Ladies, did you use pain medication when in labor?

Question

I had my first child without any pain medication. It was my personal choice and I'd do it again.

So, did you use pain medications when in labor?

If yes, would you do it that way again? Why or why not?

EDIT:
Someone said that it's plain stupid not to use pain meds....

Well, I didn't use pain meds for the safety of my son. He was born at 24 wks, 3 days so they needed him to be in the best condition possible. I was in labor for 20 hours...but contractions only lasted about 2 hours. And, it was totally worth it!!! I would have rather endured the pain than have my baby be all drugged up. He needed to be strong and aware when he came out. He's still in the NICU, but he's stronger than hell. He's a fu**ing miracle.

And, I would do it again because it really wasn't that bad for me. It's just pain and it's not like it's never ending.Then again, I may not have another child, being that there's a chance of me having another preemie and it's the most traumatic experience of my life so far. And, I don't think it makes me any more of a woman than the ones that use pain meds.

Answer 1

My daughter was stillborn. We had found out before the birth so I chose to have a little bit of a pain killer ( not epidural because I FEAR those things!) I chose the pain killer because I was already in enough emotional pain, I didn't need physical pain. BUT of course it wore off before the birth. Before the birth when I was still doped up on the pain meds, I was laughing, joking,etc..and I kept going to sleep and just couldn't stay away which made me decide that I didn't want any pain medication when I had my son. Also during the time with my daughter, I felt that my laughter and "drugged happiness" wasn't appropriate for that situation and so I refused any more of it, which is why when it came time for birth, I felt every single ounce of pain and I even tore during the birthing process.

But yeah with my son I didn't have any pain meds and luckily the labor was fairly quick and easy with him. The good thing about being in so much pain is when you have the baby and the pain all of a sudden disappears. That is the BEST feeling in the world, to feel that good.

Answer 2

Yes I did both times and probably will this time as well.
Originally I didnt want any drugs especially not an epidural, but I did end up using the gas both times.
With my first it was because I wasnt breathing during the contractions so my Mum suggested it to get me to breathe. It totally chilled me out which was great but then I felt like the worst mother in the world. I remember my brother walked in to check on me, and I just kept telling him what a terrible mother I was because I had the gas.
Obviously I dont feel like that now but at the time I did.
And with my second I used the gas again, but without the guilt.

I'll probably use it with my next labor just because it chills me out enough to relax for a lil bit. I dont deal well with pain so I scream, so the gas stops me screaming for abit and makes me breathe through the conraction, and I can chill for a minute or two. It doesnt get rid of the pain it just gives you enough of a buzz to ignore it for a minute:)

Answer 3

First two no meds, there was no time. I had my dauhter after 45 minutes in labor, she was 9 lbs. 1 oz. i wish i'd used drugs for her delivery. My oldest son was born in 10 minutes of abor, and i almost had him in the truck on the way to the hospital. I was ready to do my last child without drugs, I mean i'd already done it a couple of times that way. But then they had to induce me with my son ans it was taking so long with the induction that the third time they asked me about the epidural i caved and had it done. And, honestly i'm glad I did, because all the fluid got caught behind him and he was a dry birth.

Answer 4

I have a huge fear of pain and hospitals. I have can not handle pain. It cause me to freak out, I can't breath, I get dizzie and sick, pass out and this goes on for hours. Even little pain like getting blood work, I end up in bed at the ER with oxygen. Even though blood work dont hurt just a pinch my body still reacts. I had a traumatic hospital stay when I was 4 I do blame this for it. I had 3 spinal taps for an ear ache. They held me down and didn't tell me they said were just washing your back! Uh yeah right...no one was able to come in my room except my mom and she was not allowed to leave. Middle of one of the nights my IV bleed all over lost lots of blood it was real scary, they even freaked out.

So back to your qa. I do take an epidural at hospital as soon as I get admitted. I am pregnant with baby #3 and will have another one. Dr recommends it...the stress of my body going crazy is not healthy for me or the baby. I try to count to 10 breath but nothing works. I fear pain, shots, things to do with hospitals. My girls are smart very smart, and when they were born they were alert and looking around. They had no side affects. I have none! Some say after you will never be the same but back to normal. And my babies are smart and was alert at birth

EDIT

I am also very small...and they didnt think I could have a vag. bith. But I did great! Dr said it would have been a real pain full birth.....Baby 1 10+ stiches Baby 2 none no pain after Baby 3 who knows but oh yes to pain meds

Both delv. only 3 pushes...when it was time 3 and that was it! People say you can't feel to push or know how to push right! I sure did!! It was fast easy and no pain

Answer 5

1st - I had an epidural because I was in labour for a total of 28 hours...so there was only so much I could handle.

2nd - I had no pain medication at all because I was in labour for less than two hours, so there was no time to have an epidural.

To be honest, I would go natural again. As weird as it sounds, I found that it was a lot easier (particularly in the pushing stage) and it was a much more pleasant experience.

Answer 6

Yes I did, and I didn't feel a thing. Wish I could say the same for the poor Mom to be in the other room that went natural. Wow was she ever screaming!!! I have a very low tolerance for pain so yes I would do again the same way.

Answer 7

I did use medication when I was in labor, I was only 16 when I got pregnant and I had him right before I turned 17, I did it because I had heard so many horror stories about labor that I was so worried about how bad it was going to hurt. I took sterydal while i was laying in the bed waiting to finish dialating, it took away the pain of my contrations and did not slow labor down, which i had heard the epideral did, they gave it to me in an IV and it started working right away, and my contraction pains were really starting to get unbearable for me... after laying there at four centimeters for a while they decided to break my water, and i decided to get the epideral right before they did that, that way I didn't feel them break my water, I wouldn't feel the contrations once my water was broke because there wouldn't be any cusion there, and I would have it in my system when I was ready to start pushing... When I have another one, I am going to try to do it the same way, I am way to scared to try to do it completly natural without any medications

Answer 8

4 births no meds, and with the recent research that is looking at increase in epidurals and correlating it to the increase in autism, if I was still in the baby business I would not.

I was a head nurse in NICU and you did your babe a favor by not using meds- taking care of a drugged preemie was sooo hard.

Answer 9

Yes, but kind of wish I hadn't and will try not to again. I had contractions and was 2-3cm dilated for a week before my water broke. Went to the hospital, was admitted, 2 hours later they put me on pitocin. 8 hours later I was just wiped out, and I needed some kind of break. I tried the IV pain meds but they just knocked me out between contractions and made it feel like one long endless contraction. After 2 hours of that I decided to get an epidural. Later the doctor realized my bag of waters never fully broke and after she broke it everything sped up. Although I still had to push almost 4 hours to get my stubborn, sunny-side up, 9lb 12.5oz son to come out LOL.
When it's time for the next one I will try my best to avoid pitocin and pain meds. The pain was never really unbearable for me, I just needed a break after a week of contractions and 10 plus hours of hard labor.

Answer 10

I was strongly advised against it because of my heart and since my philosophy was always "why go through the pain if you don't have to" I decided to. In your case, you needed to stay off the medicine for your baby, my mom was the same way, and even then, her first baby came out almost dead and black.