Fentanyl during labor...

alysonmh

My OB mentioned it as one of the pain medication options during labor and described her own experience with it during her delivery which I found helpful. I was just curious what type of experiences you other mom's have had with fentanyl specifically during labor such as side effects, positive experiences, negative experiences, how it helped with pain or relaxation, would or wouldn't you use it again? Thanks in advance

phdprocrastinator

I had to wait for my epidural due to low platelet counts prior to going into labor (they had to confirm my coagulation levels first).  I went to the hospital around 3 or 4 in the morning and had been laboring since literally the moment I got in bed the night before.  They warned me that I might feel seasick.

I had about 15 minutes of feeling woozy/like the room was spinning.  Then I passed out for 3 hours or so.  I was woken up and given the epidural.  That sleep was wonderful and without it I'm not sure I would have made it without a c-section.  I started pushing at around 2:00 pm, then pushed for 4 hours... that required a lot of energy.

kjmommy1214

I was induced with Pitocin (and I hear those contractions are worse than natural ones). I had one shot of fentanyl before I got my epidural. It made me a little dizzy for a minute or two. It seriously set in and then left. Unfortunately, it did not allow me to relax enough. I was having high blood pressure issues and needed to get it down. That is why I went for the epidural. I did feel like it took the edge off, but I had a borderline high risk situation.

howin23

alysonmh said:

My OB mentioned it as one of the pain medication options during labor and described her own experience with it during her delivery which I found helpful. I was just curious what type of experiences you other mom's have had with fentanyl specifically during labor such as side effects, positive experiences, negative experiences, how it helped with pain or relaxation, would or wouldn't you use it again? Thanks in advance

Was this specifically for an epidural, or was there an option for a fentanyl patch? If there is a patch option then I definitely need to look into that (can't get an epidural). I've never used it but a close relative had the fentanyl patch for chemo/rad and it helped a lot with the pain, though I think caused some confusion and, of course, constipation. That was for longer term use though.

alysonmh

The fentanyl would be separate from the epidural and would be administered through the IV. My last birth was 11 years ago and back then they gave demerol intravenously which I ended up hating so I was asking my OB about other options. My OB said they don't do demerol any more and that now they offer fentanyl through the IV instead. She said it made her a little loopy and relaxed her but didn't do a whole lot for the pain but I wanted to see what other experiences everybody has had with it during labor.

lil_shocker

I had it. I didn't do an epidural. It helped take some of the edge off of labor. Think like a headache with tylenol- the worst part of he headache that made it hard to concentrate was gone, so you could do stuff again, but the headache didn't really go away. I didn't have any side effects, but usually I don't with pain meds. I plan on using it again this time.

JSwinford

This is a good topic!  I'm anti-epidural, but open to other options that won't confine me to the bed.  My childbirth class said it doesn't do much for pain, but it shifts your focus so you aren't focused on just the pain and it can help with the anxiety.  

Loopyseven

I asked for it trying to delay the epidural.  It worked for 1 1/2 (pitocin) contractions (so about 10 minutes I think) and then I asked for my epi.  I didn't have any side effects or negative reactions to it, it just didn't last very long at all for me.

Loopyseven

ETA: and I won't ask for it again.  If I get to that point, I'll go straight to the epi.

gldnbearz

howin23 said:

alysonmh said:

My OB mentioned it as one of the pain medication options during labor and described her own experience with it during her delivery which I found helpful. I was just curious what type of experiences you other mom's have had with fentanyl specifically during labor such as side effects, positive experiences, negative experiences, how it helped with pain or relaxation, would or wouldn't you use it again? Thanks in advance

Was this specifically for an epidural, or was there an option for a fentanyl patch? If there is a patch option then I definitely need to look into that (can't get an epidural). I've never used it but a close relative had the fentanyl patch for chemo/rad and it helped a lot with the pain, though I think caused some confusion and, of course, constipation. That was for longer term use though.

@howin23 - fentanyl patch is good for long term/chronic pain associated with cancer, but not an appropriate choice for labor pain. It takes a while to take effect.

The hospital where we will deliver had a labor pain relief class given by an OB anesthesiologist. The medicated options include IV fentanyl and epidurals that could contain a local anesthetic agent (think the novacaine you might get at the dentist or local anesthetic if you've ever had stitches) combined with or without fentanyl.

I've received IV fentanyl before for a D&C and a hysteroscopy. Like a PP said, it doesn't last very long (it's not supposed to). The pain class said that they would stop giving the IV fentanyl about 60-90 minutes before they expected you to deliver so that it can clear out of your system so fewer effects on the baby.

tylerkingrn

All it did was make me extremely dizzy. It didn't take any pain away for me. I felt so bad after agreeing to try it because I knew if it made me feel that bad then who knows how my DS felt!!