Labor is typically associated with a significant level of pain, and a strategy for pain management is an important component of any labor and delivery care plan. Methods for relieving pain in labor are numerous, ranging from nonpharmacologic modalities such as massage, hypnotherapy, hydrotherapy, and acupuncture, to pharmacologic options such as intravenous analgesics, inhaled agents, and local or regional anesthetics. While the specific options available vary among institutions, all hospitals offering maternal care should have anesthesia services available to offer labor analgesia. Knowledge of the choices, indications, and contraindications of different forms of pain relief is essential for OB/GYN hospitalists, as is an understanding of the factors that influence a patient’s ability to cope with pain.