First Natural Birth - what meds are offered that I need to be aware of?

babyalex124 · February 2013

So this is my second child, but my first delivery was with an epi so that was all that I needed/was offered. I want this to be a natural birth. Ideally, I'd like no pain relief, but I would just like to know what meds exist, especially post-birth if I tear at all. I definitely would want something to numb me for stitches! Some posts mention the "ring of fire", etc., and I have no clue what options there are if I truly am in need of something. Like I said, I would love to go all natural but need to know what all there is for pain juussssst in case.

Thanks!

NoeliaV · February 2013

I'm not sure what exactly was used for my stitches, just that it was an injectable local anesthetic. I honestly didn't care at that point.

As for the "ring of fire" while pushing, I can't imagine trying to stop my body from pushing while waiting for some pain med to take effect. It wasn't that bad either, and it was over pretty quickly... The crowning part, I mean, the whole pushing stage for me was just under an hour.

nosoup4u · February 2013

Basically, your choices are an epidural, various narcotics (but those can only be given pretty early on, so they don't affect the baby), and a pudendal block (a shot in your nether regions while the baby is close to coming out). The US doesn't really have laughing gas as a pain management option, which is too bad, because it's pretty low-risk and the effects wear off really quickly.

Some good links:

https://americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/pudendalblock.htm

https://www.babycenter.com/pain-medication-for-labor

They will numb you up if you need stitches after the fact. I'm all for med-free birth, but I'm not a masochist afterwards, hee hee.

I found the relaxation techniques from yoga to really come in handy with both my labors. I took a class when I was pregnant with my first son. hth and good luck!

evelyntaylor · February 2013

Fentanyl is a common narc used to help mamas relax. I would just talk to your provider about different options for main management outside of the epi and then go from there with your research.

pdilly2b · February 2013

I've heard that many of the narcotics they can give make you loopy and don't actually help much with pain, just an FYI. When people talk about med free births, they aren't talking about not getting numbing for stitches. I don't think anyone advocates that. It's just a local shot, similar to like what happens when you get stitches on you hand, head, or wherever else you may ever get cut. The ring of fire wasn't worse than any other part of labor for me. One of the great things about going med-free is that you can push in any position you want and things like squatting and hands-and-knees help open the pelvis to make pushing go quicker and to reduce the likelihood of tearing (generally speaking - clearly, everyone is different). I pushed for 20 min (after 36 hrs of labor, I'm so happy that part went so quickly) and had 2 minor tears on my labia that required 1 stitch each.

principessa81 · February 2013

pdilly2b:
I've heard that many of the narcotics they can give make you loopy and don't actually help much with pain, just an FYI. When people talk about med free births, they aren't talking about not getting numbing for stitches. I don't think anyone advocates that. It's just a local shot, similar to like what happens when you get stitches on you hand, head, or wherever else you may ever get cut.

Completely agree. When I was in transition, a nurse came in and offered me Stadol, which she promised would "take the edge off." It didn't, but it made me incredibly paranoid and loopy. I was FREAKING out, and I will never, ever take that drug again.

aylafsu88 · February 2013

You will not notice the ring of fire or at least I never did because I was so focused on pushing LO out. I had a pretty bad second degree internal tear and did not feel that happen either. There is so much going on down there that you wont feel much so it is really unlikely that you will ask for pain medication during that time. As for numbing the area for sutures, most doctors will numb you without asking or at least mine did.

ldpm · February 2013

Try an independant childbirth class and/or doula. Upright positions really help reduce pain during labor. All the moms I have worked with who were on their back, natural or drugged, had more complicationd and more pain or a need for pain relief. Same goes.for pushing. Some moms really do want to push sitting or reclining on.their back, but mostly its provider preference moms push in that position. Moms who push while standing or on hands and knees seem to do the best, in my experience, but some providers are not comfortable allowing that.

KateLouise · February 2013

nosoup4u:
Basically, your choices are an epidural, various narcotics (but those can only be given pretty early on, so they don't affect the baby), and a pudendal block (a shot in your nether regions while the baby is close to coming out). The US doesn't really have laughing gas as a pain management option, which is too bad, because it's pretty low-risk and the effects wear off really quickly.
Some good links:
https://americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/pudendalblock.htm
https://www.babycenter.com/pain-medication-for-labor
They will numb you up if you need stitches after the fact. I'm all for med-free birth, but I'm not a masochist afterwards, hee hee.
I found the relaxation techniques from yoga to really come in handy with both my labors. I took a class when I was pregnant with my first son. hth and good luck!

This for me too!!

I loved warm water for helping me through the pain. Nothing topped the feeling of the shower and the tub.

briannabeebug · February 2013

In Canada, for a home birth, the only pain relief "drugs" (idk if water can be classified as a drug!) the midwives carry are the hydro dermal shots (sterilized water injected on pressure points in your back to relieve back labor) and nitrous oxide gas.

At the hospital you can have both those options as well as fentanyl, and/or an epidural.

After the birth it is practiced in my region to have a shot of pitocin to help expel the placenta/make sure the placenta comes out whole.

Hope that helped!

luvmyducks · February 2013

The ring of fire was painful for me but it happens so quick. It was actually the only time during labor that I yelled out in pain. If you go med free up to that point, I don't really think there is much they can do to help. I don't think I saw PPs mention an intrathecal (aka Walking Epidural). It last for a couple hours and is a one time shot into the fluid around the spine. It takes the pain away and makes you somewhat numb, but you still have most control over your legs.

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First Natural Birth - what meds are offered that I need to be aware of?

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