What are the best analgesic for birthing other then epidural.?
I was just wondering what the best analgesic i could use when i got into labor. i don’t want an epidural no matter what. i just don’t trust them. that an these braxton hicks target my lower back like crazy. i doubt i could deal with the actual back labor. so any suggestions are welcome.
March 30th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Most narcotics do not relieve the pain anywhere near as well as the epidural; all they really do is knock you out mentally and allow you to sleep through your down time. Additionally, there are actually more complications with the general narcotic chosen for labor pains than there are with the epidural, and many women report a lack of ability to bond because they are so out of it. I would consider trying to go natural if you don’t want an epidural. Yes, it will hurt, but so will labor with the medication. At least you’ll be alert and able to enjoy time with your baby afterward.
March 30th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
I’m not sure. I had an epidural and didn’t even research other pain relief.
That epi was probably the best decision of my life lol.. I’ll be getting another one (:
March 30th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
NONE!!!!!
March 31st, 2010 at 1:04 am
They do have a narcotic that they can give you through your IV. Also some midwives have this thing where they insert some sterile water I believe in your lower back that is really supposed to help with back labor.
Laboring in the tub (very wonderful for pain relief -think back to when you had terrible menstrual cramps and a warm bath helped so much), changing positions often and keep moving should help move things alot faster. Just laying in bed with an epidural can slow things down and make them drag along.
March 31st, 2010 at 7:09 am
If you’re in the U.S. your only other option if you are wanting actual medication (rather than natural methods) would be IV narcotics. These can only be used, however, fairly early in labor. (Too close to delivery and they will make baby sleepy at birth.) Some women find them helpful in ‘taking the edge off.’ Other women find that they just make them so sleepy that it’ harder to cope with the contractions (or they fall asleep between the contractions and then wake up in pain every few minutes).
If you don’t want an epidural, I’d honestly focus on something like Bradley — a ‘natural’ method that has an excellent reputation for allowing women to have unmedicated labors — and hire a doula. Or you might look into hypno-birthing or a home birth (some women find that being relaxed and in familiar surroundings, and just not having meds available to them, helps a lot.