Epidural alternatives?

Question

In pregnant with my third baby and would like to avoid the epidural this time as I had it with my first two but would like to be more mobile. Has anyone used IV pain meds instead to take the edge off? My midwife said there are good alternatives but wanted some additional expierences.

Answer

Some places are using nitrous oxide again for labor, that may be an option. Ask you care providers about it. Early labor, hip opening and hip movement exercise seem to help ease pain and keep labor progress naturally. In active labor try a labor bath or warm shower. If that is not an option, try hands and knees, sitting on the toilet or birth ball. Deep, slow long breaths, breathing out the pain and imagining the wave of contraction washing over you then washing away the pain is helpful for many women. Also, remember to keep your voice or noise to a low, deep tone, as there seems to be a connection between the tightness of the vocal cords and throat and the cervix. Keeping tension in you body at bay will help ease pain as well. This is a temporary pain for a wonderful gift at the end. Consider a doula, they are awesome at that type of stuff;)

Answer

I was given something through my iv last pregnancy (I can't remember what it was called) but for me it made me super "fuzzy headed" and didn't really take the edge off, which the midwife said sometimes is the case.

Epidural alternatives?

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