Did anyone here us IV pain relief instead of an epi?

nd01 · July 2011

I had an epi during my last pregnancy and am now considering a more holistic facility that only offers IV pain relief (or natural, of course). Wanted to know if anyone went this route and what their thoughts were. Thanks!

riverbed · July 2011

I did, well I tried. I had stadol and within an hour the pain was so intense it wasn't working for me anymore. It did take the edgeoff at first, though. I got the epi, too. I wil say that having already had the IV pain meds I was able to sleep like no other. I was definitely well rested when it came time to push. They had to give me phenegren with the stadol and that is what made me so sleepy. Also the meds kind of made me feel drunk. Sorry for typIng on my phone one handed.

darmca · July 2011

I didn't have an epi- I had Demerol from an IV and laughing gas- the gas was awesome- I was high as a kite. When I was actually pushing I don't think I remembered to push the button for the Demerol and I wasn't allowed to have the gas- I actually asked if it would hurt that badly if I had gotten the epi.

I plan to have another child and I would not get an epi next time either- I only pushed like 20 minutes and my midwife said that many women who get an epi push for 2 hours! I guess the numbness makes it harder to push and the lessened pain isn't as motivating.

I was also happy to be able to walk to the bathroom 30 minutes after birth.

Oh yeah- and I was induced and I've been told the pitocin contractions are worse than regular ones.

McAllie5 · July 2011

My original plan was to go in with zero meds, but as it turned out I was GBS positive so they had to give me an IV with antibiotics. Then the labor was taking a while, so my midwife and I made the decision to administer Pitocin after five hours of nothing happening and mild contractions (which were totally tolerable). With the Pitocin I was immediately (and I mean immediately) sent into this intense shock of level 7-8 and 9 and eventually 10 (on the pain scale) contractions for the next 7 hours.

Even with all of that I managed to go pain med free. I'm not going to lie, it was awful. Really really awful. But doing it again, I would still not opt for pain meds. Because when the time came to push, pushing felt AWESOME. I was completely alert for it and felt the urge to. I pushed at my own pace, and while one nurse was counting to ten in the background, I was thinking "ten? I could push for twenty..." and so I did. I think it was the lack of any pain meds that made me feel like this crazy-powerful Amazon warrior woman (I know it sounds silly now, but it was pretty cool) as I was pushing.

The labor hurt like no tomorrow. The pushing did not hurt a single bit, It was just a lot of pressure. And I had a second degree tear, but didn't feel it.

FWIW, I used hte Bradley Method. Natural Childbirth: The Bradley Method was an awesome book and helped me and my DH. And listening to classical music saved me during contractions. (Keep in mind, too - my contractions were just fine until the Pit, so maybe the whole thing would have been a lot better without that.)

Do whatever feels right for you. Just know, if you want no pain meds, you can totally do it.

scarlette+noir · July 2011

I got a half dose of fentanyl (sp?) and it took the edge off and helped me get through transition. I was also on pitocin, and let me tell you, those contractions hurt!

MustanGTbaby13 · July 2011

McAllie5:
My original plan was to go in with zero meds, but as it turned out I was GBS positive so they had to give me an IV with antibiotics. Then the labor was taking a while, so my midwife and I made the decision to administer Pitocin after five hours of nothing happening and mild contractions (which were totally tolerable). With the Pitocin I was immediately (and I mean immediately) sent into this intense shock of level 7-8 and 9 and eventually 10 (on the pain scale) contractions for the next 7 hours.
I too was GBS+ and my membranes ruptured at 9:30AM, at 3PM we started antibiotics, and at 5PM we started the Pit. If my membranes were still intact....I probably would have still been at home lol....but as you know, once they start the antibiotics, they want to keep things moving so you don't wipe out all of your good bacterial flora.
I didn't get into hard active labor until midnight, so while I would say it was extremely intense...I I definitely didn't shoot up to high levels of pain. It only got really difficult for me when I was in transition and about to have my baby....which is obviously really typical.
I definitely say it was painful, but you can't really compare it to any type of pain you may have experienced in your life. It is like a challenge to go through each contraction...and then you get a break....and then you get a challenge again. I just took them one contraction at a time...tried not to look at the clock too much and not pay attention to any internals (well the results...it is kinda hard not to notice the pain of an internal while you are in the middle of a contraction lol)
I didn't find pushing to be better...I found it to be different. I had let my body push on its own for like 10-15 minutes, which is hard to do, it is such an overwhelming feeling to want to bear down with the contraction (I still don't understand how women have to be told that it is time to push???) I pushed for maybe 15 minuteslike 3-5 contractions, and I grunted during my pushes....there was no way I was holding my breath lol Either way it was effective as she came out so quickly. I did not feel the ring of fire, but I did feel my 2nd degree internal tear (yay for an intact perineum!)
I also went completely pain med free...and there is no doubt in my mind that I would do it again in a heart beat. I can't imagine not having been able to get up to use the bathroom, or to lean on my husband in a slow dance, etc. It was so great when our little girl came out, she was so alert and happy and calm. She latched on like a champ and I attribute much of our breastfeeding success
Just know, if you want no pain meds, you can totally do it.

reginagina · July 2011

I had a shot of Nubane, which you can also get via IV. It didn't take any of the pain away. DD was born 10 minutes later, probably too intense of contractions for it to make a difference quick enough.

AwBeth · July 2011

I had Nubane. It definitely took the edge off for me, and made my (pitocin) contractions much more bearable. It lasted about an hour and when I went for the second dose, the nurse warned me that many women find the second dose to be ineffective. And that was mostly true.

sunshine336 · July 2011

I was induced and the pitocin contractions weren't bad until my MW broke my water- then things got painful fast. I didn't want an epi unless I absolutely couldn't handle things so I accepted a mix of nubain and phenegren in my IV. It took the edge off for a little while- but really didn't do much for pain overall- it just made me very very sleepy. I would pass out (snoring and all according to DH) immediately after each contraction was finished and wake up when the pain of the next one got too great. This continued all through my pushing. I really didn't like it b/c I felt like I had no time to build myself up and prepare for the pain- I would just wake up disoriented and in pain and DH had to keep calming me down. My labor also went very fast and the contractions were very close together (although I don't think that had anything to do with the drugs). And the things I said/ screamed during contractions were the kind of ridiculous things you say when you're really drunk.

Maybe some people might like that, but I felt a loss of control. I am glad I didn't get the epi but wished I had researched IV pain med options more before going in so I knew what I was accepting. By the time my MW suggested the IV cocktail I was in too much pain to ask what it would do to me. Also, when my baby was placed on my chest I actually had to fight the urge to go back to sleep just so I could look at her- and I didn't even have the sense to put my arms around her. I was petting her head with one hand while DH held her so she didn't fall off my chest. That was the worst part- that I finally had my precious baby and I was too drugged up to appreciate it.

That is just my experience- but my advice is to do your research on the different pain relief options before hand.

alliejoe · July 2011

If you want to try a med-free birth, go for it. It's totally do able. Like PP I had an IV for GBS and ended up getting zofran also b/c I was vomiting during transition, but that's it. (and I felt like a super awesome powerful amazon woman to- lol).

Give it a try if you want to- but don't feel bad if you decide to opt for meds either.

nd01 · July 2011

Thank you ladies - I appreciate all your responses. Thank you for taking the time to respond - it has given me a lot to think about!

LollyBug18 · July 2011

I tried nubane through IV. It did absolutely nothing for me and I ended up with an epi.

scaneiki · July 2011

I had fentanyl with both of my l&d's and both were induced with pitocin. The first dose was awesome, it made me so relaxed and helped me get to transistion, but it only lasts 15-30min. The next two doses did nothing at all and I should have skipped them. Fentanyl is only given once an hour for a max of three to four doses. I liked the IV meds because it took the edge off for at least a little while. I also went in with the thought that so many women have given birth in the past without any sort of pain medication and I can too, but I was also aware that if I couldn't handle the pain, there were options available to me.

tokenhoser · July 2011

I didn't have anything for pain relief, and it was really okay. I had a fairly fast labour (it only got rough about 9 pm - I would estimate I went from 1-10 cm between 8 pm and 11 pm). I pushed for 2 hours, but my baby was in the OP position, so it would have been rough no matter what. If I had been less able to push, I could have ended up with a c-section. I'm happy with how my labour went, and won't plan on an epi next time. Maybe some gas; I wasn't at the hospital soon enough to use it, so I didn't.

landosmommy · July 2011

darmca:

I didn't have an epi- I had Demerol from an IV and laughing gas- the gas was awesome- I was high as a kite. When I was actually pushing I don't think I remembered to push the button for the Demerol and I wasn't allowed to have the gas- I actually asked if it would hurt that badly if I had gotten the epi.

I plan to have another child and I would not get an epi next time either- I only pushed like 20 minutes and my midwife said that many women who get an epi push for 2 hours! I guess the numbness makes it harder to push and the lessened pain isn't as motivating.

I was also happy to be able to walk to the bathroom 30 minutes after birth.

Oh yeah- and I was induced and I've been told the pitocin contractions are worse than regular ones.

This isn't always true. I was induced & got an epi when I was 4-5 cm dilated & still at -1 position. I dilated to 10 cm within 3 hours & only pushed for 5 minutes. I LOVED the epidural. I didn't feel a thing. Plus, meds giving through an IV effects not only you but your baby as well. Your baby will come out druged & not "all there". So that's why I opted for the epi. But everyone's different & I'm not bagging on the choice of meds through an IV, just stating the facts. Also, I didn't need or want to get out of bed right away, I was immediately given my baby boy & I held him to my chest skin to skin for 2 hours. After that my epi had worn off & I went to the bathroom (with help just incase). Hope this advice helps. GL!

tokenhoser · July 2011

landosmommy:
Hope this advice helps. GL!

Being as the OP has in fact had an epidural and is considering a facility that does not offer them, I fail to see how your advice could help.

landosmommy · July 2011

tokenhoser:

landosmommy:
Hope this advice helps. GL!

Being as the OP has in fact had an epidural and is considering a facility that does not offer them, I fail to see how your advice could help.

Oh. I didn't see that her facility didn't offer epidurals. Sorry.

kathrnn · July 2011

darmca:
I plan to have another child and I would not get an epi next time either- I only pushed like 20 minutes and my midwife said that many women who get an epi push for 2 hours! I guess the numbness makes it harder to push and the lessened pain isn't as motivating.
Oh yeah- and I was induced and I've been told the pitocin contractions are worse than regular ones.

That was definitely true for me. I was induced and ended up getting an epidural because I could barely breath from the contractions. Right after my water broke they went from being mildly uncomfortable to completely off the charts.

When it came time to push I couldn't feel anything because my butt was completely numb. I remember the nurse telling me to push against her fingers, and being like "What fingers?" lol They actually brought the anesthesiologist back in the room to turn it back down because I was pushing for 5+ hours with almost no progress.

Next time I am definitely going to try and go without, that was ridiculous.

darmca · July 2011

landosmommy:
darmca:

I didn't have an epi- I had Demerol from an IV and laughing gas- the gas was awesome- I was high as a kite. When I was actually pushing I don't think I remembered to push the button for the Demerol and I wasn't allowed to have the gas- I actually asked if it would hurt that badly if I had gotten the epi.

I plan to have another child and I would not get an epi next time either- I only pushed like 20 minutes and my midwife said that many women who get an epi push for 2 hours! I guess the numbness makes it harder to push and the lessened pain isn't as motivating.

I was also happy to be able to walk to the bathroom 30 minutes after birth.

Oh yeah- and I was induced and I've been told the pitocin contractions are worse than regular ones.

This isn't always true. I was induced & got an epi when I was 4-5 cm dilated & still at -1 position. I dilated to 10 cm within 3 hours & only pushed for 5 minutes. I LOVED the epidural. I didn't feel a thing. Plus, meds giving through an IV effects not only you but your baby as well. Your baby will come out druged & not "all there". So that's why I opted for the epi. But everyone's different & I'm not bagging on the choice of meds through an IV, just stating the facts. Also, I didn't need or want to get out of bed right away, I was immediately given my baby boy & I held him to my chest skin to skin for 2 hours. After that my epi had worn off & I went to the bathroom (with help just incase). Hope this advice helps. GL!

Maybe it's because I was too distracted to push the button much in the end (and the gas I was on does not cross the placenta and wore off me as soon as I wasn't allowed to take it anymore and had to push) but my baby did not appear drugged at all and was very alert when he was born. Epidurals have been shown in some studies to cause respiratory depression, and decreased fetal heart rate in newborns, so really the only way not to affect your baby is to go completely natural. This isn't always an option Surprise

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