Did anyone just use the (legal) narcotics during labor?

I did with my first labor, and never again. It made me way too dopey, still felt contractions, and my baby was born with respiratory depression and needed assistance to breathe. Now as a teen she has developed a seizure disorder, which could possibly be related to hypoxia at time of birth. Narcotics cross the placenta and affect your baby. I would not recommend them, but to each their own. It's your decision. Good luck.

Before I got my epidural I was given an IV with something - sorry I don't remember what it's called - that causes me to not care about the pain.

It blocks the message to the brain that tells you that it hurts (I think that's how it works).

I could still feel the pain, but I didn't really care that it was there - if that makes sense.

If you have a different doctor or hospital than with the first 2 babies then you may have a better experience with the epidural.

I am a big believer in the epidural and I think you should talk with your doctor about your concerns.

If they wouldn't refill the epidural then it sounds like they weren't taking very good care of you, so a new hospital or even new nursing staff could give you a better experience.

Go over your options with your doctor and he will help you to make a good decision.

He can give you information on all the pain relief options that they offer and you can decide from there.

Good luck with your pregnancy, and I hope your delivery can go the way you want it to.

I didn't get to use anything the first time apart from one whiff of gas and air, which I didn't like. Second time my labour lasted less than two hours from start to finish - barely made it to delivery, never mind get any drugs! She was nearly born in the corridor. I found the pain to be bearable, although I know not everyone does. I'm way too much of a coward to have an epidural so I wouldn't have wanted one anyway - I just found the idea of giving birth completely naturally much less scary than someone sticking a big needle in my spine!

I had narcotics only with both my first two. I don't think it did anything, really. I am going all natural with this baby (due today!) and I'm sure it won't be too different than having narcotics because I don't feel like they did a thing!

I'll be interested to hear some answers to this actually, I really don't want to give in and have an epidural for my first labour. Good question!

I had Demerol my contractions were so strong then I had an epidural and a refill on my epidural

ive heard they give you demerol to hold you over until your epideral. my midwife said thats what she will do for me but im not sure if they can use that instead of epideral cause it is a strong potent narcotic. have you looked into hypnobirthing?

i mainly used gas and air, i found this to work wonders, as u can decide how little or how much u want to take,