So you're considering your options as you're going over your birth plan. What are these medications? It seems to be the first step after all "natural" pain relief methods have been tried. So what do we know about IV pain medications at Northwest PA Doulas? 

1.) The most frequently used options in our local hospitals (MMC, UPMC Hamot, St Vincent, Warren General, UPMC Seneca, UPMC Farrell, etc) are Stadol, Nubain and Demerol. 

2.) There are benefits like: Offering pain relief, not interfering with your ability to push your baby out and calming your anxiety about the intensity of contractions and labor. 

3.) There are risks like: nausea, itching, vomiting, feeling dizzy, sedation and other risks. 

4.) These medications do have an effect on the baby.  When choosing demerol in particular, if given within 2-4 hours before the birth of the baby, it has been shown to cause breathing difficulties for the newborn. 

5.) They are easily administered. If you are having a hospital birth, it is very likely that you will have a hep lock or IV already started. When you request pain relief like Stadol, Nubain or Demerol, it is very easy for your nurse to administer them quickly to you. 

Most moms choosing to have IV pain medications are doing so to avoid an epidural or to get them through a particularly hard stage in their labor. We know through research and mother's experiences that these medications are most effective in the earlier stages of labor. In any case, if you choose to go this route, your birth doula will be right by your side supporting you through it.