OTC medication to make you drowsy in early labor

Knottie1455832158 · February 2016

I took a childbirth class this past week and it caught me really off guard when the instructor mentioned to the class that it'd be a good idea to take some medication to make you drowsy in early labor. She said that this will allow you to rest and relax before active labor, and to ask your OB about what over the counter med are safe to take.

I've never been big on taking medications in general, so this naturally doesn't sit right with me and is most likely something that I would not do (although I totally get the need to try to rest up before). However, I am curious if any of you mamas have heard of this, have been told to do this, or have done this?

cMichelle0423 · February 2016

Knottie1455832158 said:

I took a childbirth class this past week and it caught me really off guard when the instructor mentioned to the class that it'd be a good idea to take some medication to make you drowsy in early labor. She said that this will allow you to rest and relax before active labor, and to ask your OB about what over the counter med are safe to take.

I've never been big on taking medications in general, so this naturally doesn't sit right with me and is most likely something that I would not do (although I totally get the need to try to rest up before). However, I am curious if any of you mamas have heard of this, have been told to do this, or have done this?

Never heard of this. Sounds stupid though. No one can predict how fast your labor will progress. The last thing I'd want is to start the entire process already tired as hell. Labor is exhausting enough as it is.

Knottie1455832158 · February 2016

Yeah, I totally agree. I actually think it'd make me more anxious if I took something - from the timing of everything being unknown to any possible side effects. But it was my first class, so I didn't know if this was a common suggestion or not!

MississippiCatfish · February 2016

I have a friend who was admitted to the hospital at night, to be induced in the morning (I don't remember if they were giving her prostaglandins or just monitoring or what the reason was). She couldn't sleep so she received a sleeping pill. Well, what do you know, she went into labor hard and fast! She says she hardly remembers the birth - she remembers her body pushing on its own and being kind of in shock by it. She actually laughs about it because baby girl had a large angel kiss on her forehead and all of their first pictures as a family she's staring at baby girl like, "what the heck is on your face???" (Her words not mine!)

cMichelle0423 · February 2016

Well between 3 pregnancies and 8 doctors/midwives, not a single one of them have mentioned anything like that. I mean I understand the logic, but I don't feel like that's realistically going to work. There's a lot of anxiety/stress and excitement when you realize you're in labor. I feel like taking something to make you drowsy would only add to the stress.

cMichelle0423 · February 2016

MississippiCatfish said:

I have a friend who was admitted to the hospital at night, to be induced in the morning (I don't remember if they were giving her prostaglandins or just monitoring or what the reason was). She couldn't sleep so she received a sleeping pill. Well, what do you know, she went into labor hard and fast! She says she hardly remembers the birth - she remembers her body pushing on its own and being kind of in shock by it. She actually laughs about it because baby girl had a large angel kiss on her forehead and all of their first pictures as a family she's staring at baby girl like, "what the heck is on your face???" (Her words not mine!)

Exactly. I'd hate to have a foggy memory about what happened the day my baby was born. I'd rather naturally exhaust myself than take a pill to amplify that reaction.

thoughtfulmommy · February 2016

I was told to stay at home and rest for as long as possible while in early labour. I have also read to take a gravel or drink a glass of wine to help relax and maybe rest while in early labour. Some people are in labour for many many hours, and if you walk or bounce on a ball that whole time, you will be exhausted by the time you need to push. I think you need to know your body and yourself. If you are having random contractions far apart and want to sleep to rest, taking half a pill might help.

Achae · February 2016

I have never heard that but I guess it would make sense, I mean in the hospital you can get the epidural or other medications that help make you relax and get some rest until you are ready to push. With my first I slept for awhile in the hospital before being ready!

hbg8711 · February 2016

a friend of mine would take 1 tylenol PM to help her sleep in her last trimester or pregnancy (doctor approved) so I could see that being ok while in early labor perhaps, but I can't imagine taking an ambien or another type of sleeping pill (something with the sole purpose of knocking you out). But then again I don't typically take meds and I'm a ftm who has yet to deliver, so I don't know much about anything.

VitaLuna · February 2016

Never heard this, and is really terrible advice for the instructor of a birth class to be given. I mean, if someone WANTS to do that and talk to their doctor about it, that's up to them to pursue, not a birth educator to recommend.

I do agree that you should rest as much as you can in early labor if it's night time, or do something relaxing/distracting at home if it's day time (a bath, make some cookies, go out to lunch, etc). I certainly don't think you need to be taking any meds, though.

heatherlemieux · February 2016

I was given a med in early labor to help relax. It was a pain reliever and I do not normally take any meds I always try to avoid them but my dr was adamant. I will say I felt great and relaxed but I don't think I would have enjoyed that feeling of my labor had progressed more quickly. Needless to say a few hours later still laboring when the med wore off I was horribly grouchy and irritable from being drowsy/relaxed it made me regret it so much! I felt horrible like being drunk (not a good example but the only thing I can relate it to) I would not reccomend anything to help you with "relaxing" other than breathing and feeling safe. The meds just have too much potential to mess things up/distract you or at least that was my experience with my first.

OctoberStars · February 2016

I was surprised that I was actually able to sleep for 2 30 minute naps when dilated to 5cm! My body gave me a break from contractions long enough to get some energy back without needing any medications.

oxfordlanding · February 2016

In early labour only, and working with the knowledge of your midwife or doula, you might want to take a gravel to help you get some rest. It's not strong enough to affect active labour. In early labour try to avoid too much nesting and sleep as much as you can. You will appreciate the rest later.

paytonpedro · February 2016

Can I just bring up this thread again? My induction process started last night with cervidil. I was already dilated 3cm and 50%, and having regular pretty painful contractions 5 mins apart. They gave me Benadryl to help sleep until this morning as I was in early labor. It did nothing. I slept maybe 2-3 hours. Maybe. So even if you ask for something, or they offer to give you something, know that it may (probably) won't help you. It didn't help me at all anyways!

MississippiCatfish · February 2016

paytonpedro said:

Can I just bring up this thread again? My induction process started last night with cervidil. I was already dilated 3cm and 50%, and having regular pretty painful contractions 5 mins apart. They gave me Benadryl to help sleep until this morning as I was in early labor. It did nothing. I slept maybe 2-3 hours. Maybe. So even if you ask for something, or they offer to give you something, know that it may (probably) won't help you. It didn't help me at all anyways!

Hope things are going well! Was excited to see what kind of update this might be. Baby will be here so soon mama!

PS I didn't sleep a wink the night I had cervadil with my first either. Nerves!

michelle_bird · February 2016

My doula, doc and a long time nurse I know recommended Benadryl if early labor begins at night and you're too excited about it to sleep. They each said when your body starts to move into active labor that you will be awake regardless.

I don't like they way sleeping meds make me feel so I won't take any.

mrscammack · February 2016

I was induced using cervidill and when I went back to the hospital I had contractions 3 1/2 minutes apart but was only 2cm and seemed to be dilating pretty slowly. They gave me morphine so I could sleep for a few hours and try and relax my body so I could dilate more. I was able to sleep from 4am until around 9am and during that time dilated 5cm and 100% effaced because my body was allowed to relax so in my case I was really happy they insisted on a morphine shot as it allowed me to rest and helped my labour progress.

2-Step · February 2016

I think she miscommunicated that advice possibly. When I was in early labor I was having contractions 3 minutes apart for nearly 24 hours but they weren't dilating me. Finally at 2am they sent me home with the instructions to take a tylenol pm and sleep as much as possible because I needed to have energy for labor when it finally kicked in. It was pretty clear that it was going to be a long process. I did it and got a few hours of rest, which was a godsend because I went into active labor the next afternoon. I don't think this is the type of advice a birth class should be putting out there, but I do understand why sometimes it is a good option for people who are having slow labor and don't want to be awake for 48 hours before pushing. That advice should be given on a case by case basis by an OB though.

charliegoldengirl · February 2016

So not drowsy meds but my hospital is just starting to offer nitrous oxide (I think ? Laughing gas?) as pain management option. I didn't use it but has anyone tried it? I'd be interested in hearing what it was like.

Want a personalized experience?

OTC medication to make you drowsy in early labor

Re: OTC medication to make you drowsy in early labor

Choose Another Board

Search Boards