medication vs epidural

Has anyone taken or know others who have taken narcotic medication like demerol when in labor, instead of epidural to help ease pain or cope with it? This was just presented in my labor class but with side effects of nausea (but medication can be taken to ease that) and sleepiness for mother and baby. I wondered if this is better than epidural b/c then you can walk around though side effects of narcotics don't sound good either.  

[Chrissylynn324]

i had demerol until i dialated enough to get an epidural... the demerol helps but i say go for the epidural. with my second child i didnt need the demerol and i had a MUCH better recovery time. the demerol caused much more nausea and "spaceyness" and also it slowed down my recovery in general. the baby wasnt effected either time.. just me =-) i say that if you can do without the twilight then do without it, but if you need it then get it.. the epidural on the other hand, will ALWAYS be your best friend ;-)

[mb2006]

Thanks, but did you have any bad effects from the epidural, like not being able to move into different positions or walk that caused you more discomfort, or having severe headaches or numbness for days/weeks after? I just learned that my hospital doesn't use the "walking" epidural but the other kind where you have to stay in bed, and I heard some bad side effects so scared to take it but probably want some intervention to help with pain!

[Pearl99]

I have had one birth with epidural (the first), and one with no medication at all. The babies were similar sizes (about 7 lbs).

  In the first, I did have back labor which yes really hurt and took the offer of epidural after maybe 8 hours labor (the anesthesiologist caught me alone in the room when I was seriously doubting myself). I was exhausted and thought I wouldnt have strength to push if I didn't have some relief. Like with many epidurals though this caused massive problems right away: one, the baby's heartrate began decelerating with contractions and the labor stalled (partially because with the iv they forgot to put in a catheter and my bladder filled like a second uterus, giant).  When they labor stalled they had to give me then injections of pitocin which was very convenient for them since I was of course by then wired in to the iv (do you know the story "If you give a pig a pancake?") Anyway I was also stuck flat on my back from the moment of epidural on; no more walking, massages, shower etc. which killed my ability to help the contractions along. Anyway, this all led to fetal monitoring (scalp implants) and eventually after 3 HOURS of fairly numb pushing, a suction delivery (thank god, my friend got the metal forceps). The entire time the OR was prepped and from the moment of the epidural we were in distress.  
   Obviously something I wanted to avoid in the second. The second (2 yrs later) didn't seem to hurt as much and I had trained with the Bradley method. Maybe second's are easier but I wish someone had told me with the first I was at 6 or 7 and don't bother it would be over quickly. In the second they guesttimated an hour when it was getting really bad so I didn't think about getting meds--she was born in 3 pushes. I didn't have an iv, pitocin, internal monitoring, any stalling, catheter, forceps, etc. The bill for the first baby was $18,000 with all the interventions; the second was $6000 (luckily I had insurance). Both were vaginal, but it was like night and day.

I now know from reading that the risk of slow, stalled labor is huge with the epidural, esp. in the pushing phase if you get there and that the C-section rate is much higher too (that's where they send you when you stall out).I am just so glad I didn't get also the permanent back nerve injury or headaches too. I have to say also I had PPD (depression) for months with first, lots of trouble attaching (for feeding) whereas with second I was out taking walks within 3 days and felt great (Coincidence??).
   Maybe it has more to do with first vs second than epidural vs natural but I tend to think it was the drugs. The Bradley method which is relaxation-based is LIKE a drug (does not kill all pain no, and no, you will not nap) in that you have some control over YOUR participation in labor. I am 38 wks now and looking forward to a drug-free birth and a drug-free baby (and I am nervous and I am the biggest wimp for pain you ever saw, just so you know). You have a choice which is a huge responsibility. There's tons on internet these days to read on. Good luck to you!

[tmv]

I had my 2 children with a narcotic called stadol.They gave me 2mg stadol mixed with 12.5 mg phenergan in my IV. The phenergan is for nausea and it helps the stadol to work better, too. I was so afraid of getting an epidural because I have had back problems and didn't want to chance it. I got a dose when I was 7-8 cm dilated and no longer able to walk around. It didn't totally put me asleep, but my eyes were very heavy. They told me to go with it and not to try to stay awake, it can make you "buzzy". I worked on labor and delivery and have seen women get it when they were around 4-5 cms and in a good labor pattern. It really helps. If you get it to soon, you could slow your progress down, the same with the epidural. They just give you iv pitocin to get your contractions stronger and more regular.  Honestly, by the time I needed the meds, there was no more walking around.  My babies came pretty quickly because I dilate a lot before they are due.(preterm labor with the last)  Best of luck to you and I hope you get a lot of responses to help you with your decision. tmv   Oh, and don't worry about the baby getting too much. They have a drug called narcan that is an antagonist to narcotics if the baby is too sleepy to have deep breaths and it works very quickly. You should only have to worry about that if you deliver within an hour after the meds were given to you.

[ctsmom]

I had the epidural with my son, horrible back labor, it was really great, I was comfortable it didnt stall labor, I was able to feel contractions to push, and I even was able to get right up after being sewed up, I would say I had a great experience with the epidural

[mrsmd]

There is no (real) evidence that epidurals slow down labor. I am sure you will have people telling you all kinds of stories like the one above but this has actually been studied in a scientific way and it is just not true.   Narcotics are an option but there is always a little bit of worry because they can cause respiratory depression in the baby.  The baby will of course be monitored however, and narcan can be given if needed.

[myproblem]

With my 1st, I had Nubain before the epidural. It helped a little. With my 2nd, I had Demerol, and the pain was still so bad that I woke up screaming every 2 minutes, and would scream for the wholecontraction. Then they gave me Stadol. That was no better. When they finally got me the epidural, 4 hours after I asked for it, they turned it up all the way. That was the only thing that knocked the pain. I had pitocin for baby #2. I think that's why the pain was unbearable.

[surprisebaby]

all I can say is...KEEP AN OPEN MIND...
I had an epidural for my 1st ds...he was induced labour (2-1/2 weeks late) and I was in active labour for 38 hours!!!  My Dr. never thought to BREAK MY WATER!!!!!!  anyways, no problems with epidural, baby was 10lbs 4 ozs.  my 2nd ds was 4 hours of labour, again I was induced and 2 weeks overdue, and not knowing how long I would be in pain for I opted for the epidural...he was 10lbs 5ozs.  I did suffer from the "spinal Headaches".  They were the most horrible thing I have EVER had. soooo...I decided to NEVER get pregnant again, b/c I would not be able to tolerate not having an epidural and quite frankly when I found out I was PREGNANT....the first thing that came to my mind was OMG!!!  How will I cope???  Well, I had to be induced again, but this time at 38 weeks and I told the nurses' my story and that I hoped I would be able to go without the epidural.  BUT  NOOOOOO way....(induced labour is far more intense)  So, I got the epidural.  No problems.  14 hours of labour and out came my SURPRISE BABY GIRL!!!!  7lbs 8 ozs.
I was told that complications are very RARE with epidurals, but I know first hand that they are possible, but even still, if I opted for another epidural, you KNOW it has to be worth it!  If you can't handle the pain, don't be afraid to get the epidural!

[anxiousmomtobe?]

I had demerol, made me horribly sick, even with the anti-nausea drug.  No help with the pain.

I then went on to have epidurals both times.  I personally am a huge fan of the epi.I will try to go natural again this time, but will take the epi of needed.

[girlybuff]

I was induced.  It was horrible HAR D LABOR from the first contraction on upwards of about 14 hours.  I had demerol at first.  It did nothing but make me retarded.  It didn't take the pain away at all and it wore off fast.
I then opted for the epi.  I decided to wait until I couldn't take it anymore because I wanted to make sure it lasted throughout the pushing process.  I wound up having to get 3.  The first only worked on one side, then it wore off on one side but when it FINALLY worked.  I slept for 4 hours, wok up, was fully dialated and pushed for 15 minutes.  I didn't feel a thing and had a radical episiotomy.
So, my advice is to get it all!  LOL
Good luck!
  

[5preg2B]

I hated the narcotic medication it does make you sleepy and I don't like not feeling with it..  Guess its good I don't do drugs huh.  LOL anyway I was up showering about 30 minutes after my labor with my epidural.  I swear by them.  my last one I went too quick and it didn't take effect yet.  This time I'm hoping for a quick one too but will get an epidural if shes stubborn..  

[Crritter]

I did get an epidural with both of my babies, in fact, my second son is just a week and a half old, so it was really recent.  I had to be induced both times as I stalled labor on my own, went overdue with the first one and he was 10 lbs. 3 oz.  I was induced a week early with this one and he was 8 lbs. 13 oz.  I think it depends on the person, but both times I reacted to the pitocin and my uterus was hyper stimultaed.  I had one big continuous contraction and they had to turn the pitocin down to settle things down,  Not fun and there was no way I could have pushed out a 10 lber. without it.  I did get the narcotics with my first one since I had a long labor, all it did was make me feel drunk, I got sleepy and the room spun, did not feel like getting up and walking.  Once I got hte epidural I felt much better and had no problem at all pushing, even though I was numb.  I was able to finally dialate and relax.  With my second one I had the same reaction with contractions and they took a lot longer to get the epidural in, they said my back was really tight.  I had back labor with both babies and they came face up.  I do know that I was not progressing with the second one either but once I got the epidural I dialated quickly and went from a 3 to complete in a matter of a few hours when I had been stuck there for weeks and even hours on the pitocin.  Each person has a different experience, but you will know when you are in the moment what is right for you.  The narcotics do pass through to your baby and make them groggy, that's why they don't offer it past a certain point.  I enjoyed my experience and felt great after the baby came out, gave me time to bond, plus I had no problems pushing, I flet great and even had my 10 lb. baby out in less than an hour, pretty good for a first baby and one of that size, second one took less than 20 minutes.  Good luck with whatever you choose!

[cutiemama]

EPIDURAL!!!!!!!! Yes, you're numb and can't walk but it's a pain free labor. Go for it!

[Chrissylynn324]

sorry it took me so long to post.. no, i didnt notice any complications other than it didnt hurt...=-) a walking epidural in my opinion isnt an epidural... the whole idea is to not be able to feel your lower half.. the only thing that was sort of funny about it was that in order to take me off the drip they made me pee first (to signal the epidural had worn off) well i had to pee but i still couldnt feel my legs.. lol.. the nurse ended up having to bring me a bed pan.. my first and last experience with a bed pan.. =-) anyway, the whole idea behind the epidural is to help you with the pain you are feeling.. your best advice? go in there with determination and if you find out that you need it then take it, its always an option.. you dont have to decide now.. as far as complications with recovery, no.. none.. actually if you have to have an episiotomy it works out in your favor because you cant feel them stitching you up! its a short lived drug and you are fully aware of everything the whole time.. thats the one thing that a twilight cant offer you, with a twilight you feel very drugged... take your time and decide when you are in the situation.. thats when you'll know if you really need it... best wishes