Pain relief during labor?

missy123 · #1 May 9th, 2011, 07:26 PM

What kind of pain relief did you use during your labors? I am thinking I want some kind of pain relief but not sold on the epidural.

amberjolie · #2 May 10th, 2011, 06:07 AM

For my first, the hospital I went to had TENS (can't remember exactly what it stands for, something something Nerve Stimulation). If you haven't heard of it, they put these sticky things on your back and pass an electrical current through them. When you have a contraction, you press a button and it boosts the current, and then you push it again at the end of the contraction and it brings it down again.

I think it stimulates natural painkillers (endorphins), plus it somewhat distracts the mind.

It's not massive pain relief like an epidural, but I found it worked well enough for me to avoid an epidural.

JessP · #3 May 11th, 2011, 10:01 AM

I tried something before I got my epi but ultimatly the epidural was the be all end all for me. I wouldn't go in without it

.

HappyHippy · #4 May 11th, 2011, 11:45 AM

Nothing

I'm not a fan of pain medications, they come with risks and sometimes make it worse. I had the epidural with my first son and it was horrible. I had nothing with my second son and it was awesome.

~Allison~ · #5 May 11th, 2011, 08:48 PM

I had an epidural, and absolutely loved it. If I had another baby, I'd get an epidural again.

Sweetpea24 · #6 May 13th, 2011, 08:19 PM

i have had 6 kids and used nothing, i refuse to use and kind of drug. I rather deal with the pain.

proudmommy2006.2009.2011 · #7 May 22nd, 2011, 09:28 AM

I'd definitely go with the epidural! Or you could try Stadol, it eases the pain, but you still feel pressure. It didn't work very well for me when I had my first baby or second. I didn't even try it on my third. Before I got the epidural with my third, they gave me something called NewVein (its probably spelled different), its like an IV cocktail that you can have while pregnant. I loved it!

Sarah.090811 · #8 May 26th, 2011, 08:23 PM

You can get a narcotic through an IV when it is too early to get an epidural, and still get an epidural - that's the most you can get. I haven't had my baby yet, but I'm thinking of that route.

Jina · #9 October 22nd, 2011, 01:11 AM

My grandmother was arguing with me about having a natural birth...props to women that can do that but I will definitely be taking the epidural!

DesireeK · #10 October 25th, 2011, 06:52 PM

No epidural for me. Just a labor tub.... helps with the contractions and doesn't involve needles or questionable drugs!

Luvgreen19 · #11 October 27th, 2011, 10:50 AM

I went all natural. Too many of the narcotics can dope out the baby too and the thought of being paralyzed for the rest of my life because of a bad epidural made it not even a question for me.
I support every woman making the decision for herself, but I can definitely say that going natural is the only way for me, and I am glad I did it.
I felt great after giving birth, and was able to get up/eat/etc right away with very minimal discomfort.

DoNiSe · #12 November 26th, 2011, 05:17 PM

my labors went to quickly for me to have anything

if this labor takes longer i will go for the iv pain meds but probably stay away from the epi since i didnt have with the other 2 and the pain wasnt horrible for me

Twirlbird · #13 December 27th, 2011, 04:11 PM

I tried for natural childbirth, but had pitocin get the better of me.

I had a shot of demerol, NEVER AGAIN. I was dopey, groggy, and so nauseous even with the gravol that a sip of water caused me to throw up.

They wouldn't give me more of it and ended up caving into an epidural. No complaints about it, but wouldn't know what its like to labour as I ended up with a csection shortly afterwards.

20ghanover · #14 January 4th, 2012, 11:40 AM

My only regret is not getting my epidural sooner!

EverydayJoy · #15 January 4th, 2012, 04:49 PM

Did no pain meds and I was induced...it was pretty painful...looking to just go au naturale myself this next time around. Hoping it will be less painful without that pitocin on board. We'll see! Definitely going to labor in the tub unless it's a fast labor or something. Hope you find a method that works well for you! I have no problems with women who want pain meds, just not my thing. GL!