From: bac@nestor.uucp (80051-charles)
Subject: Re: Use of drugs during labor (% wise)
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 92 14:31:40 GMT
Summary: Drugs during labor

In article <18598@drutx.ATT.COM>, seb1@leia.dr.att.com (sharon badian) writes:
> In my childbirth class this week we discussed drugs. The instructor gave
> some statistics for the use of drugs at the hospital where I will deliver.
> She said that about 50% of all women get some sort of drug. About 25%
> get an epidural. She didn't know how women who get both are figured
> in. This is only for vaginal births, not c-sections (where epidurals are
> the norm). She said that in Denver the rate of epidurals was 90%!!! That
> seems outlandish, but since some hospitals/doctors push them, I guess I
> can't be too surprised.
> 
> I was just wondering how many women actually have a drugless labor these
> days. Back in the old days, when my mom was bearing children, no one had
> a drugless labor. Except my mom. In fact, she had two in the early 60's.
> After that, there was a swing towards no drugs in labor. Has the pendulum
> swung back again (of course, they are not using the same drugs these
> days)?
> 
> Just seems like everyone I know got an epidural during labor.
> -- 
> Sharon Badian
> AT&T Bell Labs - Denver
> seb1@druhi.att.com

Sharon,

I'm expecting my third child in September.  I guess I am one of the few who
have had a drug-free labor - 10 years ago.  My 1st labor was with my daughter,
two years prior to this,  and I received demerol.  It made me
so miserable.  I was not able to control myself, my breathing or anything.
It made me sleep and then I would wake up in the middle of a contraction
with what felt like all hell breaking loose.  It was hell for me.
It did not, as they tell you, "take the edge off the pain."

With my second, my 10 year old, I insisted, unless I was dying, I did not
want ANY drugs, including demerol.  And I mean I would have fought tooth and
nail, not to have any demerol.  Obviously I would need some if I were
to have a C-section, and that was something that I was prepared for, but as
long as everything was going smoothly, I insisted on no drugs.

My drug-free labor was the most wonderful thing that ever happened.  Both
the baby and I were wide away, he nursed on the table, and I got to keep
him with me right from the start.  I was up and moving an hour later and
recovery for me was much faster. All I could do with my daughter's labor
was see that it was a girl and go back to sleep - I slept for about 2 days, 
only waking up to nurse the baby (nurses brought her to me at feeding time).

I was not hooked up to an I.V.  I was moving around to keep the contractions
strong.  I had no electronic monitoring, either external or internal (they
listened with a fetoscope) and I sat up to deliver my son.  I had one small
tear, but no episiotomy.  And the labor was 2 hours long start to finish and
I will swear by the fact that minimal intervention, relaxation techniques,
and a strong committed will to do my best without drugs, helped the labor
progress so quickly.  I had taken a Bradley course for this birth and 
quickly signed up to become a Bradley instructor after my son's birth.
I taught for 5 years and only stopped when I returned back to school.
I am now in the process of getting recertified so that I can teach again.

I don't know what will happen this time, but I plan on having a drug-
free labor.  I changed from my doctor of 12 years to midwives because my
doctor started insisting that I would want an epidural during labor because
all of his other patients had them.  He completely ignored the fact that
I delivered my son without drugs.  His whole attitude has changed in the
past 10 years and I cannot have a doctor who does not listen to me.  His
attitude was everyone else has them, I recommend them, therefore you will
have one too.  Sounded like he wanted the least amount of trouble he could
get - make it easy on him.   Well I switched a midwife and am very happy.

All of my friends and other people (not in my classes) I have known during
the past 10 years seem to have epidurals also.  I do not try to influence
people who do not come to me for Bradley classes, but if you have a choice,
i.e., you or the baby are not in any danger, you can learn to deal with a
long labor and pain.  Be informed about your choices, ask questions and try
to have a physician or midwife who will listen to your wants and needs so
that the TWO of you can make a decision that you can be happy with.

Good luck,


Barbara Charles
Bellcore, Livingston, N.J.