Pain relief for birth

Which pain relief option is best for me?

Pain relief options for birth

Medications

Some women may choose to have pain medications (narcotics) given to them through an intravenous line inserted into a vein. These types of pain medicines will not completely stop the pains of labor and delivery, but they will help to take the edge off. Most of the IV drugs are only given to mothers during early labor because of the effects they have on both mother and baby. The most common drugs are Stadol, Demerol, Nubain and Sublimaze. These narcotics can make you feel very sleepy and will allow you to get some rest before the final stages of labor. After the medication is given, a mother should feel some relief within 5-10 minutes and the relief will last for 2-6 hours. Narcotics do cross the placenta and the drugs will be in the baby's circulation. The negative side effects of using narcotics during labor are sleepiness in both mother and baby, possible breathing problems in both mother and baby and slowed reflexes in the newborn. If IV medications are not strong enough and additional medication is still needed, it is usually okay for the mother to receive an epidural.

Epidural

The epidural is among the most common type of pain relief used during labor and delivery. Because the epidural blocks pain in the lower body, the mother will not feel the intense pain from the contractions. You should expect to feel pressure as the baby comes down the birth canal and exits the vagina. The epidural is usually given by an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist, who is specially trained in administering pain relief. You will be asked to sit upwards and lean forward with a curved back. It is very important that you remain as still as possible during the procedure. Before you receive the epidural, your back will be cleaned well with an antiseptic solution. This may feel cold. The doctor or nurse will numb your back with a local anesthetic and then insert the needle for the epidural. A small catheter will then be passed through the needle and although it most likely won't be painful, you will probably feel some pressure as this is being done. The doctor or nurse will take the needle out, leave the tube in place and tape the line to your skin so that more medicine can be administered as needed. Most women notice a heavy sensation in their legs and are not able to lift their legs or walk. For this reason, you will be given a bladder catheter to drain your urine. From the start of the procedure to the end, it takes about 15-20 minutes. You should feel pain relief very quickly after it is administered. The epidural lasts for several hours and additional doses can be given by either patient or caregiver. Generally, the epidural does not slow labor down and you are able to remain totally alert for delivery. However, there are some disadvantages to the epidural as well. Some women notice that one side of their body is more numb than the other. Other times, the epidural does not take and the woman can still feel intense pain. It is not uncommon for the mother's blood pressure to drop during an epidural. Because of this, your baby's heartrate may decrease. One major drawback of the epidural is that you might have a hard time pushing your baby through the birth canal because of the pain relief. Although very rare, some women will experience a severe headache after receiving an epidural. Your back may also stay somewhat sore for a few days after the procedure is done.

Spinal

A spinal is very similar to an epidural. Spinals are excellent pain relief options to use during a cesarean delivery or in an assisted vaginal delivery when pain from forceps or a vacuum extractor could become extremely intense. With a spinal, the mother will receive an injection in her lower back and it will numb the body from the chest down. However, unlike an epidural, the medication is only administered one time. Pain relief is felt immediately and the relief will last 1 or 2 hours. Mothers are able to stay awake during delivery. Occasionally, the spinal can cause your blood pressure to drop and the baby's heart rate to decrease. Because you will have no control over your bladder, a catheter will inserted to collect your urine. There is also a higher risk of developing a headache, known as a "spinal headache", than with an epidural.

General Anesthesia

Mothers that are experiencing a life-threatening emergency will usually be given general anesthesia and the baby will be delivered via cesarean section. If general anesthesia is needed, the mother will not remain awake for the delivery of her baby and no pain will be felt. Because the medication is given through an IV line or a face mask, it only takes a few moments for the medication to take effect. Once the mother is asleep, she will have a tube placed in her throat to aid in breathing. Because the medications makes you completely unconscious, it is common to feel tired and nauseaus afterwards. With general anesthesia, the labor partner is not usually permitted in the delivery room and the mother is not able to see or hold the baby right away.

Natural methods

If you are seeking non-medicated pain relief options for childbirth, you have options. Attending childbirth education classes can prepare you ahead of time for labor and delivery. During the classes, you will be taught breathing and relaxation techniques that can be used during childbirth. Soaking in a warm bath can take away some discomfort of contractions. Using a heating pad or warm compress can also minimize the amount of pain that is felt during labor. Some women find that changing positions while they labor not only helps with the pain, but also speeds up their labor. Take advantage of birthing balls and birthing chairs as well.

Comments: Pain relief for birth

Comments 1 to 15 of about 15.
1

Megan20 - 188 days ago.
ok so i have a question about epidural hopefully someone will know. Does the epidural jsut give you releif during ocntractions but not the actualy birth? like to they lower the medication so that you can feel more? My friend had an epidural but it only took to half of her body so they had to do another one and byu the tim eshe had to push she didnt feel one thing cus she had 2 and the medication lasted for like 8 hrs after birth. i am just curious bcus if the epidural does wear off at the very end then i think i might just try to suck it up and get through the contractions. lol

YoungMum- - 204 days ago.
sydbabe I know where an epi goes I have also had one and I was referring to the lower part of the back like 4 to 5 inches up pretty sure they don't put an epi in that low.

Bri - 204 days ago.
My mom also had problems with hers. She hasn't had the same back since. It's really sad the pain that she goes through. Before my parents split she tried to learn to golf cause it's my Dad's favorite sport. Her back couldn't handle it. It all started after she had an epi. My oldest sister had problems getting hers as well. They couldn't get the needle in between the spaces between the vertebrate. I understand why women want one but I recommend going without it if you can. It also can delay childbirth and slow the process. Also, I've heard and read of interferring in breastfeeding. Since I'm a total avocate of breastfeeding and self weaning I would stay away from it for that reason alone.

sydbabe - 204 days ago.
Just to comment on YoungMum. The epidural goes in the lower part of your back between the vertibraes. I know this because i had it with both of my children. And now have severe back pain when holding my children. I also have permanent swelling just above my tailbone. But regardless, a tattoo will NOT affect an epidural.

YoungMum- - 204 days ago.
DJ I don't see how that is going to be an issue for an epi, the epi goes in the middle of your back not the lower half seems a bit weird to me have you checked with your doctor.

DJs Girl - 205 days ago.
Ok here's a question. I have a lower back tattoo. It's not the big. It's from the crack of my bum till about 4 or 5 inches up. I have heard that I wouldn't be able to have an Epidural and I have also heard that I can. I really want an epidural, no way I can do it naturally. I got this tattoo when I was 19 and kinda regret it but can't do anything about it now. What do you ladies think?

boady - 214 days ago.
if you get the episiotomy, they sometimes will freeze that area just before they cut. Besides you will be in so much pain you won't even notice that. I've done both with and witout drugs, having an epi was for me that's fore sure. The side effects you are talking about are very rare, I would suggest you do lots of research before you decide to not have an epi. I don't know how it works in the US but in Canada before we go into the hospital we sign all sorts of documents and one is for the epi if by chance you decide to have one at least your ready to get it. Some people think it's the best way to go natural without pain meds. Normally it is the first child too. For some reason women think.. no way am i going to have pain meds I can handle it. Unless you tolerance for pain if really high or you have a very fast delivery it is a pain like you've never felt before.. don't want to surgar coat having a baby doesn't make sense to do that. I've done it 3 times like I said epi was for me. But I realize that people need to do what makes them compfortable. You will know as you go through it what to do.. Don't feel bad if you decide to take any thing to help you deal with the pain.

Megan20 - 215 days ago.
i really dont want to have pain medications cus i dont want my baby to come out high or anything, and i would prefer not to have an epidural because i know there can sometimes be bad side effects from it, or it may only take to one side of ur body or other issues. I WANT to do natural... its my first baby, so i dont know whats going to happen, im not the kinda person who takes medicine for pain or anything so i can see myself saying no to epidural, but i just dont know if i will be able to do it naturally, i am plannign on doing prenatal classes so hopefully they will help. i do have a QUESTION: if you DO go natural, and you need an episiotomy, can you feel the incision beign made? I am nervous about the pain and how i am going to deal with it.

LittleLayla - 313 days ago.
I was just reading all the comments here and wanted to share my positive experience with pain relief for birth. I knew from the get go I would want an epidural. I read everything I could get my hands on about it , listened to every personal experience of those who got one, and watched every TLC episode of a baby story or any other labor show on t.v. about it. I read positive and negative things about it. Some said the needle hurt so bad, some said it wouldn't work or that it wore off to quickly. And some loved it. I decided I did not want to be so tired from pushing that I could not enjoy the labor, or so stressed from the pain that I wouldn't appreciate the experience.(Lots of women don't feel tired or stressed from the pain they feel great, but I did not want to chance it being that it was my first birth. ) I was warned by those who NEVER had an epidural that it would drug the baby and the baby would come out groggy. Or why would you want a needle in your spine! (FYI The needle goes in the membrane above or between the spine the 'Epidural space' not in your spine.) When my time came and I got one I never even felt the needle go in. Some say it feels like a bee sting though. I thought to myself bee sting or watermelon squeezing out a small hole? I chanced the bee sting and got lucky!. When my daughter was born ( I only took maybe 20 min of pushing ) she came out screaming and wide awake with her eyes wide open! She was so pink and perfect, very very alert! The epidural did not slow down my labor process and it never wore off and best of all I felt no pain what so ever! I could feel her come out but it was painless and awesome! I will definitely get another one! But, with that said, EVERYONE is different ! My experience was so positive I wanted to do it all over again I enjoyed laboring so much because of it. Lots of my friends went natural and loved it! So ladies read up on this subject and you will make the right decision for yourself!

aprilraine - 416 days ago.
I had back labour with my last pregnancy, I wanted to go all natural, but the nurses kept trying to get me to have an epidural, so after them bugging me with other things I said fine to the demerol. NEVER AGAIN. All it did was make me high and I threw up for the full 3 hours it lasted, it did nothing for the pain. Thank god it wore off before I had to start pushing. I am 24 weeks with my second and am going all natural this time around.

pregnantladi - 416 days ago.
Hi Ladies,Im rather late in this conversation!! I have a child and am 19 weeks pregnant with my second. I was very lucky with my first child and the labour only lasted for 9 hours! My only forms of pain relief were Gas n Air and the Tenns machine which i found very helpful and relaxing almost at the begining. I am so glad that i didn't have any form of drugs as i was fully alert afterwards and was able to enjoy my new baby straight away.

kayp - 434 days ago.
FYI get the epidural!!!

Aussiemumma - 435 days ago.
Hi all just wanted to let you girls know my personal experience with Morphine during childbirth and the reasons why I'd NEVER use it again. 1. My son wasn't breathing at birth and had to go to the intensive care unit for 2 days. 2. It did nothing for the pain at all!! 3. It made me feel drowsy and tired and 4. The needle was massive and it hurt!!!! Let me say I know some people have a good experience with Opiates (Pethidine, Morphine) but I wanted to let you know what CAN happen if it doesn't work out. It was pretty scary in the delivery room when 3 doctors rushed in to resuscitate my baby. I know it wasn't the Midwives fault because she had no idea that I'd dilate so quickly but I guess thats the thing about childbirth, it's very unpredictable! I am currently 11 weeks pregnant with my second child now and I have booked into the birth center where I will use natural methods to help ease the pain this time.

SupermomPj - 452 days ago.
this is my fourth child and i am highly considering going natural. has anyone went natural with back labor?

Brodys Mommy - 457 days ago.
I'm due in 8 days and I was wondering what pain meds have worked for you ladies (I know that just bc it worked for you doesnt mean it'll work for me) but which pain medication do you recommend? I DONT want an edpidural. I've heard that Demerol or Stabol (I think thats how you spell it)work but they make you tired and when you push the pushes are weak bc you dont have much engery. I want something that'll take the pain away or minumize the pain and still have me alert and able to push. Thurs I have a doc appt, I'll talk to her about my options but I just want to hear from you ladies personal experiences. Thanks!

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