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Epidural alternatives??

jessicab711jessicab711 member
in 3rd Trimester
So I am a little (ok a lot) freaked out after my blood work just came back this week. I'm 37 weeks and 3 days with low platelets. If I get below 100, I will not be able to get an epidural. They have been dropping since my. 20 week check. 120 at 20 weeks, 128 at 30 weeks, then 112 at 37 weeks. Anyone have any insight to alternatives to an epidural for pain relief? I was NOT planning on a natural childbirth...and this is not something I can control. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!!
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Re: Epidural alternatives??

  • TromboliiTrombolii member
    Definitely look into water birth. A lot of hospitals have tubs now, but it'll depend on your Ob too.

    The water is a natural pain reliever and there are a lot of great perks to this method (less chance of tearing, quick labor etc). See if it's something you're comfortable with.
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  • bluelotus13bluelotus13 member
    It's always good to prepare for a natural birth anyways, just in case. I ended up getting an epidural just to try to get some sleep in between contractions (very lengthy induction without food or water left me feeling very drained), but it failed and was out of my system within 40 minutes so I ended up giving birth without one actively working. 
    Definitely discuss options with your OB, but water births are supposed to be able to help with pain management, and if there aren't any medical drugs that you'll be allowed to take, you can always look up options for natural remedies (like essential oil blends) that your OB can ok for using to help relax or manage the pain. Since my own epidural didn't work the first time (my body flushes any kind of pain relief out of my system quickly), I'm not going to bother this time around and am also looking into alternatives. 
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  • WhitfryWhitfry member
    There are a couple of different opiate options out there, with their own pros and cons. And as pp have suggested, laboring in water is supposed to be great. But most hospitals won't let you deliver under water. Some (not many) hospitals also offer gas. I wish mine did, because I would be all over that.

    Talk to your OB for all the options available to you and the pros/cons of those options.
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  • monbon11monbon11 member
    Yes, nitrous oxide gas is an option at some hospitals (including mine, thankfully).  It is very fast acting and short acting.  My OB has talked about it as an option to give a short break during labor while not slowing progression.  

    Might be something to ask about!
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  • jessicab711jessicab711 member
    Great advice.  Thanks so much!  I know the hospital I am delivering in does not do water births...but I think that some of the delivery rooms may have tubs for the beginning/middle of labor before the pushing starts.  I'll have to look into this.  I have another appt on Wednesday...so I will also be talking with my OB to see what some other options are.  
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  • PrimRoseMamaPrimRoseMama member
    This article really helped me:
    https://aimsireland.ie/no-epidural-pain-management-alternatives-and-tips/


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  • EveryusernameistakenEveryusernameistaken member
    Here in Canada laughing gas is pretty readily available. It doesn't do a ton but does "take the edge off" the pain and has very few side effects. I found using the mask gave me something to focus on even though the pain relief wasn't great. I'm not sure where you're located but apparently more US hospitals are offering it now.
    You may also want to look into a doula and check out the natural birth board. My doula really helped me manage the pain and push through. Good luck!


     

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  • KGR3917KGR3917 member
    edited January 2015
    I may sound crazy, but looking back my natural birth wasn't that bad. Your body really is amazing and it just kind of takes over. I stayed at home way too long and kept thinking "this can't really be it?!" By the time we got in the car I was full blown laboring and delivered 24 minutes from the car to holding my baby. And it was only that long because they were making me not push until they found a doctor to catch the baby! I lost a shoe in the elevator! I didn't plan on a natural birth, and it was no picnic but your body really does take over and do what its supposed to do. Now that I am weeks away from #2 I'm actually scared of the unknown, and more nervous about the epidural since I never had one. But I too will be looking into alternatives. My advice is to stay at home as long as possible and keep busy (I was throwing a lunch party and had a refrigerator delivered throughout my labor!) Just know that you were meant to do this!
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  • NagaWaterNagaWater member
    I'm about as pro "no early inductions" as they come but I would question your doctor about your low platelets. I'm by no means a medical professional but that sounds worrisome to me. There has to be a reason they are dropping, perhaps you know already, and you may qualify for an induction. I know if your platelets are too low you're at a higher risk for bleeding problems, which is the part that worries me in terms of labor.

    And I say this as a preemie mom who wants to punch people in the face when they talk about trying to start labor at 37 weeks. But in the end, 3 weeks early is better than you facing a potentially life threatening bleeding problem during labor.
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  • BabyBliss76BabyBliss76 member
    I have had 3 drug free births. The first was the hardest, but I also had pitocon. Which does make it a lot harder.Things that help me are, being up and not laying in bed!! If they want you in bed sit up. Walking, rocking in a chair, taking a bath, staying at home for as long as possible, and it is hard but try and relax. It will make it go faster. Just focus on the fact that your going to be holding your baby soon, and you will be able to make :)

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  • keilani28keilani28 member
    I have the same problem. I have went through 3 deliveries with low platelets and and epidural was not an option. I was able to take some demerol in the beginning stages. But for the hard labor (which was a few hours) I was not able to have anything. My platelets were so low with my first that I also had to have a blood transfusion. Taking a natural birthing class really helped me and helped my spouse support me. I just got back from triage for preterm contractions. They found that my platelet level was 64K way below the normal range. I have started taking predisone today to try and elevate my platelet level. But most likely will be having a natural birth again. Again, I can not say enough about taking a natural birthing class. In the end it is truly an amazing experience and holding your baby afterward makes it all worth it.
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  • tiyashrivasthavtiyashrivasthav member
    Why don't you try natural pain management techniques like soaking in a tub, breathing exercises, acupuncture, aromatherapy, rocking and position changing.
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  • HStrawberryHStrawberry member
    I wasn't able to have an epidural because my shingles were located where it needed to go. I laboured actively for 67 hours trying to avoid a c section.

    I found that being in the tub helped me find some relief (went in and out a few times). I also had a few morphine/gravol shots during the three days to help me sleep between contractions. I still woke up for each contraction (still hurt like hell) but over the course of a few hours I was able to accumulate enough sleep to keep me going. I tried nitrous oxide but it didn't work with the breathing pattern I had established to get through contractions earlier in labour. If this is something you want to try, I'd suggest talking to your Dr about how you will need to breathe for it and practice that. I ended up having oxytocin for the last 5 hours and could only have a phentanol drip for pain relief (it's basically a faster acting morphine so if baby arrives it has less effect on it). They had a max of 5 doses so I was choosing to use it conservatively. It was pretty mild but did help to make it survivable (the oxytocin induced contractions were unreal). After all that, I ended up having a c-section. They determined the lowest risk was a spinal tap so that's what we did. We took some precautions with the shingles and so far so good! No signs of any of the potential complications from the spinal and baby girl didn't contract chicken pox! Hope that helps!
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  • mirizzi&Amirizzi&A member
    I'm not sure if someone mentioned this, but there's always the option of an "old school" pudendal block (although, finding an Obs/Gyn or anesthesiologist that can do this may be a bit of a challenge). They inject long acting (?bupivocaine?) local anesthetic around the pudendal nerve (not the epidural space, so no issues with low platelets). 
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  • LilmanxLilmanx member
    This is some awesome advice! I'm in the same boat (platelets 95 and dropping as of three weeks ago) and really worried about my options. I talk to my OB tomorrow so I'll definitely be asking for my options and develop a plan!
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