The experience of birth is different for all mothers and pain is lived different by all. Some plan on not using medicaments and some do and sometimes women change their minds during labor. It is recommended to keep an open mind about pain management through the entirety of the process. This article will try to inform about some of the options you have to control the pain with pharmaceuticals during birth, but look around and find out what will work for you.

The options

There are a number of different forms the medication can come in. Some make the pain go completely away and some just help to handle them. It is usually hard to know which one is the right one before the moment arrives, but you should have had a talk with your doctor to discuss what they would recommend. There are three main categories when it comes to pain medications used during labor;

Anesthetics

In this category you will find a range of pain relief, including complete pain relief. Epidural, pudendal nerve blocks and nitrous oxide are all anesthetics.

Non-opioid analgesics

The non-opioids can provide a mild to moderate pain relief. These pain killers are usually administrated orally.

Opioid analgesics

These can give a moderate to strong relief. They will most often be given through an injection.

All these options have been heavily researched and has been deemed to be safe to use by big pharmacuitical companies.  Independent research also indicates that they are safe.  It is always important to check lindependent sources.  Not just the data from the pharmacuitical companies. The pharmacuitical companies sometimes withholds information that they think will negative affect their stock value. They do what they can to protect traders and investors.

Side effects

Like most medications, pain medication has a variety of side effect you will have to consider before engaging with any of them. These side effects can include:

• Increased risk of assisted vaginal birth
• Decreased ability to stand or change position
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Headaches

This is by no means a complete list of all the side effects nor does it apply to all the medication types. To find out more, consult your doctor about your plans and they can tell you a lot more about which medications does what thing to your body.

After birth

If you choose to use a pharmaceutical pain reliever you will have to deal with the after effects of it and because of that the hospital might want to keep you for observation a little longer afterwards. In some cases they will have to monitor your baby’s heart rhythm to make sure it did not affect it. If you are in the situation that you or your baby is feeling some side effects there are a few things the doctors can do to contain it. They will try to reduce the medication given, give you intravenous fluids and give you oxygen and for you baby they will give some medication to counteract the effect of the initial drugs.

Whatever you chose to do the most important thing is that you are comfortable with your choice. Doing your research and seeking out all the information you can on this subject, might help making you more confident and comfortable with your choice. When it all comes down to it, it is your body and your choice what you put into it.