Medication questions

[Tigerlily01]

Is it standard procedure to give anti-anxiety meds before/during a c-section? (I'm in the US.) The reason I'm asking is that I do NOT want this, and am not sure how much I need to foot stomp that to make sure they don't just automatically put something in my IV. I intend to use self-hypnosis techniques to stay relaxed, so I'm afraid I won't notice if they go to give me something. I REALLY want to be mentally "there," and not sleepy or loopy or forgetful about the event.

Also, with the pain medications they give you after, are there any (that work) that won't knock me out or make me feel "drunk?" I took narcotic pain killers once before, and I hated how out of it they made me.

 

[minties]

I'm not sure how it works in the USA. I would hope they wouldn't medicate you against your will. They offered me something during the procedure the second time as I did feel a bit of panic, but I didn't need anything in the end and I calmed myself down.

As for the meds afterwards, I guess that depends on how your body reacts to things. I never felt out of it, drugged up or woozy. I was very tired from being up all night the first time, that made me feel worse than any pills.

I dont recall what medication they gave me, but each time was some sort of morphine directly after surgery, then pills beyond that.

 

[sheldonsmommy]

I'm in Canada, and it is definitely not standard practice to give anti-anxiety meds. Especially without your knowledge!

After the section, I took Tylenol 3 for about 3 days or so (along with some anti-inflammatories like Voltaren suppositories in hospital, and Advil at home), and they are definitely the milder of some of the available narcotics. But everyone's body reacts differently. After the 3rd day, I found much more relief from extra-strength Advil. If you find you are feeling loopy, ask for alternatives. There are dozens of painkillers that are effective and don't all have the exact same side effects.

 

[petitpas]

I was fully awake and alert during my section (in UK). I think they like to keep meds to a minimum as they don't want them passing through to the baby (either through the placenta or via your milk). I took oral morphine and paracetamol in the 48 hours after the birth. I didn't feel out of it and they helped with the pain of uterus contractions. As PP said, if you are in pain try something out and if it doesn't work, switch meds until you are comfortable.
When I left hospital after 48h I just continued with paracetamol and was perfectly happy climbing stairs, bending down and moving about the house.

With a planned section, don't you have a pre-op appointment where you have a chance to speak to your surgeon and anaesthetist? You could ask then what their local procedure is and state your preferences.

 

[Melly Belly]

With my c-section i think they gave me zofran (to prevent nausea from the anesthesia, though i did barf up the popsicles i was allowed to have right before they started on the incision )..i dont remember an anti anxiety drug, but they did give me morphine through the epidural i think...i was awake and mostly with it the whole time, which is saying something considering i had been induced on a wednesday at 3:30p and they decided to do offer csection at 10:00ish thursday, so over 24 hours (i wasnt progressing without help, and baby wasnt dropping down like she should have been), i hadnt eaten or anything other than ice chips and popsicles...afterward i took ibuprofen 800s, until the last night i was there when i had some pain, and they gave me percoset..i would say if there is something you dont want, you can tell your dr ahead of time, or let them know when you get there..

 

[misspriss]

They didn't give me any anxiety meds (most of the anxiety meds I am aware of are not safe for pregnancy or infants, so...) They gave me lots of anti nausea stuff though, some kind of liquid that tasted nasty. Afterwards, I just had my epidural and magnesium sulfate for the pre-e. However, the mag sulfate is a muscle relaxant and made me quite drowsy, but I'd been on it for a long time. Not standard procedure.

I did have a panic attack later on in my hospital stay, and they gave me anxiety meds in pill form, but totally unrelated.

 

[Kalabear]

I was not given any anxiety meds (US) although I was about to be sick when they started and was given something through my Iv that made me very tired. I just fought through it for the next couple hours. I did feel loopy but personally it was better then the feeling I had and I remember it all I don't think they will give you anything against your will. Can you tell your dr that now? Good luck Hun!