Drugs during labor

I had a midwife - no epidural - just some wimpy IV something or other. I'd suggest discussing your options w/your dr beforehand and coming up with a plan A and plan B.

I went au natural. No meds of any kind with both my daughters. I used the Hypnobirthing method and LOVED every min of labor and delivery. It was enjoyable being able to control the pain, knowing that I was bringing my daughters into the world.

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??

Since I used nothing at all for all 5 of my births ( no drugs, no procedures),
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.

I agree with this; for my first birth I was frightened and everything seemed to be going wrong; I felt a lot of pain and had no backup plan (was not permitted epidural bc I never dilated).

For my 2nd I had gone through hypnobirthing and had a doula. I truly never had pain except for 2 5-minute periods when I became frightened and distracted -- both times were a result of being roughly "checked" by a rude nurse who announced "no progress! you'll be in surgery soon" (*****). However, as soon as I refocused I was fine again.

I had some kind of drugs; don't know what and I didn't care. I didn't feel the push but I was told that I did push. I was very small and my baby was 8.5 lbs. I spend 7 days in the hospital because my uterus didn't want to contract back, not due to the drugs but because the bay was very large. Epidural was not an option 40 years go.

One year later I was induced with my second pregnancy. Things were better but I also got drugs. That was it for me.

hahaha funny !

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.

Sorry--wasn't geared as an attack at you, but at a message for the OP. There are a lot of people who are VERY adamant that THEIR way is the right/only way. Some people actually DO say labor isn't painful (there was one on this thread); others have said it was downright orgasmic. Well bully for them, but I think if it's not phrased very carefully, it puts a lot of pressure/false expectations on the mom, or sends a message that they're somehow less-than. Much like those who are adamant a REAL woman who cares anout her child will do it drug free. Or those who have a sickness-free, glowing, wonderful pregnancy full of sunshine and daisies and fart butterflies instead of gas, who make the people who have been miserable for nine months and just want the monster OUT of them already feel like crap. There's a lot of one-upmanship in the mommy business, and a lot of propaganda about how blissful it's all supposed to be as long as you're doing it right, which lays all the blame and guilt squarely on your shoulders if it's not what you've read/heard about.
Okay, ending rant now ... OP, I am happy for you, and hope to again be in your shoes in the not-too-distant future!

^^^ Yea, that!

Oh, and to the person who keeps harping on the "high" afterwards from going unmedicated - that has nothing at all to do with medication/epidurals/etc and can be experienced by anyone whether they go drug free or are knocked out cold. It's hormonal. It has everything to do with your body's hormones fluctuating and nothing at all to do with whether or not you had medical or medicinal assistance.

With my first I had an epidural as I was in labour for a long time and couldn't cope any longer.

Second time around my daughter wanted out, I didn't have time for an epidural or any drugs. I will tell you what, it was the better of the two. I could get up more or less straight away to shower and I wasn't confined to the bed afterwards as I could move freely. I was able to take better care with my daughter and I was allowed to go the next morning unlike waiting all day.

If I have a third I would definitely go for the second option as I felt fantastic!

I had both of my children natural no pain killers. I wouldn't advise it and I wouldn't do it again.

If you really don't want an epidural, you may find that it is worth it for you to simply do it without pain meds. You might find it suprising what you are capable of! There's something pretty amazing about giving birth without that stuff. For me, going without meds was worth not being stuck on a bed attached to machines and feeling like a beached whale if I could avoid it. Mental imagary and relaxation techniques got me through. I agree with emsybubs though that there are situations when an epidural is called for. Arm yourself with information, be prepared and go from there! Best wishes to you!

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...

I called laughing gas "placebo gas". It did nothing at all for me.

My wife who was due on 9/7, we are still waiting for that little bugger to come, has decided she doesn't want anything and wants me to hold her to it. I said honey that's your decision, not mine. She's like if I am screaming for it, don't let them give it to me. My response is the same your decision, I am not gonna be in the pain that you will be in and I don't feel comfortable making that call.

I was that way with my first...until five hours into the induction...the epidural allowed me to get some rest (and even nap) for a couple of hours before the TWO HOURS of pushing...9lb, 5oz, 99%ile for head size, one week overdue. So I had the energy to push and to bond with this person who promptly shat on my arm...he's 13 now.

My second came toooo fast for the epidural.

I tried Nubain before my epi with my son. It just made me feel sleepy and drunk, then wore off almost exactly 1 hour after they gave it to me. Had Epidurals with both children, both worked great, and I felt awesome afterwards. I have very fond memories of the birth of my children instead of painful ones!

Hi

I had entonox (gas and air) with both boys, both around 7lbs, labour was 4 hrs and 2 hrs respectively...went home next day, no stitches or problems.

I was lucky with my labours though and in UK epidurals are not as commonly used, best bet is to talk to your anesthetist and OBGYN and work out whats best for you.

Everything has pros and cons....epidurals numb you so no pain but it can slow labour down, gas and air is like being drunk but you are in control, although there is obviously pain.

Best bit of advice is not to use your energy to scream but to push...once you get that sorted everything moves faster lol

good luck and hope everything goes well

martyxx

I hummed. No screaming, not yelling, just hummed! My SISTERS held my hands and occasionally my feet and I hummed my 2nd (VBAC @ 41 weeks ~ 9lbs 10.2 oz.) out of me. I got to 10 cm and the nurse told my sisters to hold my feet and push 3x10 seconds. I told her I couldn't do it, she told me I would never get that baby out and would get another C-Section. I put my feet down, arched my back with the next contraction, hummed, pushed, and out my Lizzy came. The doctor barely had time to get his gloves on. The humming worked so well for me!

I had 4 at home. 9lb, 9.8lb, 9.15 and last baby was 10.15lbs. Her head and chest were the largest ever delivered by my midwife.
I know some people say natural endorphin high, birthing without pain is possible. . . for some maybe that is true, but labor is just that - work, pain, it sucks and I spend 9 months dreading the labor to the point that I hyperventilate til I go through my "seriously girl, you can do this!". First labor was 36 hours and 4 hours of pushing, second labor was 56 hours of ACTIVE labor (I truly thought at times I might die, but baby never got in distress) 4 hours of pushing again (cervix was always in the way due to posterior babies which by the way are NO fun with back labor and pushing out), and 3rd baby (which I almost did not have *G*), was only 7 hours and 3 pushes. I thought "I can do this again." 4th baby was 10lb 15 oz, 17 hours of labor 2 weeks of constant painful prelabor, and the most pain I have ever imagined one could be in . . . it was also my hardest recovery, but I'm no spring chick any more and what I have to compare to was moving across two states and going to state fair, a wedding and a bluegrass festival the day after baby 1 was born, visiting relatives 10 hours after baby 2 was born and 2 days later traveling across 3 states (I have such miserable pregnancies that I am invigorated the second the baby is born LOL), baby #3 I was working 8 hours later and then baby 4 I was not able to do my normal stuff for 10 days.
Was it worth it - I love them all dearly, and yes the body can go through it but I do NOT forget that pain when I see my beautiful daughter's faces *G*.
Seriously, we are strong people, capable of doing much and my thoughts are that as uncomfortable as it is, I will NOT die of pain during labor - yeah it and sucks but it does end. Believe me, if I was not at home I would succumb to drugs because when you are in pain and somebody comes and says, "Just think it will get 10x harder, you might have another 24 hours of this, and if we wait much longer you can't have any meds, and the anesthesiologist is going off in 1 hour so if you want anything to take the edge of it is either now or never." - it takes a mighty strong person to say "Get lost and stop offering me things." One reason I do it at home so there is no option, because for me any potential for reactions, slowed down labor, problems pushing, slow to start babies, nursing problems, potential for c-section because your meds are stressing baby etc, me paralyzed etc are not worth it. I thank God for hospitals and doctors (I am married to a medical professional), but the hospital full of sick people is not the place to have a healthy baby for me, and any meds with side affects are not going to be taken when I can do it without.
I would have a c-section if I needed one - in a second! - and am thankful I have had the experiences I had (although I really could have done with 3/4 hr to 4 hour labors like my Mom . . ), and it is totally up to each couple what they choose to do, but I am a very pragmatic and pessimistic kind of gal so I am not into telling people that doing it "naturally" is a high, it doesn't hurt or if you do it with the right breathing or the right way it won't hurt. Water birth makes a huge difference for my back labors, and having a good doula makes the time go by faster and is great to have that support.
I hope it all works out well, you pop that baby out in 1/2 hour of non existent labor and can walk out the hospital a day later ready to hit the road running