Community› The Bump Month Clubs› June 2015 Moms
June 2015 Moms
New Discussion

IV drugs during labor

ElRubyElRuby member
in June 2015 Moms
We have a lot of discussions about epidurals and natural births but I haven't seen too much about opinions/ experiences with IV drugs... Any one use them before or plan to ... either with or without the epidural?
Report Reply to Post

Re: IV drugs during labor

  • ElRubyElRuby member
    I discussed with my doctor due to my fear of losing control of my body with an epidural... She cautioned me about feeling really drowsy... I think I would prefer drowsy to paralyzed but then I go back to totally med free...
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • dirtymartinidirtymartini member
    The IV drugs do go to the baby too so they get sleepy as well. The epidural on the other hand is local, so doesn't affect the baby. IV drugs may help take the edge off but a lot of people get the epidural anyway because IV pain relief isn't enough.
    Pregnancy Ticker
    Report Reply
  • klkonwiklkonwi member
    I'm all for having my IV fentanyl every hour but when labor is active it usually only works about twice.
    Report Reply
  • klkonwiklkonwi member
    edited May 2015
    I think the Iv meds are nice for when your just not sure if you should get the epidural at that time....they are also nice for right before epidural so u can hold nice and still and be more relaxed.
    Nubian and stadol also usually only work about twice.
    Report Reply
  • ElRubyElRuby member
    My hospital uses Nubain.
    Report Reply
  • ElRubyElRuby member
    klkonwi said:

    I think the Iv meds are nice for when your just not sure if you should get the epidural at that time....they are also nice for right before epidural so u can hold nice and still and be more relaxed.

    And they are probably really nice when you're not in labor or pregnant ;)
    Report Reply
  • auburnmammaauburnmamma member
    I didn't want them with DS but I was on pitocin and not progressing. My hospital uses Nubain which was useless to me. It took the edge off once.

    I much preferred the epidural. It was effective.
    04/2008 Biochemical
    03/2009 DS
    09/2013 Ectopic - MTX
    1/2014 Biochemical
    07/2014 Ectopic
    09/2014 Final injectible/IUI cycle prior to saving for IVF. BFP!!! 
    14 DPO: 179
    17 DPO: 547
    21 DPO: 2,180.70
    10/9/14 We have a heartbeat!!!!!
    Due June 5th!


    Report Reply
  • klkonwiklkonwi member
    The drugs generally can't be given within 1 hr of delivery. I've seen negative effects with Nubian given too close but not fentanyl. It's so short acting. We always have narcan available for these adverse affects. Most importantly your nurse will have to gauge how close you are to delivery.
    Report Reply
  • mrs1374amrs1374a member
    ElRuby said:

    I discussed with my doctor due to my fear of losing control of my body with an epidural... She cautioned me about feeling really drowsy... I think I would prefer drowsy to paralyzed but then I go back to totally med free...

    I had an epidural after hours and hours of labor with my first daughter, and maybe it was because I was completely exhausted at that point, but I honestly don't remember feeing paralyzed. I could move my legs around.
    Report Reply
  • ElRubyElRuby member
    mrs1374a said:

    ElRuby said:

    I discussed with my doctor due to my fear of losing control of my body with an epidural... She cautioned me about feeling really drowsy... I think I would prefer drowsy to paralyzed but then I go back to totally med free...

    I had an epidural after hours and hours of labor with my first daughter, and maybe it was because I was completely exhausted at that point, but I honestly don't remember feeing paralyzed. I could move my legs around.
    Paralysis was my experience with DS so I had it removed and I pushed after the drug was out (didn't try IV drugs at all) ... From that experience I am afraid to have an epidural again but I am also afraid of that pain again!
    Report Reply
  • mjschenkmjschenk member
    Ftm so take what I say with a grain of salt at our hospital they don't give iv drugs once you make it to an 8 so the baby isn't drowsy when they come out. But I am thinking I will possibly use iv drugs so to hopefully not have the epidural in as long. I know first time moms labor is usually longer so hoping the iv drugs will still allow some more movement than once the epidural is given.
    Report Reply
  • ElRubyElRuby member
    mellymar said:

    This thread was helpful because I had also been considering the IV meds to 'take the edge off', but it doesn't sound like they last very long and also can't be used when its probably the most painful (in the hour before delivery). Could they give you like a xanax or something? Something to help with the mental game? In all seriousness, the legal medical equivalent of letting me smoke a joint would help me relax and make me better able to tolerate pain and the mental stress marathon. Not specifically that, but something that works that way. Is there something like that?

    (Of course I'm afraid to ask my Dr if there is 'something like marijuana' they can give me, lol)

    I can totally see a Xanax being helpful but I think that is probably a no-go :)
    Report Reply
  • klkonwiklkonwi member
    edited May 2015
    Haha. No Xanax. :) the Iv meds are really for early labor pains
    Report Reply
  • MommaswizzMommaswizz member
    @mellymar I'm right there with you... That's exactly what I'm looking for hahahaha
    Report Reply
  • foxa319foxa319 member
    We use stadol at my hospital, ppl generally get drowsy and sometimes say they feel drunk. It can be given once an hour but generally only works the first or second time and really just takes the edge off. The baby also becomes sleepy and occasionally can have a very flat fetal heart rate strip. As L&D nurses we don't like flat strips!!!
    Report Reply
  • aliciaspinnetaliciaspinnet member
    I think I'd prefer to go with an epidural over IV opiates - more effective and less effect on the baby.
    Report Reply
  • lindsladle15lindsladle15 member
    I hated IV drugs with DS! I don't know which ones I had (2 different ones), but they made me feel horrible! I could barely form sentences, was all woozy and comatose-like, could not move much or keep my eyes open. I felt drugged, with barely any pain relief.
    Bring on the epidural! Ya, I couldn't move/feel from the waist down, but I was able to rest and actually progress.
    Report Reply
  • kissellkissell member
    What about Demerol? Is that something anyone has heard of? I have heard that you can take that too. I have taken Vicodin and Percocet after surgeries and it never made me drowsy, in fact it did quite the opposite. I don't want to drug up my baby but I also don't want an epidural unless it's just absolutely needed. I'm soooo on the fence about pain management... Just not sure of what I need to decide on. Glad this post is up!!! I'm not sure if that's even an option but I think I read it somewhere. Anyone have any thoughts on that?
    Report Reply
  • dancegurl1118dancegurl1118 member
    We use a combo of stadol and Benadryl. I hate it. Makes the patient feel super drowsy in between contractions but still aware of them. And effects the baby. I see many people who do not want an epidural because they think it effects the baby yet they get IV meds to take the edge off...I don't think it's really discussed that much -- just the "horrors of an epidural".

    I do have to say though...after talking to a traveling nurse currently on our unit apparently our epidurals are very different than many other hospitals so I guess that's why I don't see them as terrible. You are in control, you can feel where to push, and we've never had to turn them off because they're too strong.
    TTC: 1/2014 BFP: 9/24 EDD: 6/8/2015 Sorry for the poor man's siggy...ticker won't load regardless of how many tips I read.
    Report Reply
  • juliep91080juliep91080 member
    I hated the IV drugs. Made me feel really loopy and sort of "out of body" which was in turn Made me really anxious. (and it only lasted a very short time.) I much preferred the epidural!!
    Report Reply
  • jessieR358jessieR358 member
    kissell said:

    What about Demerol? Is that something anyone has heard of? I have heard that you can take that too. I have taken Vicodin and Percocet after surgeries and it never made me drowsy, in fact it did quite the opposite. I don't want to drug up my baby but I also don't want an epidural unless it's just absolutely needed. I'm soooo on the fence about pain management... Just not sure of what I need to decide on. Glad this post is up!!! I'm not sure if that's even an option but I think I read it somewhere. Anyone have any thoughts on that?

    I'm not sure if it's given in labor anymore, but Demerol is no longer a standard pain medication. I only gave Demerol in the hospital for post anesthesia shivers. That's it. It's faded out of use.
    Report Reply
  • kissellkissell member
    I think I have "youtubed" getting an epidural too much and now I'm terrified. Something about being hunched over with a large needle plus catheter going in between vertebrae in the spinal column FREAKS. ME. OUT. I guess I would rather be freaked out as to make baby girl stressed in any way from the IV drugs. I will finally get the chance to talk to doc this after noon and ask what our hospitals procedure is.
    Report Reply
  • klkonwiklkonwi member
    Demerol is not a thing for labor where I'm at.
    Report Reply
  • kissellkissell member
    Maybe that's something they offer after baby is born...? I will have to ask today. I have been seeing the NP and although she is very friendly and happy she doesn't keep you informed of what is to be expected. Maybe I'm just not asking the right questions. I am seeing the ob today as I will for the rest of my visits and he will deliver so I have a list of questions that hopefully won't overwhelm him on the procedures they usually take for prep and birth. I think I'm starting to get a bit nervous. Can anyone tell??! (18 days to edd) I think laughing gas could be affective if I could have access to that tank I would be on cloud nine:)
    Report Reply
  • aj1327aj1327 member
    LaurenCearfoss said:

    As a STM who got the epidural the first time I have to say it was a great decision for me personally.  After feeling contractions and dealing with them for hours I didn't care about the fact that they were going to be putting a needle into my back.  Plus, since it was in my back I couldn't actually see what they were doing so I didn't care.  I couldn't move my legs with it but I was able to push and got DD out in under an hour.  I luckily had no bad side effects after and she wasn't woozy or out of it either.  I personally wouldn't do IV drugs but to each her own!

    This has been what all my friends with kids have said.
    Report Reply
  • upandbelowupandbelow member
    Being a FTM, i'm heading in to L&D with no set wants regarding pain management.  I hope to handle what I can handle and if and when I need some pain relief climb up the scale. I know the epidural has been like gold to some women, but I've heard enough stories that I'm very wary of getting one, plus I'd like to be able to walk around during labour.  The idea of losing feeling makes me nervous, and so does the idea of opting for the epidural and it going in slanted and only numbing one side...gah!  So I guess I'm saying who knows haha.  My friend swore by the laughing gas - held it to her face like it was her lifeline.  Another looooved the Demerol (or equivalent).
    Report Reply
Sign In or Register to comment.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"