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My SIL used it, haven't heard her feedback. Where I worked we used fentanyl - would tell people it would make you somewhat "drunk" and while they would feel the pain they wouldn't care as much about it. My two cents is that stadol (and similar) is a narcotic pain medication that is systemic - meaning the baby is exposed. So you can't get it too close to delivery because that could mean a sleepy baby during the important transition. This is part of the reason I prefer epidurals and went straight to that during my labor when I wanted pain control, because it's not systemic so the baby isn't exposed to the medication. And LO definitely was not a sleepy baby!

Sorry that wasn't exactly what you were asking but I have a pet peeve with people thinking getting narcotic pain meds in their IV is better than an epidural, and I feel like it's poorly understood by people. Or maybe I'm just defensive about my epidural! Ha! Wouldn't change that for a second though

@blackbird: I started with Stadol while waiting for my epi, and it really made me feel drunk and sleepy. I still felt every last bit of my labor through the Stadol, but almost fell asleep between contractions (though they were only a minute or two apart).

I had it during labor with LO before electing an epidural, it made me feel incredibly high. My thoughts were very fuzzy, I don't quite remember how effective it was at controlling the pain.

I had demoral (sp?), so not the same, but it was a narcotic. My experience was same as @2PeasinaPod, except more extreme in that narcotic painkillers make me so lethargic I literally can't move without a massive effort. So I wound up unable to move, sleepy to the point of falling asleep in the 30 seconds between contractions, but still felt every damn thing. Since I react so badly to narcotic painkillers, I'm not a great example of what they're like, but I would personally far rather not have drugs and feel in control of myself more. And for me, being on painkillers does NOT make me "not care" about the pain like everyone says. It just makes it so I can't move or just be awake to be prepared for it.

@Torchwood: Yes, they were waking me up in between contractions. I ended up pushing for 3 hours. Not sure if it was because I was so out of it or why.

I don't remember what I had, I just know it didn't work and it made me vomit. I had to wait for the epi because the anesthesiologist was in a c-section.

@2PeasinaPod: I was already nauseous from labor and that just sent me over the edge! And we had pasta the night before

I had it for my first labor, and it made me completely pass out. Like within 45 seconds. Not too bad, I was able to sleep through labor, I only remember waking up a couple of times with really bad contractions and when I got the epidural.
I was able to wake up and snap out of it when it was time to push, but I was completely gone before that.

I have heard terrible things about Stadol. My MIL said they gave it to her when she was in labor, and she still felt everything she just lost the ability to express herself. And my best friend took it -- she had a failed epidural -- and she said it put her out of her right mind.

I made it to 9.5cm and then got an epi because I didn't progress after a few hours. (My total unmedicated labor lasted 17 hours.) Based on my experience, I would rather experience that than take Stadol.

I had a 33 hour induction and when I wasn't progressing well at hour 24, I had a dose of stadol. I LOVED it, it helped me get some rest and relax enough to finally progress and my water finally broke. I used another half dose later shortly before getting my epidural because I was TERRIFIED of the epidural. The stadol definitely did its job but it really did make me feel drunk/high/sleepy. But, I had been up nearly two days at that point and laboring w pitocin for a full day so I really WAS tired and needed that help. I was so relaxed and calm after getting some sleep. The half dose is what I would try first next time, FWIW, but I'm not a doctor.
If you like and trust your doctor and want to go this route, I say do it.

ETA: I did hallucinate/dream about the Berenstein Bears. Maybe it makes me an awful mom (ha) but I actually found that really pleasant and it's one of the parts of my birth story that makes me smile two years later. Also, C was totally fine when she came out, no sleepiness.

@jessibear: Yes I think it Def helped me get epidurall

I had some kind of narcotic when I was in labor. I honestly dont remember what it was. I remember not liking it though. It made me dizzy and nauseous and didn't do anything for the pain.

And yeah.... nitrous is fucking boss. They really need to do that here.

I had it. Took the edge off in the beginning with both kids. Come time for the next dose it stopped working entirely. Second dose didn't even take the edge off.