Drugs or NO Drugs???

Question

Is drugs necessary when going thru labor? Ladies who have gone thru child labor what is your opinion? what's the pros & cons to both sides????

Answer 1

Give me the drugs. I'm a wuss when it comes to pain.

Answer 2

My contractions were so awful with my first son, I would hold my breath (inadvertently, of course!) and wait them out. This was delaying my labor and causing my cervix not to dilate nearly as fast as it should have been if I had been relaxed. I dilated from 3 cm (what I was when I got to the hospital) to 5 cm in 3 1/2 hours with no drugs. I got my epidural and I dilated the other 5 cm in about an hour and a half because I was so relaxed. The risks associated with an epidural are minimal. You could end up with paralysis (partial or full) or nerve damage, but those risks are SO rare...your chances of that happening are 1 in one million (seriously). The more common side effect would be a spinal headache.

I didn't have any problems with my epidural, and the anesthesiologist was HOT! (I noticed this AFTER he had put it in and had given me my "test" dose of medicine (Stadol...GOOD stuff!) to make sure it was working properly, and I had relaxed quite a bit.) It hurt when he put it in, but really no more than having blood drawn. If you decide to get an epidural later in your labor, after you've been contracting for a while, you'll have already been in so much pain from contractions that the epidural will feel like a bug bite. :)

With my second son, he was an emergency c-section and I had a spinal block (One time shot, numbed me completely from mid-chest down). That didn't hurt any more or less than the epidural did with my first son.

Answer 3

I've had three AMAZING unmedicated births. If you are educated about birth, prepared with coping options and supported by your partner and/or a doula and a caregiver who is experienced with supporting unmedicated moms it can be a good experience.

The labor itself wasn't bad at all, even with my first. The absolute WORST part of the whole experience is crowning during pushing. So that part only lasts a few minutes. Pushing feels GOOD because you are working with your body to do something PRODUCTIVE after all those hours of just coping through the contractions.

Doulas are GREAT. Midwives are AMAZING. Some hospitals will provide doulas for FREE if you ask in advance now! Definately look into those two options.

Laboring and birthing in water makes a HUGE difference in coping. Some people call waterbirth "an aqua-dural" because it can be that effective. Plus, the water helps you to relax and to stretch. I tore with my "land birth" but not my waterbirths.

There are no drugs to wear off after birth so you are able to move around and not groggy or drugged up and can interact with your baby and get out of bed if you want.

There are no drugs to wear off for baby, so baby is alert for a while right away. Baby can nurse easier as well.

Answer 4

nothing is necessary during child birth. however, some doctors say that it is easier on the mother and child if the mother has some type of pain medication on board. but then again, it is medication. i tried to go as long as possible without any medication and i got a lot further than i thought i would, but i did break down and get an epidural. with all the advancements the medicine has made, i didn't think suffering through labor was necessary.

Answer 5

I say go as far as you can without them for your own sake, as well as the babies. You don't want to be all "konked" out right after you have your baby. You want to be awake and alert for these very special first moments of life. It may feel really hard to not give in, but I tell you honestly, if you can hang out,,the pain you felt will be the last thing on your mind when you look into your babies face. There are meds that can help take the edge off, but wait as long as you can to ask for them. Also, try walking when your in labor. Don't lay right down as soon as you start labor. Gravity,,really is our friend and will speed things up for you. Only lay down,,when you can not possibly walk any more.

Answer 6

Had drugs (not epidural) with the first. Second time labor was fast and hospital delivery room was hpping. By the time they got an IV started I was ready to push, so no drugs. It was uncomfortable but no worse than the first even with drugs.

Answer 7

NO drugs. I've had two children once totally naturally and the other, I tried to get an epidural, but it didn't take. Even if it would've taken the headache I had for days afterwards was very painful and not worth it at all. Naturally, the recovery time seemed a LOT faster.

Answer 8

well I had them with and without drugs....and I will tell you that my last one I did purposely without drugs so I could say I've done it..and OMG...worst pain of my life! I'm so serious when I say my 4th son was born listening to every cuss word under the sun..the nurses had to kept tellin me to quiet down, I was scaring the first time mothers.....so don't try to be a hero, get that epidural!!! My first son, I got one....It helped, but didn't take all the pain away...my second son...oh it was heaven..took all the pain away, I could feel him being born, but I did not push one darn time.......my third son....they did the epidural too late so it really didn't help, except I hemorrhaged and it helped while the doc was up to her elbows massaging my uterus....then my 4th son, I stayed home purposely so it would be too late because i wanted nothing, no drugs..and well, I told you how that went. LOL

Answer 9

When I had my daughter the only thing I had was 2 doses of stadol, it's a relaxer, does nothing for pain. I never wanted drugs, but I was tired and they said that would help me sleep between the contractions. But all my contractions were in my back and it hurt like hell and my daughters father would push as hard as he could on my lower back to help it........and when he complained his arm was hurting......well uh lets just say that was the only time I swore during labor lol. Go for no drugs if you can do it.

Answer 10

i have done it both ways. the first time i did no drugs it was hard but possible if you have support. the second time i was in labor for a week and was exhausted so i use drugs the weakest one avaliable i could feel everything but it relaxed me it went much quicker. so i think it is up to you some people say it makes you and baby groggy if you have drugs but ididnt have that effect.good luck in what ever you decide

Answer 11

you certainly want to go at it with an open mind. even if you think you have absolutely made up your mind, things may change. personally i think it is best to wait to see if you need it. some women dont. the only bad part is you run the small risk of it being to late. but dont fret too much youll never know what can happen until you actually experience it.