Hey everyone- I know there is already a birth plan thread, but I thought one for pain management specifically may be helpful!
I took my birthing class on Sunday and had not even thought of the idea of narcotics instead of (or before) an epidural. What is everyone thinking? Or from STMs, how do you feel about Narcotics VS. Epidurals?
According to the instructor of the birthing class, she said narcotics these days don't really affect the infant too much. Yes, it is passed through the placenta, but she said she doesn't notice a difference between epidural babies, VS narcotic babies. I also have lumbar scoliosis, so that is something to consider as well. My midwife wants me to go get a consult from the anesthesiologist before we even know if I can have one.
From what I have learned some pros of narcotics are; You can walk around and move if you want to, which can speed up labor. More control during pushing, you can still tell whats going on, as they don't actually numb you, you can hop into the tub if you want to, no catheter.
Epidural: you dont feel anything, it does not pass through the placenta, wont affect your mind, it is probably easier to get rest during contractions.
What are some other pros and cons?
I think our "plan" will be, A.) Natural, breathing and relaxation techniques ETC. B.) Narcotics C.) Epidural
Re: Pain management during labor
they put it in) and she said with the fentanyl for her second it worked but only lasted about 5 minutes before it wore off and the pain was as bad if not worse than before she got it
DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
I'm going to ask my OB at my next appt what hospital policy is. I'm at a new hospital this time around with new insurance. I think I got pretty lucky to get an epidural at 8-9 cm dilated as I hear most hospitals won't do it at that point. So if my OB says the latest they will offer an epidural is 6-7 cm, then I'm going to have to pay better attention to my body, so I don't miss out on the opportunity to get an epidural if I want one. But I'm still 50/50 on trying naturally.
Married: 5/30/2013
DSS #1: 5/25/2007
DSS #2: 1/22/2011
DS #3: 7/8/2012
BFP: 3/14/2016 ~ MC: 3/19/2016
DS #4: 4/21/17
I am on the fence about narcotics for the reasons previously mentioned. My midwife said that the hospital policy is that you can't have more than three doses in an hour and that you can't have any during the pushing stage. She said it only lasts any where between 10-15 minutes.
The hospital doesn't offer nitrous oxicide. Which I'm super bummed about since it was my first choice. When I asked my midwife why, she said it was because of push back from the anthestiologists.
Since odds are now that I will be induced and I hear contractions from the pit are more painful, I'm getting that epi at the first chance I get, lol.
June- Femara 7.5mg + Trigger + IUI = BFN August- Lap & Hysteroscopy = Blocked & Partially Blocked Tubes
September- Femara 5mg = CX - No Response on Left = BFN October- 100mg Clomid + Trigger + TI = BFN
IVF # 1: Stims 11/30 ER 12/12/12! (10R, 10M, 8F, 2T, 6 F) :: Beta #1- 176 c/p @ 4w4d
FET #1 February 26th :: Lost 4 to Thaw, Transferred 2 = BFFN
IVF # 2 Stims 5/10 ER 5/21 (15R, 13M, 13F, 2T, 7F- 6d3 & 1d5) :: Beta # 1- 15 c/p @ 4w
FET #2.2 Scheduled for September 20th
2 Thawed, 2 Transferred! Beta #1- 96, Beta #2 906! :: EDD June 10th
2015- 2 failed FET. We are done
SURPRISE! BFP 8/8/16 EDD 4/1/17
DH: 30 year old pneumatic electrical engineer
BFP: June 25, 2016 and MC: July 3, 2016
DD2: April 16, 2017
BFP: November 30, 2018 EDD: August 14, 2019
My DH: French guy, car fanatic, best husband ever.
Our baby boy: Due on 17 April, currently 37 weeks. I can't believe it - I made it to full term!!!!
Last measurement: 3150 gs at 37+1! This is going to be a big baby
Baby Boy due 04/07/17
Here is a good resource regarding the pros and cons of narcotics during labor:
https://americanpregnancy.org/labor-and-birth/narcotics/
Here is a good resource regarding epidural during labor:
https://safebirthproject.com/epidurals-for-delivery-pros-and-cons/
Both can have side effects for sure.
DD1 born 5/24/10.
Missed M/C at 14 wks Feb 2012.
DD2 born 5/14/13.
Missed M/C at 9 wks July 2015.
If I go into labor naturally this time, before my RCS date (fingers crossed!!), I will probably opt for the epidural again, if there's time for it, mostly because I am already at risk of needing a c-section (due to the previous one being relatively recent) and I don't want to be knocked out.
ETA that I could still feel the pressure of contractions (and it was super weird when they started pulling my insides around for the c-section), but nothing hurt. My epidural wore off probably 2 hours after my c-section (when I went in for the c-section they gave me a top-off to make sure that it didn't wear off while they were cutting). I was up and walking around 3 hours post-op.
This time around I am practicing the Hypnobabies technique. I'm really hoping for a med-free birth using breathing and relaxation. Narcotics make me extremely nauseous, so I would pass on those no matter what.
I plan on getting another this time around and just plan on asking them to keep the dosage relatively low so that I can still feel my legs, and feel most of what's going on when it's time to push. I have never had narcotics, but I feel like I will be more with it with a low dose epi versus narcotics.
Hypnobabies is AWESOME. This helped me to have a med free birth with DD2.
With DD1 I got an epidural in transition b/c I freaked out and didn't realize I was in transition and felt like I couldn't do it anymore (totally normal, by the way. I know this in hindsight). Anyway by the time I got the epidural I was completely dilated 10 min later so I totally could have done without. The epi really made it hard for me to push effectively. And I had to lay on my left side b/c it was messing with my baby's heart rate so I was stuck in a very uncomfortable position and had to push flat on my back which resulted in a LOT of second degree tearing (think Frankenstein). Needless to say, never again.
DD1 born 5/24/10.
Missed M/C at 14 wks Feb 2012.
DD2 born 5/14/13.
Missed M/C at 9 wks July 2015.
I did experience some discomfort in my back a few days after the epidural was removed, but I'm not 100% sure the pain was associated with it. My whole body felt like my joints could pop out of place any minute, so I'm thinking it had more to do with the relaxin hormone than the epidural.
Definitely do your research. Knowledge is your friend. I found that the more I understood about the process, the more comfortable I was going into it. Hope that helps!
Married: 5/30/2013
DSS #1: 5/25/2007
DSS #2: 1/22/2011
DS #3: 7/8/2012
BFP: 3/14/2016 ~ MC: 3/19/2016
DS #4: 4/21/17
ETA: missing words. I'm too pregnant to make sense
I think that my plan remains to go med-free as long as I can so that I can move around, use the tub, eat something light, etc. I've put in my birth plan that I will request drugs (either Stadol or an epidural) if I want one and that I don't want to be offered one. I had no idea @chelle087 that epidurals can come in low doses (although it does make sense!), and if I do get one, I'd like to request that so that I can feel what's going on and hopefully push effectively.
I still go back and forth on this because as a FTM who's never been hospitalized, never broken a bone except for my nose, never had major surgery, etc. I have a hard time conceptualizing what the pain will feel like, and I honestly don't know much about my pain tolerance. So I have a plan but I'm also trying to be open to what may or may not arise as things happen.
My epi experience wasn't terrible. I had contractions all through it and it was uncomfortable but, the placement of the needle itself is not something you will/should feel. I would also say the nurses did not manage me well though because I think I felt much more than I should have during pushing. My labor felt great with the epi. My husband and I just watched TV until they said I was ready to push.
in requesting a low dosage if it doesn't exist!
DH: 36
Married 5 years
DD born 8/30/13
#2 expected 4/25/17
My SIL has had two 9lb babies with barely any tearing and my other SIL had a 6lb baby and tore through the perineum. I really don't think it will be a concern when you go into labor as there are so many other things happening. Also, the vagina is a mystical lady and meant to handle more than we can comprehend. My OBs and midwives have recommended primrose oil (after 36 weeks), semen and olive oil massage to help prep the area.
i can tell you that delivery isn't comfy with or without an epidural. It is A hole typically the size of a pea stretching and expelling something the size of a watermelon. but I had essentially no tearing with my med free birth and I firmly believe that is bc of my position and the fact that I had full control of the situation and also that I allowed babe to labor down on her own.
all that to say I wouldn't worry about weight. A tiny friend of mine just birthed a 10lb5oz babe with zero tearing. You just never know.
DD1 born 5/24/10.
Missed M/C at 14 wks Feb 2012.
DD2 born 5/14/13.
Missed M/C at 9 wks July 2015.
IVF FET - BFP, due April 2017
To those who wonder what labor feels like, I tell my husband it's like how it feels when you have the worst abdominal cramps ever except nothing can make them go away until birth. Then you have the craziest sensation of pooping out a bowling ball. At least that was my experience!
My one pointed piece of advice of pain management advice that doesn't pertain to drugs is this: keep things "low and deep" and if something is working at home (position, breathing), try not to change it on the way to the hospital. When you get high pitched and screamy, your anxiety goes up and your tension along with it, making the pain worse. Low moans work SO much better even when your whole internal world feels out of control. So...that's my pain med free advice from the mama who spent a 35 minute ride from hell trying to push out a breech baby, who stupidly decided to lay on her side in the car when that was the hardest position of my entire labor, and who definitely lost all breathing and focus and was screaming and swearing.
That said, the epidural was definitely my godsend when I finally arrived. I almost kicked someone when they told me my labs had to come back before they could give it to me. I did not care at all that a giant needle went in my back, and I did have almost immediate relief once I got it. I consider epidurals to be a valuable tool in the box for labor, though they are not without risks. Mine didn't take as well on one side. The nurse offered me a peanut ball to help it spread around, which is a great tool if you have an epidural because it keeps your pelvis open and gives you a little mobility while stuck in a bed. Both of those things can help you progress and possibly avoid a c section. I also ended up getting a little bit panicky once it took hold even though I was grateful to be out of pain. It was really claustrophobic for a few minutes to feel numb and trapped, having never lost feeling in my body from the waist down before.
Regarding narcotics, I hear a lot of people talk about feeling loopy or disconnected so I think I'd probably avoid them if were choosing the hospital route. It sucks to not feel in control of yourself. It was bad enough that I was given terbutaline on arrival so I was shaking like a leaf for quite some time pre and post delivery.