Pain management is part of the comprehensive approach to all patients and results in clear benefits. As such, obstetric analgesia seeks to reduce pain and provide better care during labour. However, its use is sometimes limited due to lack of access to, or availability of, anaesthesia services. Alternative techniques to the epidural analgesic approach are found in the literature, for use by general practitioners or healthcare staff in lower complexity settings. This article discusses general aspects of epidural obstetric analgesia, and other pharmacological and non-pharmacological management options.