i am 36 weeks pregnant and I dont want an epidural what are other options of pain medication that i can use?

Question

I dont know if i want a natural birth or a c-section due to my small size and age but i know i dont want to recieve an epidural or any kind of spinal shot. Is there any other kind of medication I can get to endure the pain without the risk??

Answer 1

All meds have risks. Childbirth has risks all its own, however with the medical technology we have today, there are minimals risks compared to the ones women had years ago.

http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10195
What advance preparations should I make?
You will need to look at the options and decide about your preferences. Narcotics and epidurals (and nitrous oxide, if it is available to you) pose very different benefits versus risks. Epidurals come in several varieties, each with its own pros and cons. (See Options: Labor Pain and Best Evidence: Labor Pain for information about your options with and without medications.)

You will also want to learn ways to reduce the chances of having a drug- or procedure-related complication (see below).

You should also be prepared to cope with labor without medication. Things don't always go as planned. Pain medication may be inadvisable in your particular case. You may arrive at the hospital too late in labor to start medication. An anesthesiologist might not be readily available. The staff may encourage you to wait until your labor is better established before using medication. You may be one of the women who find an epidural doesn't take or leaves "windows" of pain. Finally, because of the wide variation in women's experience of labor pain and the difficulty of predicting your experience in advance, you may find that labor isn't as hard as you thought it would be.

How should I plan if I would like to use other pain medications?
You cannot expect complete relief from labor pain medications other than epidurals, ( see How can I minimize the likelihood of having problems with an epidural?) and a doula or other labor support companion can help with remaining discomfort, as well as many other needs.

If you expect to use narcotics, they should be generally available in U.S. hospitals. If you have an interest in nitrous oxide, you will need to make some inquiries. It may not be available in any hospital maternity units in your community.

How can I minimize the likelihood of having problems with narcotics?
Avoid narcotics in situations where the baby might already be compromised. This would include: preterm labor, underweight baby (small for gestational age, intrauterine growth retardation), and your high blood pressure. Narcotics depress your respiration and thereby decrease the level of oxygen in your blood. Although a healthy, full-term baby may be able to handle this, it could be challenging for a compromised baby.

Anticipate that the baby might have difficulties suckling in the first few days. Narcotics have known adverse effects on newborn behavior — including ability to breastfeed. These effects will pass as the baby gradually metabolizes the drug and its breakdown products. Recognizing this can help prevent frustration or discouragement if breastfeeding doesn't go well the first few days. To maximize your chances of early breastfeeding success and avoid making any difficulties harder to overcome:
start breastfeeding as soon as you and your baby are settled and ready
have your baby stay with you at the hospital ("rooming in") so that you can nurse on demand, including at night
be sure that you have continuing access to support from someone who is knowledgeable about breastfeeding.


How can I minimize the likelihood of having problems with an epidural?
choose a doctor or midwife with low rates of cesarean section and of using vacuum extraction or forceps, and be sure that there is a clear medical reason before agreeing to any of these procedures (as epidurals may make pushing difficult and lengthen labor, caregivers who are comfortable waiting or trying other ways to promote labor progress may avoid these interventions)
to reduce your chance of developing fever and of your baby being evaluated and perhaps treated for infection, delay having an epidural until your labor is well-established (usually around 4 or 5 centimeters dilation if this is your first baby and 3 or 4 centimeters if you have had a baby before); although we need better research, this may also help you avoid vacuum extraction, forceps, or cesarean section
empty your bladder before having an epidural, as you may not be able to do so or sense that it is full after the medication takes effect
stay off your back after having an epidural; try lying on your side or staying in an upright position
changing positions, and moving about if you can, may help with the progress of your labor
rare but serious warning signs that call for immediate staff attention include having difficulty breathing or, if you have had a spinal narcotic, feeling extremely groggy.

Concerning C Sections ---If you are expecting your first baby: As a first-time expectant mother, you have the greatest opportunity to determine the kind of birth you will have, and many options are open to you. In a very real sense, when you make plans for this first baby, you are making plans for all your babies. For example, if you have a cesarean for this birth, you probably will have a cesarean for any and all future babies because it is becoming increasingly difficult to find caregivers and hospitals that support VBAC ("vee-back," vaginal birth after cesarean). If you have a cesarean now, you may thus have fewer options in any future pregnancies, and you and your babies may face extra risks of repeated cesareans. If your first birth is not a c-section, your likelihood of having vaginal births in the future is high.
If you are an older pregnant woman: Women having first babies in their 30s are much more likely to have them by c-section than younger women. Many of these excess c-sections are due to non-medical factors, such as the false belief that planned c-section is always safer for babies
Will cesarean section protect my pelvic floor from weakness or injury?
If you are considering planning a cesarean in the belief that it will prevent pelvic floor disorders, be sure to read Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. This Pregnancy Topic covers in detail what is only touched upon here. There you will find research-backed information on the minimal degree to which c-section offers protection and many specific ideas, also backed by sound research, on how to prevent weakness and injury and relieve pelvic floor symptoms without resorting to major surgery.

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Answer 2

There are a couple of other kinds of drugs they can give orally or in an IV. I didn't opt for those however because they warned of nausea and vomiting and I think there is more of a risk of medicine crossing over to the baby for side effects. If your doc hasn't mentioned doing a C-section yet, odds are your going in for a natural birth. Start practicing your breathing and focusing. I opted for an epidural after a very LONG labor just so I could get some rest. If its the needle stick in the back that worries you---I honestly didn't think it was that bad at all. Talk to your doctor, do your research and weigh your options. Start planning now for different positions to try, a whirlpool if the hospital offers it, etc to minimize your pains without drugs. Good luck!

Answer 3

I have never had an epidural and have three children. The first thing that you need to do is discuss that fact that you do not want a spinal shot with you doctor. I received pain medication through an I.V. I couldn't tell you what it was, but it did take the edge off of the pain. Don't get me wrong, you still will feel the pain of childbirth, it just won't be as strong. You need to focus on the outcome and breathing properly, I know that that part sounds stupid, but it really does help to focus on the breathing technique. I just had a baby a little over two months ago so the experience is still quite fresh in my mind. On the plus side you will feel your contractions so you will know when you need to push without being told to, it is likely that your labor will not take as long and you and baby will both be more alert afterwords. Best of luck to you and congrats on the baby to be.

Answer 4

You can get a shot of Demerol put into your IV, and it is supposed to take the edge off of the pain, but it had no effect on me what-so-ever. So I opted for the epidural. I went in thinking I didn't want any type of needle coming near my spine. Boy was I wrong! If you can do it with out, I think that is wonderful and awesome, but I cannot. I have a low threshold for pain. Try changing positions to find the one you are most comfortable in, and getting into a shower or birthing tub with warm water to relax you a little. But the only way to make it pain FREE is with an epidural. Good Luck!

Answer 5

I had a rough delivery with my first son, I had the epidural. With my second I opted for Demerol (sp), that stuff was great. I still felt everything, it just took the edge off. It doesn't have the effects of having difficulty pushing like the epidural does.

With this pregnancy, I want to go med free, but no guarantees. If It's to much, I am definitely taking Demerol again.

Answer 6

If you don't want an epidural, look into using a natural method of pain control, like hypnosis. HypnoBabies has a course that you can listen to at home, and basically coach yourself around the pain.

Answer 7

Yes!. Your will power. If you do not want epidural, just tell yourself that you are ready and willing to brave the excruciating pain. Back in the day when there was no epidural, babies were born.

Answer 8

IF YOU ARE SMALL BONED I WOULD GO AHEAD AND SCHEDULE A C-SECTION BECAUSE YOU DONT WANT TO GO THROUGH LABOR THEN AT THE LAST MINUTE HAVE TO HAVE A C- SECTION. I WOULD GO TALK TO MY DOCTOR IF I WAS YOU.