Drugs during labor
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I had stadol with my first, after 14 hours of pitocin enhanced contractions to take the edge off. It made me feel like I was drunk, and it confined me to the bed. I couldn't even keep my eyes open between contractions.
The place I felt the best was in the whirlpool tub or on the birthing ball.
When my second was born, I started crying when they mentioned the word pitocin. (Both times, I was fighting the clock since my water had broken.) I freaked out and knew I couldn't handle it again without something, and I didn't want stadol. I ended up getting an epidural, but 10 minutes after having it placed (and only numb on my right hip) I delivered my son. That was an ineffective and expensive 10 minutes.0 -
I just had 2 doses of iv fentanyl with both of my girls, and only during transition. With my eldest, it was a 6ish hour induced labor, lasted until transition before I needed anything. With my youngest, 4 hours of labor, again lasted until transition before I needed anything to take away some of the intensity.0
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I was induced both times. I had an epidural with my first. It was the worst thing ever. I refused it with my second. My labor and delivery was a million times better the second time.0
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Thanks everyone!!! The problem I had with my epidural was that I could not feel to push!! I wonder if the walking epidural would do better for me. I plan on talking to my Dr. I just wanted to hear others experiences too!! I appreciate all of your suggestions
Have your epidural when you are ready. When you are complete (fully dialted to 10) ask to "labor down". "Laboring down" simply means to rest until you have the urge to push. During this time do not push the button for another dose (PCA). Slowly you will regain feeling, pressure and the urge to evict the kid will come.
Best Wishes :-)0 -
I had an epidural for two out of three kids. My middle one came too fast for anything so it was a local afterwards for stitches - ouch. I had no problems with my epidurals. The first one; I was completely sensation and pain free, and the last one, I could feel pressure but no pain at all.
I had IV meds prior to my epidural and had bad reactions from both - one made me itch like crazy and heat up and turn red - the other one made me throw up repeatedly. So I refused them on the third baby.
Good luck to you whatever you decide. Truthfully, my middle child (with no epidural) came so quickly it really wasn't that painful, but there is no guarantee if you go drug free it will be fast.0 -
With two of my kids I had the demerol. It didn't really help me with the pain at all. With the third, I didn't have any pain meds by choice. I just found something to concentrate on, and focused on it as hard as I could to block out as much of the pain as I could. I wished now I had tried to go without meds with the other two. I just had a clearer mind, and was able to relax more. After it was all over I then had a couple vicodine to get on top of my pain. I do have an unusually high tollerance for pain though. I didn't feel the first cramp with the contractions until I was dialated to 9 1/2 centimeters...lol0
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I think it is a very personal desicion but I have had both drugs twice and the third time it went bad. They did it wrong so it wore off right before it was time to have my son and then I got bacterial menigitis from the epidural. But if it had worked I would of not be so lucky because the baby was choking and I would of never been able to deliver fast enough. crazy sceniro. It was Gods work at the finest. I say no. But until the one went bad I would of said yes to everyone.0
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I had a baby in May --- laughing gas takes the edge off and the effects are very short lived--- no feeling stoned when it counts... And it makes you giggle... Humor is needed during delivery...0
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Drug-free here, too (except the pitocin for inducing, which I don't recommend, but I was overruled due to other risk factors going on at the time). It didn't feel good. Scariest thing I've ever felt in my life, but as soon as she was born, they put her on my chest, and she lifted her head up a bit (I didn't even know they could DO that!) and looked straight at me with eyes wide open, totally alert...no way to know if drugs/no drugs had any impact on that, but it was amazing, and I wouldn't do it any differently.I went through a midwife with both of my pregnancies and survived birthing each of them with no drugs at all, so it can be done if you opt to go that route.
The midwife had me drinking some horrible tasting tea to help...do something...relax the cervix, maybe? And I made use of the whirlpool tub and did lots and lots of focused breathing. Just something else you might consider. :flowerforyou:
You rock too!
To the OP, I had a natural drug free birth. IF you desire to look into that option, I studied hypnobabies and bradley method. Both are amazing programs.0 -
I finally relented and got an epidural after 5 hours on pitocin due to a labor that didn't progress. It ****ing sucked, pardon my language. Look into hypnobirthing, it is fantastic for pain management without drugs (I did it up until my doula had to leave, and it kept my head clear even with the pitocin).0
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How did the walking epidural do while you were pushing?? Could you feel to push or was everything totally numb??With my first baby, against my better judgement, I let them give me morphine.
I will NEVER let anyone give me that crap again. It did nothing for the pain, and just made me stoned. It was awful.
I got a walking epidural with baby number 2, and I wanted to kiss my anesthetist - she was an effing genius.
I could feel everything except the pain. I felt the pressure of the contractions, so I knew exactly when to push. It really was exactly what I wanted.0 -
I had Stadol with my first. I don't recommend it. For some women it's awesome, but when it's not awesome, you get wicked hallucinations and no pain relief. It was not awesome for me, and I was terrified and completely out of control because every time I had a contraction it hurt like crazy AND there were pink elephants and a wall flying toward my face. I had no idea what was going on. So I had to get an epidural after that just so I could get some pain relief and not be in total panic mode. Just say no to narcotic pain relief.
With my second, I had no drugs. And I would do it that way again a dozen times before I'd have another epidural. It helped me to soak in a warm bath and sit on a birthing ball, and my husband was super awesome, making me focus on his eyes through the worst contractions in hard labor. So I would recommend that you have someone there who can coach you like that, whether that's your husband/partner, a friend, your mom, or a doula. Having him there with me like that made the pain manageable. If you have someone you can count on like that, that's my vote.0 -
Agree! I had my first with epidural and second without, if I was crazy enough to have 3 (hehe, 2 and through for me), I would go without. I had a faster delivery and recovery with the 2nd.0
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I went through a midwife with both of my pregnancies and survived birthing each of them with no drugs at all, so it can be done if you opt to go that route. The midwife had me drinking some horrible tasting tea to help...do something...relax the cervix, maybe? And I made use of the whirlpool tub and did lots and lots of focused breathing. Just something else you might consider. :flowerforyou:
^^^ Yes!
I just had my first child, in a tub in my living room, with a midwife, and I had no drugs or medicines at all. My husband was there the whole time, supporting me through contractions... he knelt by the tub when I went into the water, and he held my hands. He said I almost tore his thumbs off, but I made it through with no problems. For days afterwards, every visitor said that my daughter was the most alert newborn they'd ever seen, and I think that's got a lot to do with not having had any drugs during labor. She came out without crying, just looking around at the world. It was the most amazing experience: I remember every second of it, I was alert and focused the whole time, and we made it through fine. At the worst part, I remember thinking: "Okay, this is do or die time now. I feel like I'm going to die, but I'm going to do this!"
So I encourage you to try this delivery without any drugs! The hospital personnel might push you to take something, but you are strong enough to do without! It hurts, but it's so amazing! You and your baby are in your own little world for the first few minutes; just the two of you. And it's incredible when neither of you are bogged down with medicinal interferences.
Good luck and congratulations! :drinker:0 -
Since I used nothing at all for all 5 of my births ( no drugs, no procedures),I have posted this topic before, but I wanted to post it again for more suggestions!! I am 8 months pregnant and am trying to decide on what pain control method to use!! I had an epidural last time and do not want to go that route again!! What have other women found to be helpful in pain management during labor??
I can tell you for certain what causes pain during labor.
It's fear.
The only time I had pain was when I was fearful.
And the only thing that caused my fear was if someone was in the room that I did not want there.
So I got picky about that, and planned ahead of time to have that controlled for me
because I wanted to focus only on the task.
So my suggestion, if you still want to use drugs, to also use fear management...
determine ahead of time what things cause fear for you and address them.
I believe this will give you a much more comfortable labor.0 -
I have given birth to three girls. The first I was in labor for 22 hours and back in the day they discourged any drugs so all I had was a an epesiotomy (sp?) The second the Dr. was late and no nothing and 8 hours of labor, the third they induced labor and if you have ever experienced that you know how bad that is. It was unfortunate that another person was in labor at the same time with the same dr so they kept increasing and decreasing my potosum I finally asked for some demoral which took the edge off but it was rough.
But over all I would not change any of it I celebrated that I knew I was in 'labor' and gave birth to my children nearly drug free0 -
I gave birth at home with 2 midwives. I sat on a stability ball. I rocked in my rocking chair. Sat on the toilet. Vocalized. Read the book "Birthing from Within", those pain management techniques were the most natural to me (they relate to how I naturally deal with pain). I walked around and hugged my husband or midwife during a contraction. I relaxed between contractions. I didn't do anything that made the pain worse (being in bed made the pain worse). I had wonderful midwives and a doula. I looked into people's eyes during contractions (for some reason that helped me feel supported and not alone).
I can't take pain meds (I have a very bad mental reaction to them).
You rock! I was going to have a home birth with my daughter, but ended up in the hospital (long story). In the hospital I ended up going through labor and giving birth naturally without drugs.
Thank you!! You rock too!! Thanks to everyone that said nice things (it means a lot). I like reading ALL your stories as well (even though they are all different)!
To the person below (not directly below), we don't think it's better. We are just sharing our stories.0 -
I had an epidural with no problems.0
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1. Fear doesn't cause pain. Nerve endings cause pain. No one is less afraid when the get an epi. It doesn't block fear or anxiety or apprehension or any other emotion. It blocks pain receptors in nerve endings.
2. Unless it comes out your nose, it's a natural childbirth.
3. Goodie for everyone who gave birth without drugs or epis or medical intervention or whatever. I'm glad for you. But that doesn't make it "better". With my first I was in labor for 25 hours after my water broke. He was 10 lbs 11 oz, 2' tall, had a 15 1/2" head, and was turned sideways. I am eternally grateful that I had the epi. Without it I would absolutely have had to have a C. I hadn't slept in 36 hours and was so exhausted I couldn't focus on anything. After the epi I was able to rest a bit while waiting for labor to progress.
To the one who watched her foot fall off the bed - I hear ya! My doc told my hubby to move my leg back some more. My eyes must have widened when he did because she asked if I was OK. I said "Yea, I can't feel it at all. I didn't know I could move like that. You could tell him to take my leg into the next room and I wouldn't feel it!" :laugh: I was in labor for 14 hours before I got the epi. It was miserable. Afterwards I was able to listen and chat and joke around. It became a much better experience.
With kid 2 I asked my doc if I could have the epi when I was 8 months along. :laugh: Like kid 1 I went into labor by having my water break. With him it was back labor. I scared the guy in triage because I threatened to break his hand if he probed me like that again. Hubby said he thought I may well have done it too. Then the epi came. Ahhh... comfort. I was "only" in labor for 12 hours with him and he was a mere 9 lbs 6 oz and 21 1/2 " long. Good thing he was 2 weeks early!0 -
I will add that an uneducated birth is more likely to be a fearful, painful one. Back in the late 70's and early 80's, we all went to childbirth class. Even though both of my daughters were born in the hospital (home births and birthing centers were less available in my location), I was prepared, ready to do my breathing and relaxation exercises and knew what to expect. I did not need any drugs to deliver healthy babies. Women should look at all their options though and not necessarily rely on doctors to advocate for the least medical intervention necessary. The US has the highest rate of C-section births in the world and a higher rate than we should of infant mortality.
With my second daughter, my doctor wanted to do a C-section just based on the fact that my pre-pregnancy weight was 100 pounds and my baby was over 8 pounds. I said, "let's wait and see how it goes." I went into labor and three hours later, out she came, loudly announcing her joyous presence. I went home later that day and headed to Target to buy diapers.
Do your research and advocate for yourself. And definitely go to childbirth class.0 -
Iv drugs are a joke. I like the epidural. With my last it was a block. worked faster and wore off when takin out so I could move around# sooner. Both ended up in c section though.0
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Amen!1. Fear doesn't cause pain. Nerve endings cause pain. No one is less afraid when the get an epi. It doesn't block fear or anxiety or apprehension or any other emotion. It blocks pain receptors in nerve endings.
2. Unless it comes out your nose, it's a natural childbirth.
3. Goodie for everyone who gave birth without drugs or epis or medical intervention or whatever. I'm glad for you. But that doesn't make it "better".
ETA: Fear does worsen pain -- but those who are saying birth isn't painful unless you're afraid/uneducated, I cry bulls***. Good for you, and I'm happy you had a wonderful, pain-free birth experience, but please don't assume that what was true for you is universal truth.0 -
I never said that labor was a wonderful, pain-free experience. It certainly did hurt, but education, preparation and a "wait and see what might be necessary" attitude would go a long way to reducing the over-interference in childbirth, often making it much riskier than it needs to be. There are several good documentaries on the subject of how one intervention (drug) leads to the next and the next and pretty soon, there is a real problem.
A high risk delivery or complication certainly requires medical intervention and the best medication available, but for most routine deliveries. . . not really.0 -
We have given our genuine experiences!
Many of us are well-seasoned mama's
with lots of experience to share.
I would not discredit anyone else's experience,
and don't want mine discredited.:noway:
Therefore, I will stand behind what I have said as true,
and possibly a great benefit for someone wanting to reduce pain during labor,
or possibly eliminate using meds/procedures altogether.
Mama's and babies are precious!:happy:0 -
Hypnobirthing : http://www.hypnobirthing.com/
After my first child was born (32 hours of non-productive labor, 0 dilation, NO DRUGS (bc they don't give you anything if you don't hit 4cm), followed by c-section), I decided I needed a better strategy for #2 since I was going for VBAC.
Hypnobirthing was so helpful; I was really amazed what it did for me. Although the 2nd birth went much the same as the first (26 hours non-productive labor followed by C-section), I can truly say that with the exception of only 2 5-minute periods of time when I lost focus, I had no pain. This was the complete opposite of the first birth, where I was unprepared, expecting an epidural, couldn't have it, and essentially wailed for 2.5 days.
I highly recommend it. I also used a doula for labor assistance; she was great.
However, since I did have ridiculously long labors that resulted in c-sections for the first 2 kids, I did go a different route for my last 2 kids: My 3rd child was a scheduled C-section (no labor), and my 4th was adopted.0 -
I had pretty much every drug available with my first and it was awful. I had nothing the second time and it was great. I possibly would've considered using just gas, but I don't really like it.0
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ohhh... I thought you meant real drugs.
I was going to say that acid would probably make it the funnest.
Although if you want to feel no pain, angel dust may be the way to go.
LOL!!:laugh:
I should add - I was preparing to get an epidural but ended up going natural. You can do it - women have been doing it natural for a while now...0 -
I gave birth at home, and it was painful (not because of fear). That's just realistic. But, I'm happy I did it that way and it was an amazing experience. I have no regrets.0
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TBH, I was so preoccupied with my labor that I totally FORGOT I could have drugs! So I had my DD totally natural. All 10 pounds, 10 ounces of her. My ob/gyn congratulated me....I could have foregone that for the relief.0
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Oh, yes!I had 3 natural births and the last 2 were at home; no pain meds at all. And I FREAKING love giving birth! LOVE it! I would say to just go with your body and not fight it. Your body knows what its doing. Go in to it strong, cofident and focused, and you will be alright. And on the plus side, you get such a natural high after.
I forgot to mention,
there is this incredible HIGH that lasts for days after natural unmedicated childbirth!!
I only did natural, unmedicated...so I can't say what it's like if you did, but...
the body produces some pretty good stuff lol:smokin:0
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