remifentanil - Any experiences

[Pollygo]

Has anyone ever used remifentanil as a pain relief during labour. If so what are your experiences of it.

Thanks x

 

[cupcake0406]

I'm a st mw and have seen it used many times during labour both by women that were not planning on pain relief and others that prev had epidurals with other labours and were adamant that they needed epidurals this time. I am yet to find anyone who did not like the effects of the drug.

It is short lasting and patient controlled so if you didn't like it you wouldn't press the button for another shot of the drug. Pressed with the onset of a contraction it makes the woman feel drowsy and spaced out and 'on another planet' as many have said. But by the next contraction it will be needed to be pressed again (can be administered every two minutes). This drug does go through the placenta and can depress respiratory efforts in mum so you will need to regularly have your sats monitored and possibly have nasal specs with O2.

hth xx