Drugs during labor

I had iv drugs with my daughter before a spinal. I can't remember what though. I also had epidurals with each of my boys. I wish I could offer you more info. The iv meds only helped for a little while. It really did not do enough for me. The spinal I could feel nothing, the epidurals for the boys did not work well at all. They were both on my sciatic nerve and it did not block it each time.

I hope you get some good information and I wish you a healthy quick delivery. Good luck!

I had an epidural after 6 hours hard labor, and it was AWESOME. I know a lot of women have crummy side effects, but my anesthesiologist was a wizard, and did a beautiful job. It killed ALL of the pain, but I still felt every contraction, and when to push.

Next kid, though, I'm gonna go my best to go with no drugs at all.

My epidural was wonderful until my oldest son refused to come out (aka failure to progress) and I needed a c section. My other two sons had to be c-section too. My hospital wouldn't do a VBAC after the c-section.

I would go with whatever the anesthesiologist would recommend for you and your situation and health needs.

Congratulations and good luck.

My epidural was wonderful until my oldest son refused to come out (aka failure to progress) and I needed a c section. My other two sons had to be c-section too. My hospital wouldn't do a VBAC after the c-section.

I would go with whatever the anesthesiologist would recommend for you and your situation and health needs.

Congratulations and good luck.

I havn't had kids yet, but I agree with this. Also, you could probably ask them what types of pain meds are out there for birthing too.

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.

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).

I have no idea. My epidural didn't work and by the time the nurse decided to believe me and order morphine, it was too late.

I had demoral with my first and nothing else. Had her in 3 hours though so she came fast. Had my son in 6 hours and had nothing. Learn some breathing techniques they should help. I'd rather have a baby with no pain meds than have a tooth pulled being numb. Having the baby hurts way less : )

I had an hour of relief from an epidural with my first, and 19 hour labor. That sucked...

My 2nd, I got the epi again, first real contraction. It was God's gift I swear.

I'll get it again too when I have another.

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.

lucky you that u can use epidural!!!!!!! Im my country we dont use that!!! so ... push hard and with painnnnnnnnnn! and my boys were like dinosaurs!! huge babys hahaha!!:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

so i dont really know how is an epidural ! i just push very hard with the contractions!

I had 2 drug free births with my daughters, BUT with both I told the nurses that if I ask for drugs give them to me lol.. I used a birthing center so epidurals wern't and option but I made sure the nurses had gas on 'stand by' I just didn't end up wanting anything.. not sure why lol it hurt like hell but since the pain comes and goes it was managable..

anyway I geuss what i'm saying is choose what you want and ask them to have it ready if you want it but don't make any definate plans because you never knnow what your going to want untill your actually in labour and you might find you don't want anything either.. hope this helps lol

I would avoid Stadol (butorphanol) at all costs. Might not be able to get it even if you wanted it right now due to national backorder situation and only one US approved manufacturer. I was given that with my first child because I was experiencing some significant back labor pain and wasn't sure yet that I wanted to go the epidural route. I hated it. It did nothing to relieve my pain. It just made me fall asleep between contractions during which brief naps I would begin to dream vivid and often unpleasant dreams. Then I'd wake up as the next contraction started and would be babbling crazy stuff out of my dreams leaving my husband and mother wondering what I was going on about. I'd realize it had happened again and tell them never mind, but I started to wonder if I was losing my mind. Boy was I glad when *THAT* wore off! I wound up having an epidural later and felt no pain after that. I could still feel the contractions come and go, they just didn't hurt, and I didn't have problems pushing.

My second labor was a much better experience, the epidural failed somehow (never got pain relief from it), but the baby was in the proper position (first child came out sunny-side up and got a little stuck in the birth canal), I had come up with some good personal techniques for dealing with the pain, and due to the quirk with the epidural my nurse turned down the oxytocin (IV drug that stimulates contractions) long enough that I relaxed better and dialated quickly. World of difference.

So I feel like an epidural or not is entirely up to you and the situation in which you find yourself, but I don't recommend butorphanol. The hospital I work at now is using low dose fentanyl in its place, but I've never had fentanyl to comment on it. I highly recommend practicing relaxation/calming techniques before your labor begins... teach yourself to feel your muscles relax one area at a time, slow and deepen your breathing, and feel your heart rate slow a little. If you can talk yourself into letting your stress seep out and leave your muscles deeply relaxed like that you can use that to help diffuse some of the pain... tensing against the pain will only make it worse and I feel like it makes you labor longer too.

Best wishes on your birth!

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.