Epidurals and pain relief?

Question

My husband and I trying to conceive, so I've been educating myself on different delivery options. I've heard both the horror stories and the miracles of epidurals. Are there other options besides epidurals for pain relief? Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Yes, there are many other options from hypnosis all the way to a full spinal. An epidural, however, is the most popular option because it is a continuous dose of medicine which means they can turn it up or down based on your needs. I had epidurals with both of my kids and loved it.

Answer 2

you could get a doula they are trained in massage and positioning to help with pain also birthing in water. getting in water is also called and aquadural.
there is staedal nubaine and a few others I have even seen them give morphine.
just so you know all about epidurals they can cause epidural headaches and i have met many women who have had them they last from 1 day to a few weeks and you cant have an epidural for them and they hurt way worse than birth. if you are a relaxed kind of person you should just go natural it is what i did and because i am a laid back kind of person it was very easy for me to relax through the contractions and birth was really a breeze.

good luck

Answer 3

Yes there are several diff. pain reliefs for birth if you choose not to get the epidural. or you can try those if they dont work and you decide to want the epidural than its there for you. just dont forget to sign up for the epidural. in some states you have to go for a pre-sign up for it so they can do background check to make sure there are no allergies to the epidural. but yes there are several other options of pain relief for labor. good luck.

Answer 4

Yes there is! I can't remember the name of the med that I go with my daughter, but it did help with the pain. I liked it better than the epidural that I got with my son. The med went in an IV and I could still feel enough to know when to push. I felt NOTHING with the epidural and when it came time push I didn't know what to do. Talk to your DR and he/she will fill you in on all the options! GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 5

I had my son in 2003 and at that time they were offering Stadol - it was given through my IV. It didn't kill the contractions completely but it made the worse pain feel like pressure so it did not hurt as bad. After that failed, I got the epidural and I'm glad I did.

Answer 6

There is the Bradley method. Over 90% of those who use the Bradley method do not need additional pain relief. I used it four times and it really works. It uses relaxation to prevent the uterus from cramping. The only pain during labor is the cervix stretching. Pushing contractions don't hurt at all.

Answer 7

Epidurals are the most effective medicated pain management option. Spinals carry a higher incidence of spinal headache (because it punctures the dura surrounding the spinal cord/fluid), and I have yet to meet an IV medicated momma who liked her IV medication (it makes mom feel high and drowsy - doing little to the pain).

That said, I don't recommend an epidural. The risks are too great for me.

Risks to mom include: drop in blood pressure, inability to push necessitating a cesarean or instrumental delivery, fever, itching, rash, no pain relief, windows of pain, slowed or stopped labor, residual numbness for days and weeks afterward, puncturing the dura and developing a spinal headache, respiratory distress, heart attack, shaking, postpartum hemorrhage, infection, increase incidence of hysterectomy, and more...

Risks to baby include: fetal distress, bradycardia, respiratory depression at birth, increase incidence of jaundice, fever, sepsis, depressed sucking and rooting reflex, fatigue, malpresentation of presenting part indicating the need for cesarean or instrumental delivery, and more...

I would recommend the book "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer. It is an easy and informative read that takes all of the medical studies on these risks and puts them in a book that is easily read by the consumer (us).

I also recommend looking into other pain management options, such as the Bradley Method, Hydrotherapy (waterbirths), Hypnobabies, Hypnobirthing, Birthing From Within, Birth Works, and the like. Even if you are planning on medication, there is no guarantee that it will work on you and it would be helpful and wise to have other coping and relaxation techniques under your belt (no pun intended) for such an occasion.

Being a childbirth educator and doula, I see many more laboring/birthing women than the average joe and can tell you that these risks are not rare, they are quite common. Probably 4 out of 5 women I attend in labor that get medication have at least ONE of the risks mentioned above happen to them or their babies.

Instead, I recommend looking into natural and non-medicated childbirth options. There is a wealth of information out there and great alternatives. I will cite those sites (lol) at the bottom of this answer. Some non-medication discomfort management option include:

Massage - deep tissue massage can help relieve tension and any unnecessary discomfort
Relaxation - keeping your body relaxed allows the uterus to work, unhindered, at moving baby out - it keeps tension out and alleviates discomfort (many relaxation techniques available).
Hypnosis - hypnosis can help to achieve deep relaxation and has the same benefits as mentioned above.
Hydrotherapy - water as comfort is medically documented. Taking baths during labor can help because of the heat on sore muscles, bouyancy, less gravity on aching body, aids in tissue pliancy. Showers help because of heat on sore muscles, aids in tissue pliancy, and massage through the beating water - both are very condusive to relaxation.
Counter Pressure or Accupressure - both can help with making labor and birth more effective while also providing pain relief.
Walking, standing, 'labor dancing' - gravity helps move baby down and out, opens the pelvic outlet, and gives pain relief as there is no pressure on your perineum and buttocks.

Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 8

i don't know of any others but i did an epidural with both pregnancies and it did wonders, i wouldn't do it any other way. i was up and about after 4 hours from giving birth. good luck

Answer 9

You can have certain narcotics during labor. I had demoral and I actually fell asleep cuase I felt nada.

I also had an epidural. I loved it. Yeah my back hurt after, but I'm willing to bet that birth would have done that anyway.

Answer 10

Neubain given in the IV, and there are others too. I had an epidural with my C-section, and there was no problem. Your Dr will give you the best advice-trust him