What pain meds work best for labor & delivery? - Anyone had a walking epidural?

KaitNseansMom wrote: Has anyone here had a walking epidural? I want to be able to feel whats happening during labor, but I do not want the pain! What is the best way to go for pain meds? What worked for you?

~Roo'sMama~ replied: I had an epidural with my first and I definitely don't want to do that again. I hated not being able to tell when I should push, and it didn't help with pain once he got down into the birth canal anyways. This time around I'm going to try as long as I can to go without, and if I need anything I'm thinking of asking for an intrathecal when I start pushing.

ediep replied: whith my first, I had an epidural but, like Sara said, I couldn't tell when to push and I was pushing blind, so to speak. It made the labor very long and I ended up pushing for 4 hours. My son had to be vaccuum assisted

With my second, I had no time for any pain meds and it was waaayyy faster and I could feel when to push. DOn't get me wrong, it hurt A LOT but it was better and easier because my body could feel what it was supposed to do

Hillbilly Housewife replied: I had a shot of demerol with my first baby... but I got it too late, I didn't get the relief until halfway through the second stitch on my hoo-hoo after the birth...

With the second baby I had the "laughing gas" and it was wonderful. Kept me focused and concentrated more than dulled the pain though, I don't know if that's what you're looking for...

with my third baby, I wanted to have the "laughing gas" again, but the mask and tubing wasn't hooked up properly and so it wasn't working for me. So natural...

I am more of a chicken for the epi's needle and having a tube hanging from my spine that can possibly paralyze me than I am for a little hoo-hoo pain that goes away after it does what it's meant to do

3_call_me_mama replied:
My thoughts exactally..
Au natural here. and the pain ISN"T THAT BAD! Honestly! I've been in a car accident FAR worse!

gr33n3y3z replied: with my first I had demerol never again it made me so not there
with the other 3 Nothing at all

MyLuvBugs replied: I had an epi with my first, and just like Sara....I will NEVER do that again. It was a horrible experience. With my second (3 months ago) I didn't do any drugs and it was wonderful. Was really only about 20 minutes of true pain and then I got to hold my sweet little angel, so it was all worth it. But everyone is different. If you're truly worried about the pain then it will hurt badly. If you go into the labor telling yourself I'm having a baby and this is going to be a wonderful experience....it will be. I'm not saying it's not painful, but don't psych yourself out from the very beginning. KWIM? Good Luck!! and KUP!

MyLuvBugs replied:
ITA!!

CantWait replied: Both Morphine and Demerol did nothing besides make me sick......
The gas did nothing for me either..

Other then that I had my babies natural, no epi as I was scared of getting a needle in my back and prefered the pain to accidently jumping and having it hit me in the wrong spot.

Breathing really does help a lot, as well as walking, and having your back rubbed, and a hot shower or bath.

PrairieMom replied: I avoided an Epi with both of mine, and I am going to have to agree, while it is definitely no fun, labor isn't THAT bad. The trick is to keep your body relaxed in between contractions, and to not have to do it for hours and hours and hours. both my labors were really quick. 5 hours after getting to the hospital with the first, and about 2 hours with my second.
I did have a shot of Stadol with both my labors, I have heard from many people that it doesn't do anything, but it helped me relax back to baseline between my contractions. It doesn't take away any of the pain.

If you are considering an Epi I strongly suggest you research it first. I have seen lots of moms go into it blindly ( I work in a hospital) and there are some risks associated with it.

hopefulmomtobe replied: I have had all my three naturally because I was scared of the whole medication stuff, I did have an epesiodomy (sp?) and they numbed me a little down there with shot of something. Laboring isn't hard, pushing isn't hard or painful, but when that head desides to start crowning is when the burning sets in. OHHH I am sooo scared of that and I am thinking of asking for something, but I dont know what either. I just dont want that burning again.

Boo&BugsMom replied: I may be the minority, but I had an epi and it was wonderful! My body reacts very good to medicine to begin with. I felt nothing, but I did feel the pressure so I wasn't pushing blindly. I think everyone's bodies are different and react differently to each thing. I'm not sure what I will do with this one, because you never now how fast or long labor will be. With Tanner I had to get induced so I had time to think about my options in the moment.

lesliesmom replied: I was induced with #1 and #3 and got a shot of Staydol (sp?). I have back issues which prohibited me from getting an epidural. The shot made me a little groggy and eased the pain but when it came time, I could feel everything, was focused and delivery was pretty quick and eaasy (couple of pushes and done). With #2, there was no time for anything and, to be honest, was probably the best of the three (maybe because he came without being induced).

Tiggersmom2 replied: I was induced with both of my boys and had epidurals. The epidurals were WONDERFUL!! I had NO pain at all and could feel when it was time to push. My first son was born in 6 hours and I pushed 2 times, my second son in four hours and I pushed 3 times. Here's hoping this little one's birth is just as easy!!!