Beyond the Epidural: Medical Alternatives to Epidural for Labor Pain Management
Contraction pain can hurt like a you-know-what. There’s no denying that for most women, there’s pain in childbirth. My experiences chatting about pain management with women of all ages have led me to understand that most people think of labors being in 2 camps: unmedicated vs. epidural.
We are so lucky today to live in a time where we have so many medicinal options for pain management in labor, and only one of those is the epidural. 😉 This article will explain some of the common medical pain management options for labor, excluding epidural. These pain management tools are used under the care of a medical professional, and are typically used in a hospital or birthing center.
Post coming soon: Alternative pain coping techniques for a medication free labor!
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Please consult your medical care provider.
Nitrous Oxide/Laughing Gas for Labor
Nitrous in labor has been used for decades in the UK, but it has only gained popularity in the US in recent years. Many hospitals and birth centers offer nitrous oxide as a pain management tool in labor.
How does it work?
The laborer places the mask over her mouth and nose and breathes deeply. It’s best used when started right before the beginning of a contraction. The mother is in full control over the mask. She chooses when to use it and when to take it away. No one else is permitted to hold the mask to her face.
Why it might be a good option for pain relief in labor
For many women, the anxiety experienced in birth is a tough feeling to overcome. Nitrous Oxide is a wonderful tool to use in labor to combat anxiety as it’s fast acting, and the effects fade quickly when the mask is not in use.
Nitrous Oxide can be very helpful through transition, when many women feel like they are not getting a break between contractions.
Reducing anxiety in childbirth leads to more relaxation and greater progress.
Why it may not be a good labor pain management tool for you
Many women admit that it did little to take away the pain, but helped with anxiety and breathing instead.
It might be cumbersome to breathe through a mask, particularly if claustrophobic.
Nitrous Oxide produces a high that some find unappealing. It can create a “fuzzy” feeling. For women who wish to be fully present, this may be a reason not to use Nitrous Oxide in labor.
IV Pain Medication (Opioids)
These are narcotics given through an IV. Commonly used drugs are: fentanyl, morphine, and butorphanol. A nurse will administer the pain medication through an IV line with a pump, or drip.
How does it work?
Most IV pain medications used in labor are fast acting after administering. The most common effect is drowsiness.
Why it might be a good option for pain relief in labor
IV pain medication can be very helpful for therapeutic rest in labor. For those who are unable to sleep once contractions begin, IV pain medicine can allow a laboring woman to sleep between contractions.
Because IV pain medication is fast acting, many times the effects wear off more quickly than other options, too. This allows for the effects to wear off if they are undesired, and also allows for redoses to be given for maximum effect.
Why it may not be a good labor pain tool for you
Some women want to avoid opioid use in labor because all opioids pass the placenta and can have an affect on the fetus.
Women who are struggling or have struggled with substance abuse problems may wish to avoid IV pain medication due to the narcotic nature.
Sterile Water Papules
A non-pharmaceutical option, sterile water papules have fairly limited use in hospitals, but are used more frequently in birth centers.
How does it work?
Administered by a medical care provider, a needle on a syringe, filled with sterile water, is placed just under the skin. The sterile water is injected.
The injections cause pain at the injection sites, which distracts from the pain of contractions.
Why it may not be a good labor pain tool for you
Sterile water papules have almost no risk of serious side effects, which makes their use appealing.
This method has been shown to work well in women who are experiencing intense back labor.
Why it may not be a good labor pain tool for you
This pain management tool may not be available in many birth places.
Sterile water papules do not take away pain, but are used to distract from it.
The process can be very painful and the laboring woman must remain very still while the injections are administered.
Epidurals are Only Part of the Story
Epidurals are far from the only pain management option in births today. There are many other medicinal methods of pain management in labor, so you don’t have to simply choose between having an unmedicated labor or an epidural.
With a demand for more pain management options, modern medicine has provided! If you’re hoping to avoid an epidural, but would consider other medicinal options, speak with your care provider. They can tell you what alternative medicinal options are offered in your birth place and if you’re a good candidate for their use.
Pin it!
