...wow! Last week's class had LOTS of information. I'll do my best to summarize and give Cliff notes but I'm sure there's going to be TONS that I left out. Warning: This posts contains things that aren't so pleasant to think about so don't say I didn't warn you.
How to Deal with Pain During Labor:
Analgesic-this just takes the edge off but does not make you numb. It is given like an IV or injection and is similar to morphine. The nurse or doctor can give it so there's no waiting on an anesthesiologist. This medicine WILL cross the placenta to your baby; lasts 2-3 hours and may make you itchy in which they will give you Benydryl. This is typically given when you are between 3-8 cm but they will not give if you are within 2-3 hours of delivering. Once given, you are limited to staying in the bed. Cons for baby: trouble sucking, sleepy, slowed breathing
Epidural Anesthesia
*Have to wait for anesthesiologist to administer
*Takes 15 minutes to administer, takes another 15 minutes to take effect
*Numbs sensations in uterus, abdomen and lower back but will still feel pressure with contractions
*Stinging sensation when med is given
*Catheter is inserted in your spine, med flows continuously, you are given control in case you need an extra boost
*Also insert catheter in vagina since you can't feel the urge to go to the bathroom
*This may cause your labor to slow down.
*Doesn't cross the placenta.
*Failure rate is 1% which doesn't mean that it didn't work, it just may mean you have a "hot spot" where you still feel pain or are not numb
*Given during active labor at 4-5 cm; no limit when you can't get it
*Average takes 1-2 hours to ear off
*Have to be on blood pressure cuff, fetal monitor and limited to the bed.
*Cons to baby: May interfere with breastfeeding because you have to start a fluid IV which can cause swelling of breast tissue
Labor Info
*When you are 8-10 cms this is the most painful part of labor, more painful than pushing.
*Crowning usually lasts 2 contractions
*Pushing is mainly moving baby down the birth canal; takes 1-2 hours to push
*12-18 hours is the average time for the first delivery
*Being induced usually takes longer than going naturally
2nd Stage Labor
*Vacuum vs Forceps-check with your doctor to see why the use either and how often.
-Vacuum-Risks: bruising of baby's head, tearing of vagina, perineum and anus (gah...); does speed up deliver by 15-20 minutes; does require constent
-Forceps-Risks: Bruising of baby's head, scalp and face, temporary nerve parlysis in face, tearing of mom
*Episiotomy-local anesthetic is injected before the procedure, you get stitches for this or if you tear naturally; shortens delivery by maybe a couple contractions; healing is faster for natural tearing than episiotomy; episiotomy incision becomes infected more often, is more painful and may extend farther than a natural tear
-either way, ask for a warm compress to help perinium to stretch.
After Birth
*Within 5-10 minutes of baby arriving, you will deliver your placenta which weighs abotu 1.-1.5 pounds
*Most everything that needs to be done to baby post-birth, can be done while s/he is on your chest
C-Sections
*Performed if vaginal birth is not possible or safe for baby
*Planned if baby is breach, transverse or placenta previa
*There are unplanned C-sections which are if the labor is not progressing, fetal distress, CPD, baby flips positions (Most people have this kind although they will refer to it as emergency)
*Emergency C-section (rare, maybe 1%)-fetal distress, placental abruption, uterine rupture
*Usually have to have an epidural and this is left in place for 12-24 hours after baby is born
*Takes about an hour
*Bikini line incision
*Risks for baby: Breathing problems, low Apgar score, injury (rare), delayed skin to skin with mother/breastfeeding
Whew! So there you have it, all my notes from Class #3 plus a lot more that I didn't even include! Matt and I have decided that we will not be using analgesics due to them crossing the placenta which freaks us out. This class gave us lots of things to think about for our birth plan and gave a better idea of what to expect come labor time.
5 comments :
This was interesting to read! I'm glad you took notes and shared. :) One thing I thought was interesting was that the failure rate for epidural is only 1%. I feel like I know a lot of women who had that issue (including one who's epi didn't fully work during her c section, but she refused general anesthesia - ack!!!) but I guess if I really think about it, it probably is only 1% of women I know how have given birth.
Glad you are learning and taking notes. My job was important yet simple (at least in theory)--keep the vocal Mrs.' mom away as much as possible.
Ummm, fyi...the catheter goes in your urethra not your vagina.
Don't stress yourself out. I've had 5 kids. Every birth is different.
The real challeng comes after the birth.
Raising and being responsible for another person is much harder than giving birth.
I'll be keeping you in my prayers.
holy moly!!! I definitely haven't gotten that far and well, now I'm a bit scared!! YIKES!!!
Oddly, the part that freaks me out the most about that entire thing, aside from the needle in the spine thing, is the catheter in your vajayjay! I've heard both sides though - my sister said with her first two she had an epidural, but they didn't give her a catheter, but I've heard from other women that they did.
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