Has any moms used or plan to use stadol or nubain?

[mnp48]

I couldn't find anything in the search...

DH and I just completed our labor and delivery class (8 hrs completed - yay!).   We learned of nubain/stadol.  I've never considered stadol/nubain because I've never heard of it but it seems appealing.  Have you used it or will you plan to?

[billyhorrible]

I haven't, but I considered it. (My hospital uses Fentanyl, which is a similar narcotic.) The idea was really appealing, so I consulted with my friend who's an anesthesiologist. He made some good points as to why he wouldn't recommend it, so I ended up not going that route.

This is from his email to me:

IV Meds ... now, whatever you get IV goes to your baby. Getting IV Fentanyl can cause fetal bradycardia (slowing of the heart rate) and depending on how much is given close to delivery, can cause respiratory depression in the baby. Since IV Fentanyl can have untoward consequences on the baby, the OBs do not like to give you an adequate dose of fentanyl to ease the pain. Also, slowing the heart rate of the baby makes the OBs panic and sometimes rush to C-section ... you don't want a C-section unless you absolutely absolutely need to have it!!

Let me compare the doses of drugs IV versus epidural ....
-IV: one milliliter of fentanyl = 50 micrograms
-Epidural: one milliliter of fentanyl = 5 micrograms

What does that mean? It means you need 1/10th of the dose in the epidural space since it is delivered near the spinal cord, where the pain signals come from. That also means you have much less systemic absorption, thus no untoward effects on the baby.

[PurpleIris]

I had a dose of stadol towards the end of labor - did nothing for the pain, just made me fall asleep between contractions. I wouldn't try it again, it was a pretty sucky feeling.

[racecarmom]

Popping over from May 15, I had stadol with my first pregnancy. It also did nothing for the pain and I felt like I was high and loopy! I would not have it again.

[alayne926]

I haven't had it, but my sister used stadol with her first. She said it made her feel drunk and she didn't like it.

[ladysif]

I didn't use either of those, but I did have numorphan with DS1. SIL had numorphan with both of hers as well. Obviously reading about any of these drugs is off-putting and I was trying for drug-free but clearly that didn't go as planned. It made me throw up, no biggie, and for both me and SIL, helped us get a grip. It didn't take away the pain but dulled it a bit which was what I needed and had the added benefit of slowing the contractions slightly (perhaps not ideal for everyone, but with my labor I had no break between contractions for hours so it was a welcome change). I don't think IV drugs are able to take away all the pain, just make it more manageable. If you want to feel nothing, then epidural is the way to go. SIL and I both felt like our labors were actually able to progress after having the medication as we were both at a plateau progression-wise before the med (and no, not at transition, just stuck). No adverse affects to my DS or her children. Didn't make me tired or loopy either.

That said, I haven't reviewed the options with my doctor yet this time and will research again; things change I know. I'm one of the weirdos who is terrified of epis so medication is the route I'm inclined to go if need be.

[Widget123]

I had both an epidural and IV pain meds with DD. Honestly I didn't think twice about the IV pain meds at the time, but I'm glad this topic was brought up so I can do more research and be better informed this time.

[omgtree]

I had a C-section with my first and got fentnol no idea how to spell it. After I delivered her to ease recovery and it was great! I wouldn't do it before though..

[tahitiandreamin]

I have no idea what narcotic I had during labor with DD but I hated it. I wanted a bit of relief since my contractions were one on top of another but I was not dilated enough for them to give me an epidural. It provided no pain relief. I didn't really get any sleep. It only made be very drowsy and out of it without the pain relief and ability to sleep. DD was rather sleepy her first few days and many of the nurses thought that it was because of the narcotics given before hand. I wouldn't bother having them again during labor.

[silv3rlining]

Thanks for bringing this up. I have been reading up on different pain management options. I ended up getting an epidural with DS (though I was adamantly opposed to it). I know it's not the worst thing and it is available if needed but I was thinking about just something to "take the edge off." But reading some experiences maybe I'll just wait and see.

[mnp48]

Thanks, ladies!

silv3rlining, I think I'll wait and see, too. If the pain is so unbearable, I might still consider stadol/nubain but if not, I'll try to stick it out. I'm not entirely sure how my body will react but so far, I've been under general anesthesia and used narcotics for pain without any wonky side effects.

[sonuptosondown]

They gave me stadol with my first because I really didn't want an epidural. I HATED it. I'm sure that everyone reacts differently but it just made me feel very loopy, disconnected and tired. After it was long gone from my system I ended up getting an epidural and much preferred that. I really felt out of control and unable to think straight with the stadol.

[junch817]

My best friend just had her baby on early Friday morning. They brought her in late Thursday (5:00) for an early induction on Friday morning. Thursday evening/night they gave her cervadil to help soften things up and an Ambien to help her get some sleep before the big day. Well, her (mild) contractions started around 1:00 am. By 3:00, they were crazy intense. They gave her Stadol at some point. Her water broke at 3:15. She said she went from a 0 to a 6 in 5 minutes. Baby barely made it into her doctors arms at 3:46 - he literally walked in the room as her head was coming out. Between the Ambien and the Stadol, she was MESSED UP!!! Soooo loopy and out of it. Barely remembers seeing her daughter after she had her. Plus baby had some breathing issues since the Stadol was (unknowingly) given so close to her super fast delivery.