I have a client asking me about these:
epidural, nubain, demerol, or stadol
She wants a natural birth but in the even that she might want an epidural (or any of the others) she wants to know which one "is better", less side effects, and wont tire her out as much during labor.
Do you have Penny Simkin's The Birth Partner? She has a chapter dedicated to pain medication. Short acting narcotics, locals, epidurals, etc... Very good information! I know about them from client experience but would advise the client to discuss them with her care provider. In the hospital they will offer whatever they believe is appropriate for her level of pain and how she is handling labor.
These 2 Members Say "Thanks!" to FLLucinda For This Post:
Just to throw in there my personal experience with Nubain.... Its horrible. It made me feel really drunk, my eyes couldn't focus, I was very dizzy, my stomach made me feel like I needed to vomit, and I couldn't walk from the dizzyness. I know thats not really an answer to what you are looking for, but I just thought I'd share. Ofcourse though, everyone responds to medications differently.
I have a client asking me about these:
epidural, nubain, demerol, or stadol
She wants a natural birth but in the even that she might want an epidural (or any of the others) she wants to know which one "is better", less side effects, and wont tire her out as much during labor.
any comments?
Demerol hasn't been used here in years. It has a long pediatric half-life (stays in the baby's system a long time). There's something tickling the back of my brain about nubain availability issues - it was the drug of choice for a while, I think. I don't know anything about stadol as I've never seen it used at any of the hospitals I go to. In fact, in Toronto, most of the hospitals have gone back to using morphine for those who don't want/can't have an epidural.
I almost never see narcotics used, unless someone's really struggling really early and they're using it to stretch her out until she's far enough along to have an epidural. (Although a lot of hospitals will give an epi really early, too, eg when planning a pit induction.)
Demerol hasn't been used here in years. It has a long pediatric half-life (stays in the baby's system a long time). There's something tickling the back of my brain about nubain availability issues - it was the drug of choice for a while, I think. I don't know anything about stadol as I've never seen it used at any of the hospitals I go to. In fact, in Toronto, most of the hospitals have gone back to using morphine for those who don't want/can't have an epidural.
I almost never see narcotics used, unless someone's really struggling really early and they're using it to stretch her out until she's far enough along to have an epidural. (Although a lot of hospitals will give an epi really early, too, eg when planning a pit induction.)
Here in DE/PA they offer Demerol or Stadol depending on which hospital you're at. Even the birth centers give Stadol
Here in DE/PA they offer Demerol or Stadol depending on which hospital you're at. Even the birth centers give Stadol
Yeah, it's interesting how much variability there is. I've been given the impression by hcps that demerol is terribly old fashioned and harmful, but obviously it's still used in lots of areas.
But really, while I've practiced in 12 or 15 different hospitals over the years, and been to well over 100 births, they've all been in big cities with ready access to epidurals. I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen narcotics offered and used.
Just to throw in there my personal experience with Nubain.... Its horrible. It made me feel really drunk, my eyes couldn't focus, I was very dizzy, my stomach made me feel like I needed to vomit, and I couldn't walk from the dizzyness. I know thats not really an answer to what you are looking for, but I just thought I'd share. Ofcourse though, everyone responds to medications differently.
This is what I have heard about Stadol, from EVERY woman I've ever come across who used it.
I had Nubain with my first (before my epidural), and I don't remember it really affecting me at all, in any way. It certainly didn't help with the back labor!
Yeah, it's interesting how much variability there is. I've been given the impression by hcps that demerol is terribly old fashioned and harmful, but obviously it's still used in lots of areas.
But really, while I've practiced in 12 or 15 different hospitals over the years, and been to well over 100 births, they've all been in big cities with ready access to epidurals. I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen narcotics offered and used.
Yeah all of the hospitals I've been at have easy access to epidurals, but they still offer demerol or stadol depends on which hospital. I think they're pretty worthless - they let mom sleep between ctx but take away her coping skills during the ctx. Not fun at all.
Our choice is:
epidural...usually given between 2-8cm
morphine- to take the edge off, while waiting for epi. Or used while waiting for the anestisologist if its going to be a while.
fentynal-usually given in transition, or just prior to an epidural. Its quick acting but only lasts about 20 minutes. I think they can give 3 doses.
Yeah, it's interesting how much variability there is. I've been given the impression by hcps that demerol is terribly old fashioned and harmful, but obviously it's still used in lots of areas.
But really, while I've practiced in 12 or 15 different hospitals over the years, and been to well over 100 births, they've all been in big cities with ready access to epidurals. I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen narcotics offered and used.
I've also seen Nubain and Stadol used routinely. I wasn't going to mention this here in this thread but since you put about Demerol being old fashioned and harmful. I can surely agree with the harmful. My second daughter...now 21 was born in severe repiratory distress due to Demerol. And I hemorrhaged. My labor "habit" was I'd stay at 3cm for hours and then go all at once. The midwife had checked me and I was 3-4. About 45 minutes later the head nurse came into my room with about 10 or so nursing students. Being in transistion (and her not even asking!) I blew a gasket and cussed her out. The midwife "decided" for me that it was time for Demerol and shot it into my IV. Within 15 minutes I was pushing. My dd was blue and they had to give her a drug to reverse the effects of the Demerol. Then because my uterus was so relaxed from the narcotic it could not shrink...and I hemorrhaged. Not a pleasant situation.
I've also seen Nubain and Stadol used routinely. I wasn't going to mention this here in this thread but since you put about Demerol being old fashioned and harmful. I can surely agree with the harmful. My second daughter...now 21 was born in severe repiratory distress due to Demerol. And I hemorrhaged. My labor "habit" was I'd stay at 3cm for hours and then go all at once. The midwife had checked me and I was 3-4. About 45 minutes later the head nurse came into my room with about 10 or so nursing students. Being in transistion (and her not even asking!) I blew a gasket and cussed her out. The midwife "decided" for me that it was time for Demerol and shot it into my IV. Within 15 minutes I was pushing. My dd was blue and they had to give her a drug to reverse the effects of the Demerol. Then because my uterus was so relaxed from the narcotic it could not shrink...and I hemorrhaged. Not a pleasant situation.
My first client delivered this weekend and the nurse at the Korean hospital decided it was time for my gal to have something. She was 9cm and in transition so of course she was like GIVE IT TO ME NOW. As she was injecting it I said "In English?" and pointed to it and yep, it was demerol. I wanted to jump in and stop it but I think mom would have clawed my eyes out at that point. I am not even sure it even did anything for her either. The baby was a little slow to start and I am guessing that's why.
__________________
Army wife, mama to Graham and DONA trained doula
I've also seen Nubain and Stadol used routinely. I wasn't going to mention this here in this thread but since you put about Demerol being old fashioned and harmful. I can surely agree with the harmful. My second daughter...now 21 was born in severe repiratory distress due to Demerol. And I hemorrhaged. My labor "habit" was I'd stay at 3cm for hours and then go all at once. The midwife had checked me and I was 3-4. About 45 minutes later the head nurse came into my room with about 10 or so nursing students. Being in transistion (and her not even asking!) I blew a gasket and cussed her out. The midwife "decided" for me that it was time for Demerol and shot it into my IV. Within 15 minutes I was pushing. My dd was blue and they had to give her a drug to reverse the effects of the Demerol. Then because my uterus was so relaxed from the narcotic it could not shrink...and I hemorrhaged. Not a pleasant situation.
Yikes! What a scary story! I hope you both came out of it okay in the long run.
This is what I have heard about Stadol, from EVERY woman I've ever come across who used it.
I had Nubain with my first (before my epidural), and I don't remember it really affecting me at all, in any way. It certainly didn't help with the back labor!
Our Birth Center doesn't use Stadol anymore, haven't in awhile. But I have heard bad stories from it from moms that I know. When I asked the nurse for the Nubain because of bad back labor, she said it would be like having 3 beers. Well I haven't had 3 beers in like 8 years, and I have a sensative stomach to medications, so it was a little too much for me You live and learn.
Question about painmeds:
Quote:
You live and learn.
