https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 03:28:29 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/analgesics-alone-no-epi-to-manage-labor-pain#post-406517 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:56:11 +0000 heffalump 406517@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also didn't think toradol would be safe. I get severe migraines and had some doctors tell me it was safe for pregnancy and some tell me no...... well I ended up getting a lot more no's than yes's so I just stopped taking it because it was freaking me out way too much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/analgesics-alone-no-epi-to-manage-labor-pain#post-406050 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 12:17:29 +0000 Honeybee 406050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I knew going into labor that I wanted to avoid narcotics, but I was open to having an epidural. My main concern was that I would get a couple doses of iv meds, and then I wouldn't be allowed another dose when I was in the most (transition) because of the effects on the baby. I wanted something I would be able to do the whole way through labor, and that would last until the end. (As it is, my epidurals both wore off by the time I was pushing, but I was ok with that since I only pushed 1/2 hour with both kids). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/analgesics-alone-no-epi-to-manage-labor-pain#post-406011 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:48:02 +0000 mrsmenow 406011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had Stadol with #2 and it is my biggest regret about that labor. I hit traansition really fast and panicked and asked for IV medications, trying to avoid an epi. It completely stalled labor until it wore off. No progress at all after I had dilated from 6 to 7 in about 20 mintues. I was up able to move around after getting it, it made me feel really drunk and didn't help much with the pain. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/analgesics-alone-no-epi-to-manage-labor-pain#post-405980 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:33:21 +0000 loveisstrange 405980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@photojane: It was awesome and I managed to get through 15.5 hours of Pitocin labor with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/analgesics-alone-no-epi-to-manage-labor-pain#post-405971 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:26:42 +0000 photojane 405971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: haha.. i was just tell my husband how i wish they did this in america still! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/analgesics-alone-no-epi-to-manage-labor-pain#post-405968 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:25:30 +0000 loveisstrange 405968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>After my epidural failed, I had some kind of pill... I don't honestly know what it was, and gas and air. The pills didn't really do much for me besides make me kind of nauseous but the gas and air was WONDERFUL. It doesn't deaden any pain, but it basically gets you super high and you just dont care anymore. lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/analgesics-alone-no-epi-to-manage-labor-pain#post-405962 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:21:54 +0000 twinmama 405962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>FWIW, I think I could have gotten through the pain fine on a lower dose of something. I didn't mind feeling contractions, and actually would probably have preferred feeling dull contractions over numbness. But like pps have said, the analgesics hit your bloodstream and thus cross the placenta to the babies, whereas the epi does not. I didn't like the idea of a needle in my spine, but I really didn't like the idea of my babies being affected by pain meds. Luckily I didn't have any ill effects from the epi though, I might feel differently if I had. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/analgesics-alone-no-epi-to-manage-labor-pain#post-405918 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:02:44 +0000 Rock n Roll 405918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went for epi just because the nurse said the other medication "kind of makes you feel like you're drunk" and I really wanted to be very mentally aware when I had my baby so I could remember it clearly. Also, if anything went wrong or I had to make any sudden decisions regarding the baby's care or my care I wanted to be fully mentally present to make those decisions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/analgesics-alone-no-epi-to-manage-labor-pain#post-405916 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:02:18 +0000 ladyfingers 405916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: Oh, interesting. Our birth class instructor mentioned it several times and she is a doula. Oops! Thanks for the info. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/analgesics-alone-no-epi-to-manage-labor-pain#post-405906 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:59:44 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 405906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did not get an epidural, but I did accept some Fentanyl after 3 hours of pushing. My midwife told me it would help me relax between contractions (they also gave me oxygen). It did help me relax &amp; I felt slightly drowsy between contractions. It did not block the pain of the contractions, but since I could catch my breath it made it easier to cope.</p> <p>I had been induced, so I was already hooked to an IV &amp; had continuous monitoring (my nurse got me the wireless monitors so I could walk around with the IV pole). I would say that any medications you receive will require an IV and continuous monitoring, which may impair your ability to move around.</p> <p>As far as DS, he didn't suffer from any obvious problems. It did take him a full day to start breastfeeding properly. He was dead asleep when we tried the first time, but I also didn't get skin-to-skin right away &amp; he didn't get a shot at eating for nearly an hour, so it may have been that not the fentanyl. But he became a champ at eating after a few days! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/analgesics-alone-no-epi-to-manage-labor-pain#post-405903 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:59:22 +0000 runsyellowlites 405903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: I prefer toradol over other pain meds for sure but its not safe in L&amp;D</p> <p>"RISK DURING LABOR AND DELIVERY<br /> The use of TORADOL (ketorolac tromethamine) in labor and delivery is contraindicated because it may adversely affect fetal circulation and inhibit uterine contractions. The use of TORADOL (ketorolac tromethamine) is contraindicated in nursing mothers because of the potential adverse effects of prostaglandin-inhibiting drugs on neonates." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/analgesics-alone-no-epi-to-manage-labor-pain#post-405901 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:59:01 +0000 mrs. wagon 405901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have taken anything when I was in pain (hehe) but I'd prefer the epi rather than anything that goes into your bloodstream. The epi drugs never leave your spine and only numb, they don't affect your blood or brain at all, so I felt more comfortable with the epidural. To me, a needle stick is a needle stick...!! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/analgesics-alone-no-epi-to-manage-labor-pain#post-405884 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:53:46 +0000 ladyfingers 405884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@highwire: I know my hospital won't give you analgesics past a certain point because of making the baby drowsy, so I wouldn't worry about that as much as myself being drowsy. That does make sense. </p> <p>@runsyellowlites: Ok good to know, I do not want to be limited in my movement (or at least I want freedom for as long as possible) so this is probably not a good option for me.</p> <p>It's just confusing because I took Toradol when I had a kidney stone specifically because it's non-narcotic, and it didn't make me woozy at all. I know Demerol is narcotic, I'd never heard of Stadol but I figured Toradol would be the best bet for me being present. Maybe I'm wrong, though, or it's different when you get it in IV versus the oral dose I was taking it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/analgesics-alone-no-epi-to-manage-labor-pain#post-405876 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:50:07 +0000 runsyellowlites 405876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had stadol with my first (before my "just in case" epi) &amp; HATED it.</p> <p>You feel drunk like &amp; can't move around at all once you get it because you're a fall risk... and when I had DS 8 years ago they cut off the drugs at 8 cm so baby wouldn't be groggy (don't know if its still like that). IMO, from both my experiences, it's easier to deal with transition when you've worked up to it (even tired) than barely feeling anything &amp; then bam crazy contractions.</p> <p>I definitely enjoyed my unmedicated birth with DD better &amp; in the first pp months when DD was crazy difficult &amp; we both questioned having more kids ever, the idea of actually "having" them kept me open. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/analgesics-alone-no-epi-to-manage-labor-pain#post-405867 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:45:42 +0000 DillonLion 405867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My understanding is that analgesics not only make you woozy/sleepy/out of it but also make the baby drowsy. I don't really want to take anything that might impact the baby that way, and it can also negatively impact breastfeeding. The epidural, on the other hand, doesn't do anything like that to the baby. I'd rather get the epidural for that reason. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/analgesics-alone-no-epi-to-manage-labor-pain#post-405864 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:42:35 +0000 T.H.O.U. 405864@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got Stadol because I didn't think I could wait for the epi. </p> <p>I almost immediately fell asleep and felt very loopy. It didn't wear off until after the birth. </p> <p>Its my one regret that I would change. I would have just gone for the epi that didn't effect my mind and make me drowsy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/analgesics-alone-no-epi-to-manage-labor-pain#post-405854 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:37:46 +0000 ladyfingers 405854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm full of questions this morning lol.</p> <p>Did anybody use an analgesic (stadol, demerol, tordol) to manage labor pain and do it without an epidural? I was talking to a girl yesterday whose friend managed to do it on stadol alone. Since I'm nervous about what an epidural might do to my labor pattern and everything else about it, I'm wondering if this would be a good option to keep in my mind. </p> <p>If you used an analgesic, did it still require interventions like a catheter, IV, and/or internal monitoring? Were you able to move around freely into different pushing positions? Or move around during contractions? Or were you still bound to the bed once you received these meds? That's one of my biggest concerns about an epidural.</p> <p>I understand that I might still want an epidural, but I like options. I have my next OB appointment tomorrow so I want to get his thoughts on it as well. </p>