For those of you who used medical pain management for your labor, what did you use and what was your experience like (e.g. just epidural no narcotics, etc.)? I'm really interested in the different options and know I will get to talk with the dr/midwife when it gets closer, but I'm curious about what fellow bees did. I am on the fence about it altogether but want an option where I am as present as possible. I don't want to feel "high" during or after the birth. And I really don't want to be induced unless absolutely positively "danger zone" necessary.
-
I really recommend the book The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin. It has a whole section on different types of pain medications, the pros/cons of each, which ones will be available at what stages of labor, etc...
Going in, I knew I wanted to avoid narcotics,, and I was ok with an epidural, if needed. I ended up getting an epidural with both kids, and I've only had good experiences. Both times my epidural was turned off when I hit 10 cms, so I was able to feel the contractions and push effectively. I also never felt high or out of it; I was completely present, I just had a lot less pain. With both kids, I was up out of bed and going to the bathroom on my own within two hours of the birth, and I only tore a little bit, both times. I never had any negative side effects, so I'll probably get another epidural when we have another kid.
-
I had an epidural. I had something else first.... I don't even remember what it was. It was a shot in the tush, they couldn't give me the epidural yet because they couldn't admit me to the hospital because I wasn't dilating but I was in SOOOOO much pain I needed something. Whatever it was didn't do anything for me though.
Honestly I didn't feel like I wasn't present or high at all. I just felt like the pain from the contractions were gone. I still felt what they call pressure when it was time to push, and it was a very painful pressure. I was the one telling my nurse and doctor that I wanted and needed to push, and it was still very motivating to get my LO out because like I said, it was painful. Of course not nearly as painful as no epidural would have been, but no walk in the park.
I went into it knowing I wanted an epidural, and I'm very happy with my decision. I get very severe migraines so I know pain, and I know how I deal with it. I know I don't deal with it well, I'm pretty wimpy.
-
I got an epidural and never felt high or not present. In fact, I think I was a bit more present than I was before the epi because I could relax. And, I got to 10cm without the epidural, so I feel like I got the best of both worlds... I just got to push for 3 hours with much less pain
-
@Honeybee: Yep, that's on my "to-read" list. I just like hearing others' experiences as well, though. Thanks!
-
I labored without meds for about 8 hours before asking for my epidural. Never felt high or out of it. Once I had my epidural it was blissssssss. I got to sleep for an hour and asked them to slow the drip so I could feel the contractions coming so I knew when to push.
-
I received narcotics prior to my epidural. The narcotics took the edge off my contractions for the first twenty minutes or so. The first twenty minutes or so I felt drunk but it quickly wore off. With the epidural I did not feel drugged up at all. I was calm and able to rest.
-
You won't feel drugged up from an epidural since it doesn't go into your blood... It just numbs. I felt a "high" while going thru transition drug free! I kind of passed out and could hear people asking me questions, but I couldn't respond.
-
@mrs. wagon: I know the epidural itself won't make me feel drugged, it's the other options I'm trying to find out about -- and about whether they're even necessary or an epidural alone is fine (I know everybody's different though).
I was talking to a friend who said she could still feel a lot so she opted to get narcotics as well, and she felt so high during birth she wouldn't even push when her doctors told her to. Apparently her baby was in the birth canal for like 3 hours! The story kind of freaked me out, so that's why I'm seeking other experiences
-
I had only an epidural prior to delivery and never felt high or out of it. After I had delivered they gave me a percocet to help with post delivery pain (I had a lot of stitches), and that did make me feel "high" so when I requested that they not give me any more of those and just took high dose ibuprofen.
-
I had to wait for my epidural because the anesthesiologist was in a c-section. I was in so much pain that I opted for narcotics (I don't remember what they gave me). They only did a half dose at first (in my IV) and then 30 min later gave me the rest of it. I never felt high, just kinda sleepy. But considering by that point I had only slept 3 hours in the last 24 hours that could be why. It took the edge off but didn't really help with the pain. I think I ended up with two doses all together by the time I got the epi. When it came time to push I don't remember if they turned it down but I definitely felt when I needed to push. There was a lot of pressure and if I had my hand on my stomach I could feel when I had a contraction.
-
I was on the fence about pain management prior to labor. I watched The Business of Being Born and felt empowered by it -- I wanted to keep my options open, but I thought that maybe I can handle it.
When labor started, all my delusions of a "natural" birth went out the window. First off, I was induced because my amniotic fluid was heavily tainted with menconium. I was begging for an epidural! I was offered "laughing gas" but didn't know how to work the thing until I was already 5+ cm dilated. When a doctor was finally tracked down to administer my epidural, it failed! By the time she told me it failed, I was already 8 cm and I knew I wouldn't be able to get the spinal she promised that would have been administered by another doctor.
I was cursing Ricky Lake during my labor! No joke! I felt everything and as a woman that felt everything, I can honestly say that I didn't get anything from feeling all that pain. All of the sudden, Posh Spice isn't all that bad for all her scheduled c-sections!
-
I had an epidural and refused other pain meds that they offered me while I waited for my epidural. I had read some things here about some other drugs possibly making you groggy or not totally with it once the baby was born. I wanted to be there in the moment, not feel funny from drugs. I also respond funny to drugs sometimes. I got really woozy and felt outside my own body when I took something stronger than Motrin at the hospital so, I'm glad I refused the other meds that they put in your blood stream. I feel stronger today that I was able to do that knowing what a wuss I am with pain.
I guess I should say, I finally said yes to the narcotics about 2 seconds before the anesthesiologist came in because I was in SO MUCH FRAKING PAIN so I never got them. Haha.
-
I had an epidural twice. Never felt drugged or out of it. I was completely aware of what was happening.
I loved it. No issues. I was up and moving around within hours, well once my other medical issues were handled as I had complicated births. But the epidural was nothing but helpful and great! -
@c.sassy: I always say this! I felt more present and in control after I had the epidural. I could feel contractions but I wasn't stuttering, convulsing or almost vomiting from the pain anymore. I felt really powerful and confident.
DS was posterior and basically had to be turned, cut (huge episiotomy) and vacuumed out, so anesthesia would've been administered at the end either way. -
@Crumbs: Oh wow, that sucks!
-
An epidural shouldn't make you feel loopy, but Stadol might.
-
I had a morphine shot to the butt early on, and I was really hesitant to get it, but I only did it because I was hoping it would help me relax and dilate, which it did not, but at least I recall getting some sleep from it. I gave into an epidural as well and that was such an amazing experience, though not so amazing when it was wearing off. It did give me a chance to rest and so when it came time to push, I had no problems performing at that point. I was fully present and felt the pressure/contractions, but they were not painful at all.
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
17 comments