Drugs

[atheliah]

What kind are there, who is or has taken them (what was it like) and what is so good about them?

(obviously I'm talking about the drugs during labour - like an epidural)

 

[sparassidae]

Well there's no way I would hae an epidural- even apart from needing an active labour, there's no way someone is sticking a needle in my spine!

Anyway I have only used drugs for one out of four labours. That was for #2, I was having uncontrollable pushing when only 7cm dilated (ouch). After trying unsuccessfully with the midwives help to stop (my body seemed to have other ideas) she suggested using the gas.

The gas did help 'distract' my body enough to stop the pushing until it was time, but I really didn't like it. It was good to be in control of it (take the mask away) but I didn't like the lightheaded feeling.

Of course once I was fully dilated (and it was only about 5 minutes, but a long 5 minutes) I could just put it down and get on with the pushing without any lingering effects.

edit to add: personally I went into labour the first time thinking I would give it a go without any pain relief drugs, and see how I went. That was (in my experience) quite easy, so after that I went into labour knowing I wouldn't use drugs (except for the unusual circumstance above). Not trying to convince you for 'natural' if you don't want to, but I know lots of women go into their first labour saying "I'm going to demand an epidural with my first contraction". Seems very strange to me, not even being willing to give your body a go.

 

[jgonz]

I had an epidural with my first (who is now 25) and I didn't like it at all... That said though, I know Many women who wouldn't attempt labor without an epidural.

There Are side effects though, as with any drug. Unfortunately, epidural meds commonly slow labor, so a lot of times the doctor will put the mom on pitocin to speed labor back up.

The most common afterbirth side effect is the epidural headache (for the mother). The most common thing for the baby is being too sleepy to nurse right away (although that's not Every baby). It does affect enough babies though, especially if the mom has had both pitocin and epidural meds that it's worth at least Trying to avoid meds during labor.

As for the exact meds that are used, it varies greatly. That would be a great question to ask your doctor~ because from what I understand, different doctors have different preferences.

HTH~

 

[Assisi]

May I ask a drug related question?

I've read that in some places they routinely give you a shot of oxytocin after you give birth in order to help the placenta separate and be delivered. Would you do this? I would have thought that there'd be a whole lot of natural oxytocin rushing around your body at that stage anyway, esp if you put your baby to the breast??


EDIT: I knew I read it somewhere conclusive. My hospital information! So this practice is routine in my hospital.

'As you give birth, a nurse will give you an injection of Syntocinon usually into the thigh, to assist with the contractions of the uterus and the separation of the placenta from the uterine wall. The Syntocinon also helps minimise the risk of haemorrhage.'

I think Syntocinon is the Australian name for pitocin. In any case, they are both synthetic versions of oxytocin.

 

[sparassidae]

Yeah, I've had it with all mine. You barely notice it. I don't have a problem with it, although I know a lot of women do. For me, I just figure that PPH used to be a big cause of maternal death in times past, so I'm willing to take advantage of modern drugs to help reduce that risk.

And I also breasfeed right after birth, and take Arnica orally to help with bleeding as well.

 

[atheliah]

another question, not so much about drugs... but does it hurt when the placenta comes out, and how long does it usually take before it does come out?

 

[Called2Grace]

I am the worlds biggest wuss! I loved the pethadine when I was in labour with DD, and had to have a spinal block when I had the emergency C-section. (Didn't really have a choice with that one, no way I'm going to have them cut me open without drugs!)
I also used the gas, but I had the wrong mindset when I used it. I was using it as pain relief, but it should be used as a tool to help you focus your breathing and distract you enough to take the edge off. So I would just inhale really quickly with no focus, find that it didn't have the effect I wanted, and I would just see double of everything/one in the room!

I wasn't offered an epidural that I can remember, I was induced though.
This time around I won't be induced, and I think I will just try to take it as it comes and see how I go. I'm not gung ho either way about using drugs or not. If I need to then I will, but I would like to see how much I can actually do without it. Sort of a self chaallange, becuase I know how much of a wuss I am! But either way, I think it is a good idea to let your body have a go to do it's thing, you may even surprise yourself. But don't feel bad if you do decide to use the drugs. From the research that I have read, the best birthing experiences are usually had by women who feel some sort of control and feel well supported in their decisions regardless of what they are.

 

[sparassidae]

another question, not so much about drugs... but does it hurt when the placenta comes out, and how long does it usually take before it does come out?

Pain: no, particularly with your first baby. My last one hurt a bit- not the placenta itself, but the contractions (afterpains). You shouldn't notice with your first.

Time: depends on if you have 'active' management or 'passive' (I think it's called) management of that stage. Active management, which is the shot, fundal massage and gentle pulling (traction) on the cord, takes only a few minutes to actually deliver the placenta. They do the shot straight after the birth, but give it about 10-15 minutes (I think, not paying that much attention at that point) before actually pulling. It also depends on what is happening with the baby (2 of mine needed some attention after birth which took their attention for a while).

That's the way I'vve done it each time, I'm sure there will be someone who can tell you about passive management.

 

[Hadassah]

I was wondering about that also (the placenta).

Somehow my mom didn't pass all of hers when she had me and when she had my sister almost 6 years later. The doctors at the army hospital where she had me were rather incompetent (and this part of her medical record IS missing actually), and she almost died a week after she had me due to hemorrahging and needing a total blood transfusion.

With my sister, they caught it as it happened and the doctor swabbed her down (inside) with gauze to get it all.

We made the midwife aware of this complication when we went for our setup interview yesterday. Looks like common practice is to administer "drugs" after the birth to ensure this doesn't happen.

I'd wondered if there was a more natural way to ensure it detatches properly and passes.. I just have so much trouble with so many medications, I'd hate to have a reaction to something like that during such a special time iykwim.

 

[coffeegal]

part of the reason for the hemorrhaging is drs trying to rush the placenta. it does not need to be rushed out. tho drs may give meds to make it come out faster, it doesn't need to be.

 

[jgonz]

I refuse to let them give me a shot or tug on the placenta. That is the #1 reason for women to hemorrhage after giving birth and it's completely Not necessary.

If you look on natural/homebirth websites, you'll see it's Normal for the placenta to not be birthed for up to an hour. Most of the time though it's only a couple of afterbirth contractions after the baby is born. It feels slippery and is Definately smaller than the baby. lol

It's worth it to wait because as the placenta lets go on it's own, it seals the ends of the blood vessels. If a doctor is yanking on it, there isn't time and that's where the hemorrhage issues come in.

 

[angelsamongus]

This is about the drugs. I went in thinking I'm going to be strong and not get drugs. But I the time of pain I caved. I had an epidural. The doc had me pushing when I don't think I was ready. They say when you push it should releave some of the contraction pain. For me it didn't until I took a 1 hr break. Back to epidural bad bad! My right side never numbed. That was the side that hurt the most before hand. And the could not give me more to numb that side so I was in akward pain. Also its proven that epidural slows done the natural process. So they had to give me patocin to speed things up again. The thing with patocin is if you don't have the baby soon after they give it to you, they start to get worried. Then they suggest cesearan section and say it was b/c failur to progress.
Thats what happened to me but praise God you are not going to have any problems. You are going to have a safe, natural, and healthy delivery.
I am going to try for vbac this time I'm just going to think and be positive about everything.

 

[-~Truth_N_Trust~-]

ok, drugs:
I used gas, looooooooooooooooooooooooooved the gas! It took the edge off the contractions so I didn't need any further meds, helped me concentrate on breathing, took my mind off the pain, and gave me some nice light feelings! lol! My DH also liked the gas!

I also had a spinal block for a manual removal of the placenta. I was terrified of having a needle in the spine. But it really didn't hurt at all, they were great. The catheter that came with it DID hurt . The spinal block made everything below the waist numb, and wore off within a couple of hours - no further effects. I had it AFTER my baby was born though, so it didn't affect my birth obviously!


On the placenta syntocin injection. I had it both times as routine. My first birth, no problems, I remember pushing the placenta out, looking at it.
My second birth though, they gave the injection, the placenta didn't come out. They pulled the cord to ease it out, the cord broke. Because I had the injection, my uterus was trying to clamp down - but it couldn't because there was still placenta stuck in there, which just meant I kept bleeding... the placenta had to get out quickly or I would heammorage (sp?) - hence the manual removal. This is not a particularly common occurance, and not meant to scare you, just an explanation of how I came to my current thinking...
If there's a next time I think I'll forego the injection and let nature take it's course...