Things That Never Were Ilithyia is known as the goddess of childbirth and labor pain. Long ago, many believed Ilithyia was present at every birth and she would determine the length and difficulty of each delivery. Her name means "she who comes to aid" or "relieve" from the Greek word elêluthyia . If Ilithyia looked favorably on the woman, she would have an easy birth. If not, the woman would be cursed with pain and suffering. Ilithyia would decide the outcome of the birth, th