Moms: I'm full of questions now that I'm near the end! ...

W

wendymin72

Cathlete
I have been thinking about the drug issue during labor...

Flat out, I would prefer NOT to take anything for many reasons BUT I am not going to the hospital with my mind already made up...I want to keep an open mind to it because I just might need the help with the pain!

My question to you ladies is...

Who opted for the pain relief, what did you take and why?

Who did not take anything and why not?

~Wendy~

I smoked my last cigarette on March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm!

http://lilypie.com/days/050519/1/0/1/-5/.png[/img]
EDD: 05/19/05
 
I did opt for pain relief. When I was 6 cm dilated I had a drug (not sure what it was) put into my IV and as soon as it wore off at 10 cm I had an epidural. Yup they still gave me an epidural at 10 cm. I opted for an IV drug first because I had heard that an epidural can sometimes slow your contractions. My reasoning for medication is simple. With all the modern advances in medicine why not be relatively pain free and "enjoy" the labor experience if the medication does not harm the baby or yourself. However, next time I will only opt for the epidural because the IV drug was way too strong and made me sick and I hardly remember anything until the drug wore off.
 
Hi Wendy,
I can’t believe how close it has become for you!

My DH and I were dead set on having a water birth. We did TONS of research on it and spoke to several midwives. I did not want to take any drugs either. However, things did not go according to our plan. My son was breech, so I told to have a cesarean.
There were a couple of midwives who said I should still have a water birth, but there were too many possibilities of complications.
My opinion is to keep your mind open to taking something to ease the pain. There is no reason to suffer with the pain of childbirth, when the doctors are there to help you.

Susan C.M.
Nothing should be jiggling, unless it's jiggling off. - Cathe in HSC
 
I had decided not to have any pain relief ahead of time and then ended up getting an epidural. The pain wasn't unbearable, but I was vomiting a lot during labor and was told that if I had the epidural, that could help with the vomiting. I got the epidural and got relief very quickly and was able to totally enjoy the birth of my first son. I have no regrets at all.

Good luck!!!

Erica
 
Hi Wendy! You sure are getting close to that special day when you get to meet your little guy. :) With my first baby I was very set on not having the pain relief. I had done the whole lamaze, learning to breath, etc. By about 5 cm I was crying and really couldn't focus anymore on the process. My husband lovingly convinced me to get an epidural. It was a beautiful moment :) After that I was able to take a nap and rest before the delivery. By the second one, I didn't even mess around. When I came into the hospital to be induced I told them I wanted the epidural as soon as possible. It just made the experience half-way enjoyable. I certainly still felt the contractions and the urge to push but was not in the kind of pain that makes you want to pass out. I can tell you this one will have an epidural too :) Whatever decision you make is fine, as long as it's what you want and are comfortable with. And don't feel bad about yourself or guilty if you opt for some pain relief sometime during the labor. That's ok, and many, many moms have done it before you. And many will after you!! Heather
 
My first two I had no pain relief at all. My third was c-section because he was a month early and breech and the Dr. could not get him to turn around. The nurses tried to stop the contractions but he was determined to come. With the first I just wanted to feel the whole birthing process. I remember feeling first my son on his way out. That is not something I will forget and that is why I didn't take any meds the second time (even though the process was longer)either.
 
I had no pain reliever with both. Both came very fast and I didn't trust the pain relievers. Even the doctor I had didn't recommend it as well as my midwife. I'm very happy I didn't get any pain reliever. When you get STRONG pain, that means you're very close to deliver. Some moms just can't tolerate pain no matter what. I know for sure my cousin will have epidural since she has no tolerance for pain.

Lisa
 
RE: Moms: I'm full of questions now that I'm near the e...

"With the first I just wanted to feel the whole birthing process"

************************************

I too want to feel it. I want to remember it. This is one big reason why I'd prefer not to take any pain meds if I can tolerate it. I also want my recovery to be as quick as possible and medications will hamper that progress as well...

My DH and I talked about this for a few minutes last night and his concern is that I am able to rest between contractions. He wants me to save my energy for the delivery so he said he'd like to see me take a med if only to relax me so that I don't drain all of my energy before it's time to push. I can certainly undertstand his point also.

I guess only time will tell what I decide to do...Thanks ladies!:)

~Wendy~

I smoked my last cigarette on March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm!

http://lilypie.com/days/050519/1/0/1/-5/.png[/img]
EDD: 05/19/05
 
RE: Moms: I'm full of questions now that I'm near the e...

BELIEVE ME, when it's time to push, you will have the energy!!!! ;-) I was tired with my first due to pitocin, not enough sleep, etc then when it came to time for pushing, I was FILLED with energy and Nick came out in 5 minutes.

Lisa
 
RE: Moms: I'm full of questions now that I'm near the e...

With my first son, I didn't use any pain medication. It wasn't really that painful for me. I had to have pitocin (sp?) as I have problems dilating for some reason. I got to 9 1/2 and stayed there for four hours. But even with pitocin, it wasn't that hard for me. My son was 7.2 lbs.

However, my second son I took some pain meds in my IV. I can't remember the name. It started with an F-e-n I believe. It made me really sleepy. In between contractions, I just went to sleep. Once again I had the same problem with dilating. They broke my water when I was at an eight. Then the contractions slowed down to 10 minutes apart instead of speeding up. That's when I said pitocin and pain meds. My second son was 8.11. I believe the stronger pain was due to the size difference. I can tell you pushing out a 7.1 baby and a 8.11 are a HUGE difference!!

I didn't want an epidural as I already have back issues and have read that if done incorrectly you can have back pain where they insert the needle. Plus that huge needle just freaks me out. But now that I'm pregnant for the third time, I have to say I have been thinking about an epidural.

I think it all depends on your own personal pain tolerance and each labor and delivery is different. You have to do what you feel is best for you. I know that I felt taking pain meds was cheating. It's not. Just go with your own experience and make that decision when you're experiencing your own labor.
 
RE: Moms: I'm full of questions now that I'm near the e...

Hi Lisa,

I can imagine that when it's time for delivery/pushing you are sooo excited that you can very easily get a second wind to get the little bugger out! :)

As much as I understand my DH's point I have to wonder if while a med may help me to "rest", won't it also have the opposite affect as far as my energy to where as much it will help me to rest, it will also drain my energy...I'm sure these pain meds are not the "non drowsy" type! lol Except, ofcourse, for the epidural...which, even though, at first it appears to be the best option is the one I am tending to shy away from the most because it forces one to be bed-ridden and I am not fond of that idea...Hmmm...so many things to consider...jeesh! :p
lol

~Wendy~

I smoked my last cigarette on March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm!

http://lilypie.com/days/050519/1/0/1/-5/.png[/img]
EDD: 05/19/05
 
RE: Moms: I'm full of questions now that I'm near the e...

Wendy,

My advice to you would be to KNOW what they are doing to you every step of the way. With my first I had an epidural and it was up too high and I didn't like feeling trapped in the bed. (This was 14 years ago, though, I think things are more precise now.) With my second, I was determined to go natural and ended up regretting that decision.... I didn't realize it at the time, but when they hooked up my IV, they also hooked me up to pitocin (without ever telling me this), so my contractions were very painful. By the time I wanted an epidural, the anesthesiologist was not available. Afterwards when I realized what happened, I was really pissed. So you or DH have to ask questions and understand everything as you go through, you know what I mean? Pitocin helps, but it also makes things harder, so you will want to consider how to balance that if you go that route.

I will tell you, though, that this was good motivation to push, lol. I started pushing at 7 and had him at 7:02, and he was 9 pounds, 6 ounces!

I'm sure you will do great, and once you have the little bugger in your hands, you do actually forget all about how he got there...

Good luck!!
Marie
 
With my first I didn't have any pain meds, and plan to go that route with this one, too. I went into the situation with the attitude that I would do my best to go without meds, but I wasn't going to be a martyr and would take the epidural if things got really bad. Never having had a baby before, I had no idea what to realistically expect.

I chose to have a non-medicated birth because I felt it allowed me to be an active participant in the birth of my child, and would allow me to recover quicker, too. It appears that everyone's level of pain during childbirth is an individual experience. My contractions became painful, for sure, but never anything that made me feel like I was going to pass out, or even come close to that.

A huge help for me to remain unmedicated was having my doula with me. Her knowledge of exactly what was going on, and what I could expect, took the fear out of the process. She also knew what to do to help me through the contractions. There's lots of things that can be done to ease the pain a bit.

My daughter was a large baby (9lbs, 9oz), and I was told by my doula that her size was less of a factor in how much it hurt to deliver her than was the position of her head. Apparently, a baby whose head is in perfect alignment will deliver much easier than one whose head is just a little at an angle, or off a bit. And if the baby's face is facing your belly button (rather than your spine), you will experience "back labour", which is apparently *extremely* painful.

So, I will hire a doula for this birth, and hope that Baby aligns herself up well. But again, if the pain becomes unbearable, I won't be a martyr.

Ooh, another tip: when you are at the point of actively pushing the baby out, ask to have a mirror placed so you can see the action (they have those). It will help you to watch what's going on; you can actually see a difference when you push effectively, versus not. (Again, my doula was a gem here, because she told me exactly how to push, and explained what I was doing wrong). And when you actually see the baby's head begin to crown, you will get a fresh wave of energy for that final, hard push.

I hope you have the birth that you want.
Sandra
 
I chose to have an epidural and will def have one this time as well. At first I wasn't sure if I wanted one but once I started having more pain I opted to have the epidural. I was so glad that I did b/c I had to be cut and stitched and no way would I have wanted to feel that.

Good luck on whatever you decide. There is no right or wrong choice since we are all different. :)
 
RE: Moms: I'm full of questions now that I'm near the e...

Thanks for the many replies ladies! I loved reading all of the different experiences and outlooks on the subject.

I will not try to play "superwoman"...if the pain is becoming unbearable I will opt for meds but I intend to try to hold out if I can...my body will tell me when and if the meds are neccessary.

It's so hard to judge at this point...I have nothing to compare it to...I really don't have any clue what the contractions will feel like unless they are in any way comparable to the braxton hicks I have been getting (much stronger ofcourse)....

Thanks again!

~Wendy~

I smoked my last cigarette on March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm!

http://lilypie.com/days/050519/1/0/1/-5/.png[/img]
EDD: 05/19/05
 
<Flat out, I would prefer NOT to take anything for many reasons BUT I am not going to the hospital with my mind already made up...I want to keep an open mind to it because I just might need the help with the pain!>

My thoughts too! With Miss Sydney, I was 5 cm when I arrived at the hospital. I was complete within 45 minutes. I had asked for some IV meds because I blasted through transition, but I didn't know that was what was going on at the time. I was playing nurse... "hmmmm, I am only 5 cm... if I dilate the average... I could be in this amount of pain for HOURS!!". :) So, no meds with Sydney.

With Jordan, I never felt any relief between contractions. I had a many compaints with my low back during my pregnancy, so labor just intensified the pain. I knew i needed to relax so things would move along, but I couldn't. I finally requested some Stadol and it relaxed me. I swear I felt Jordan move down in my pelvis, so I needed that med. It made a world of difference, but my labor is blurry after the meds. The doc and nurses still gave me credit for a natural childbirth even though it wasn't. :)

I did not want an epidural because I delivered in smaller hospitals that just don't have the experiece with epidurals during labor that larger, busier OB departments do. If I had been at the baby factory, St. John's Mercy in St. Louis, I would have been more open to an epidural.
 
Everyone has their story and their own personal beliefs or preferencs. I have had three different children, and every delivary was very different! I think that I have had it every way!
The first one was a c-section, the second was vaginal with epidural, and the third was all natural, in a tub with no drugs at all. My favorite, the most memorable and best experience was the completely drug free birth. It is amazing! Your body actually gives you more energy when you should be getting more tired! The pain is tremendous in the last hour, I really thought that I could have died, but it is amazing how quickly it goes away when that body is out and in your arms!

What I liked the most about it, I think was that I was able to get up and move around whenever I wanted. I could switch position, walk around, rock, get on the birthing ball, etc. You cannot do that with an epidural. I also felt more alert. Plus, right after Logan was born, I got up and rocked him, swayed with him in my arms, and then I was able to take a shower. I felt liike I had this great inner strength that I had just discovered. I now this sounds strange, but I felt liike afer childbirth, I was a WOMAN! Not that I wasn't before, but I felt pretty amazing. (in case you wanted to know, I was in labor for over 18 hours, and labor started at 6:30 in the evening, so I hadn't slept for over 39 hours when he was born.)

I wish I never had gotten an epidural. It takes away your freedom. My blood pressure plummeted, I felt weak and my body was in uncontrollable shakes, and I felt completely helpless jsut laying in bed. When Layne cried, I couldn't get up and get him, I had to ask someone to bring him to me.
 
<I now this sounds strange, but I felt liike afer childbirth, I was a WOMAN! Not that I wasn't before, but I felt pretty amazing.>

No, not strange at all. I told my DH after I delivered our DD that I never felt more woman in my entire life. There are just no words.
 
RE: Moms: I'm full of questions now that I'm near the e...

I went to the hospital 10 days past due to start the induction process. I was in the hospital at 8p.m. on a Saturday with pitocin scheduled to start at 7a.m. the next morning. All night I thought I would get rest but instead, my lower back decided to literally inflame. It wasn't back labor, just back pain. I wasn't in my own bed and just couldn't get comfortable in that hospital bed.

About an hour before the drip was to start, my water broke and labor kicked in immediately. Instead of feeling relief after a labor pain subsided, I would feel my lower back, so I never got a break from pain. It was always one or the other. After managing it for 5 hours with breathing, walking (even with my very sore feet at the time!), stretching, massage, jacuzzi (which felt great at first!), it got too unbearable, not to mention that I was starting to get exhausted because I had been awake more than 24 hours (since Saturday morning).

I asked for an epidural mainly to ease my back pain which felt worse than the labor! I knew going in that drugs were out of the question but always left the option open for the epidural. Long story short, I ended up with protracted active labor (basically, I was stuck for hours at 7cm) which ultimately lead to a c-section with my daughter being born at 1:36a.m. Monday morning. I don't think I got to sleep until late that morning, well after they brought her to me.

Even though the possibility of a c-section was always in the back of my mind (and my husband's) I never thought I would have to have one. Will I have an epidural again if needed? Absolutely. Modern medicine is wonderful. I did have the shakes which were annoying but that was nothing compared to the back pain. And I had absolutely no after-effects.

My advice: keep an open mind about what could happen during labor/delivery because - as you can tell by the posts here - it is different for every woman and every pregnancy.

Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and best to you during your delivery! :)

Diana
 
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