Medications and Interventions During Labor
How Pain Medication and Intervention Can Affect Your Labor and Baby
Aug 13, 2008
We no longer give birth like our mothers and grandmothers. In some cases, that is a good thing. Having support and options for comfort measures are a big improvement versus being isolated and heavily drugged for hours or days on end. However medical personnel today rely so heavily on medical technology and procedures that our culture has nearly forgotten that birth is a normal and natural physiological process.
Can we have it all? It is up to parents today to demand that medical interventions are used only when there is an indicated risk. To further you as a parent, here are a list of articles that can help you know what these procedures entail as well as pros, cons and alternatives to them.
Intravenous fluids (IV) have become part of the package when mothers give birth in a hospital. The problem is that additional fluids can cause swelling and may not be needed. Find out if you need an IV or what your other fluid options might be.
Research is clear that routine episiotomies do not benefit the mother. Find out what questions to ask your care provider when discussing the topic of episiotomies and what you can do to avoid them.
Here is a look at the current statistics on labor inductions. Also included are potential reasons for why mothers may be choosing inductions and why some caregivers may recommend them.
Are inductions causing more cesareans? Is there an effect on the baby if your labor is induced? What are true reasons for inducing labor. Find out the reasons to these and other questions.
The epidural has big pain relief benefits for many mothers today. However epidurals interfere with labor and can make it harder for mothers to push. Included is how to avoid the pitfalls and labor effectively with an epidural.
Some mothers choose IV narcotics such as stadol for pain relief in labor. Narcotics can help mothers to relax but they do not remove the contraction pain. Is this a good choice for you?
The Truth about Vacuum Deliveries
One of the possible side affects of getting an epidural, vacuum extractors are used somewhat commonly today as a last attempt prior to having a cesarean. Are there safer ways to use a vacuum extractor? Read more here to find out what you need to know before you agree to having your baby delivered by a vacuum extractor.
