What Meds Are Used During Labor/Delivery?

I am trying to familiarize myself with the names of meds used during the labor and delivery process should I need any. I'm really trying for an all natural birth but I also know things happen beyond anyone's control. So, if anything is offered to me, I want to know what it is ahead of time.

These I know...

Epidural - needle in lower spine to numb. When done correctly, you only feel pressure and not pain?

Pitocin - speeds up dilation? Is this only offered when cervix is not dilating on its own fast enough? (How much time goes by generally before they decide it should be needed?)

Is there any others I'm not aware of? Also, how do they administer - IV? Does everyone get hooked up to an IV regardless?

Thanks.

Re: What Meds Are Used During Labor/Delivery?

Its really going to depend on what is going on with you, individually.

I believe you get an IV no matter what to keep you hydrated. Pitocin is given to induce labor if you are not moving along on your own. I'm not sure what other meds are given - maybe cervidil?

Re: What Meds Are Used During Labor/Delivery?

Re: What Meds Are Used During Labor/Delivery?

I personally had....

Pitocin because my water broke, I was not having contractions, and I was not dilated. This kick started my labor.

Demerol. I had 2 rounds of this because I was not yet 6 cm and eligible for an epidural.

Epidural. This was heaven!!!

Re: What Meds Are Used During Labor/Delivery?

I recd pitocin, since I still was not dilated a few hrs after my water broke. I had horrible back labor due to the babys position, and received Stadol (a pain killer) thru my IV, several hours before getting the epidural. The pain killer took the edge off, and it was able to carry me over til I was allowed the epi.

Re: What Meds Are Used During Labor/Delivery?

Message edited 6/5/2011 6:05:42 PM.

Re: What Meds Are Used During Labor/Delivery?

I had two natural births and with the first I had an IV b/c I was Strep B positive.
The second no IV until the end when I was pushing and begging for something they slammed one in and gave me some Fentanyl but it was too late by then to do anything.

The Epi and Pitocin are the most common.
If you are induced they will give you Cervidil.
Fentanyl can be used to treat pain but there are other options they sometimes will use as well.

Re: What Meds Are Used During Labor/Delivery?

FYI - I was asked if I wanted "a little pain med" I thought it was going to be like extra strength tylenol. It was staydol (?) and it just knocks you out. I wish I knew before I got it.

Re: What Meds Are Used During Labor/Delivery?

The only thing I had was the epidural. I was 5 cm by the time I got to the hospital so it was too late for me to have any other kind of pain medicane. I didn't need anything to help move along my labor

Re: What Meds Are Used During Labor/Delivery?

I received:

Cervidil--to help me dilate bc I hadn't dilated past 1cm for over 7 hours after my water had broken (on its own). It's supposed to soften/ripen the cervix to get it ready to dilate. Each round of cervidil lasts 12 hours. For me, it brought on very painful contractions.

Epidural--pain med administered through a catheter into the lower back. It numbed me so that I no longer felt the contractions, just a slight pressure. My teeth started chattering uncontrollably (side effect).

Pitocin--medication used to start or strengthen contractions.

Re: What Meds Are Used During Labor/Delivery?

I had:
Cervadil at the start of the induction

Pitocin for the induction

epi for pain and then more before my emergency c section

Morphine right after DS was delivered

ETA: Everything was through the IV except for the Cervadil suppository.

Message edited 6/5/2011 8:46:01 PM.

Re: What Meds Are Used During Labor/Delivery?

also they use pictocin to help deliver the placenta faster - you may want to research if you want them to use it or not - i wish i had researched that more- because i did not need pictocin to delivermy son and that med does have some side effects

Re: What Meds Are Used During Labor/Delivery?

Demerol- Not sure why I was given that before my induction, but it made me really REALLY sleepy. Like REALLY sleepy- to the point that I was going into & out of a deep sleep during my entire delivery!!

Re: What Meds Are Used During Labor/Delivery?

Thank you all so much!