Pain relief in the US.

[deb.]

Posted in third tri but not getting any responses....

I'm hoping for a natural birth, but I'm just wondering what options there are for pain relief other than an epidural in the US?

 

[SapphireCrush]

Systemic painkillers such as narcotics dull your pain but don't completely eliminate it. You may also be given a tranquilizer – alone or in combination with a narcotic – to reduce anxiety or nausea, or to relax you.

Systemic drugs are either delivered through an IV line to your bloodstream or injected into a muscle, and they affect your entire body rather than concentrating pain relief in the uterus and pelvic area. They may make you feel sleepy, but unlike the general anesthesia that's often given for surgery, they won't make you unconscious.



Nitrous oxide is another type of systemic pain relief, commonly used in Europe but rarely available in the United States for labor. (It requires more intensive monitoring, and there are concerns about its environmental impact and the exposure of healthcare providers to ongoing trace levels.)

Nitrous oxide doesn't provide complete pain relief, but it can take the edge off contractions. It's inhaled and self-administered, and, because it acts quickly, it can be used in any stage of labor.

Nitrous oxide doesn't affect the progress of labor or complicate early breastfeeding. It may, however, cause drowsiness and nausea. Later, memory of labor may be foggy.



That's all I know about right now.. Pain killers and gas (supposedly rare here, though I had a friend who used it).. that was on Babycenter.com

 

[BetsyRN]

You can also get sterile water papules, which work very well for back labor. They inject sterile water in multiple close locations where you're really hurting, like your lower back; they hurt like a you-know-what to inject but they really do help with focusing your pain response elsewhere. Occasionally, I've seen PCA morphine/fentanyl/dilaudid pumps used for people that can't epidurals, but I don't know how widespread this is. These would function the same as the IV meds mentioned above, but you get a dose everytime you push a button.

 

[amjon]

Systemic painkillers such as narcotics dull your pain but don't completely eliminate it. You may also be given a tranquilizer – alone or in combination with a narcotic – to reduce anxiety or nausea, or to relax you.

Systemic drugs are either delivered through an IV line to your bloodstream or injected into a muscle, and they affect your entire body rather than concentrating pain relief in the uterus and pelvic area. They may make you feel sleepy, but unlike the general anesthesia that's often given for surgery, they won't make you unconscious.



Nitrous oxide is another type of systemic pain relief, commonly used in Europe but rarely available in the United States for labor. (It requires more intensive monitoring, and there are concerns about its environmental impact and the exposure of healthcare providers to ongoing trace levels.)

Nitrous oxide doesn't provide complete pain relief, but it can take the edge off contractions. It's inhaled and self-administered, and, because it acts quickly, it can be used in any stage of labor.

Nitrous oxide doesn't affect the progress of labor or complicate early breastfeeding. It may, however, cause drowsiness and nausea. Later, memory of labor may be foggy.



That's all I know about right now.. Pain killers and gas (supposedly rare here, though I had a friend who used it).. that was on Babycenter.com

The Nitrous would seem dangerous to me. Every time I've ever had it I completely blacked out and it took awhile for them to "wake" me up. I knew what was going on somewhat, but had no way to communicate or open my eyes. They would thump on my head and tell me to wake up, but it took a good 15 minutes for me to come to.

 

[mrsthomas623]

I have heard of Nubain (narcotic) is popular. I just went with the epidural last time and hated it. Will definitely be exploring the option of a more natural birth this time.

 

[robinator]

Systemic painkillers such as narcotics dull your pain but don't completely eliminate it. You may also be given a tranquilizer – alone or in combination with a narcotic – to reduce anxiety or nausea, or to relax you.

Systemic drugs are either delivered through an IV line to your bloodstream or injected into a muscle, and they affect your entire body rather than concentrating pain relief in the uterus and pelvic area. They may make you feel sleepy, but unlike the general anesthesia that's often given for surgery, they won't make you unconscious.



Nitrous oxide is another type of systemic pain relief, commonly used in Europe but rarely available in the United States for labor. (It requires more intensive monitoring, and there are concerns about its environmental impact and the exposure of healthcare providers to ongoing trace levels.)

Nitrous oxide doesn't provide complete pain relief, but it can take the edge off contractions. It's inhaled and self-administered, and, because it acts quickly, it can be used in any stage of labor.

Nitrous oxide doesn't affect the progress of labor or complicate early breastfeeding. It may, however, cause drowsiness and nausea. Later, memory of labor may be foggy.



That's all I know about right now.. Pain killers and gas (supposedly rare here, though I had a friend who used it).. that was on Babycenter.com

The Nitrous would seem dangerous to me. Every time I've ever had it I completely blacked out and it took awhile for them to "wake" me up. I knew what was going on somewhat, but had no way to communicate or open my eyes. They would thump on my head and tell me to wake up, but it took a good 15 minutes for me to come to.

Sounds like they gave you too much. Nitrous is not supposed to knock you out; in fact, doctor should tell you if you start feeling like you're about to go, to let them know. Otherwise it WILL cause you to go under and that can be dangerous.

 

[Shmead]

The Nitrous would seem dangerous to me. Every time I've ever had it I completely blacked out and it took awhile for them to "wake" me up. I knew what was going on somewhat, but had no way to communicate or open my eyes. They would thump on my head and tell me to wake up, but it took a good 15 minutes for me to come to.

I think that dental nitrous is mixed at a much higher concentration than what they use in the UK for labor.

 

[agreeksmom]

i did the gas made my contractions worse.


What are Opiates?
Opiates are a type of analgesic given to relieve pain. When used during childbirth, Opiates are considered the next step from the less invasive or natural methods of pain relief such as laboring in water, deep breathing, and massage. Opiates are given in small doses and usually during the early stages of labor in an attempt to avoid potential side effects for the mother and baby.

What are the advantages of using opiates during childbirth?
Opiates offer pain relief and do not interfere with a woman’s ability to push during labor. Unlike an epidural, an opiate does not numb the pain but instead it helps to take the “edge” off. Opiates may help to reduce anxiety and improve the ability to cope with painful contractions.

What are the potential side effects of opiates?
Opiates may have the following side effects on the mother:

Nausea
Vomiting
Itching
Dizziness
Sedation
Decreased gastric motility
Loss of protective airway reflexes
Hypoxia due to respiratory depression
How will the opiates affect my baby?
Throughout pregnancy, you were probably aware that medications you consumed could potentially affect your baby. Opiates also cross the placenta during labor and can cause the following side effects to your baby:

Central nervous system depression
Respiratory depression
Impaired early breastfeeding
Altered neurological behavior
Decreased ability to regulate body temperature
For these reasons, your baby may need medication to counteract the opiate effects. Naloxone is a medication that when given in small doses can reverse the respiratory depression that opiates may cause in the baby. This drug is usually given intravenously to your baby. The effects of naloxone can be seen within a few minutes and can last up to 2 hours.

What types of opiates are used during childbirth?
The most frequently used narcotic medications are:

Morphine
Stadol
Fentanyl
Nubain
Demerol
Demerol:
Demerol is a popular choice for pain relief during labor. Demerol alters how you recognize the pain you are experiencing by binding to the receptors found in your central nervous system. The advantages of Demerol include:

Can be given by injection into the muscle, the vein or by a Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) pump
Demerol starts working in less than 5 minutes
How can Demerol affect me and my baby?
Demerol can cause drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, respiratory depression, and maternal hypotension (low blood pressure). If injected within 2-4 hours of delivery, Demerol has been found to cause breathing difficulties in babies.

Morphine:
In recent years, morphine has not been routinely used as a method of pain relief during labor because it has been found to depress the baby’s ability to breathe.

Stadol:
Stadol has been found to relieve pain when given in the first stage of labor. This narcotic is considered more potent then Demerol. It is usually given intravenously in small doses, usually 1 to 2 mg. The advantages of using Stadol include:

Starts working in less then five minutes
Is a sedative
Has minimal fetal effects
Cause minimal nausea
How can Stadol affect me and my baby?
Stadol can cause the mother to have respiratory depression, dizziness and dysphoria (a state of feeling unwell and unhappy). Stadol can cause respiratory depression in the baby.

Fentanyl:
Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate that provides mild to moderate sedation. The advantages of using Fentanyl include:

Begins working quickly (although, usually only lasts 45 minutes)
Minimal sedation
Minimal fetal effects
How can Fentanyl affect me and my baby?
You and your baby may experience some sedation and/or nausea. According to Danforth’s Obstetrics and Gynecology, baby’s born to mothers who used Fentanyl to relieve pain during labor were less likely to need naloxone (medication to help with breathing) than babies born to mothers who used Demerol during childbirth.

Nubain:
Nubain is a opiate agonist-antagonist that is comparable to morphine. The advantages of using Nubain include:

Begins working within 5 minutes of administration
Minimal nausea
Minimal fetal effects
How can Nubain affect me and my baby?
Nubain can cause the mother to have sedation and dysphoria (a state of feeling unwell and unhappy).

 

[agreeksmom]

theres not much you can get without a risk to the baby but talk to your midwife

 

[amjon]

Sounds like they gave you too much. Nitrous is not supposed to knock you out; in fact, doctor should tell you if you start feeling like you're about to go, to let them know. Otherwise it WILL cause you to go under and that can be dangerous.

I must be overly sensitive to it then as it has happened EVERY time at different doctors.

 

[Seity]

Go for the walking epidural. Absolutely brilliant. A shot to the spine in the same place as an epidural only no catheter left in. Numbs you from boobs to thighs, so you don't feel any pain, but you can feel everything else. One shot lasts 2 hours and you can get another.
Works immediately, no wait for relief.