first stage of labor".