Opiate Epidurals

LouLou

New member
I met with the head of anesthesiology to put a plan together for pain management should I need it. I plan to go without but if I'm exhausted and unable to cope I'll want the best plan in place for my care...not just what the anesthesialogist on staff at 3 in the morning thinks sounds good.

He is suggesting a very, very low dose opiate. I am finding out the name of the drug he is listing on my sheet. I'll update that when I find out. He says the opiates interfer less with innercostal muscle use so it should have little to no impact on my ability to breath. We agree that it would be a bad idea to make my breathing labored with cf.

I had previously considered getting the epi placed but no medicine administered unless I needed a c-section or decided I wanted pain management. I have decided against this option after talking with him. He said without the application of the drug there is no way to tell if it's placed incorrectly and there can be clotting issues. No thanks! I wonder why the birthing class even suggested this as an option.

So my plan is this...
Natural labor and delivery
If baby is distressed or other reason for c-section arises if they have 15 min's they will do the opiate epidural, if they only have 5 minutes (to get the baby out safely) we'll do a spinal and if they have less than 90 seconds they'll sedate me with general. Of course, they wish that I'd just get that epidural in early so it's their "just in case" but I'm declining.

My question for you all...

HAS ANYONE HAD AN OPIATE EPIDURAL? Please share your experience :)
 

LouLou

New member
I met with the head of anesthesiology to put a plan together for pain management should I need it. I plan to go without but if I'm exhausted and unable to cope I'll want the best plan in place for my care...not just what the anesthesialogist on staff at 3 in the morning thinks sounds good.

He is suggesting a very, very low dose opiate. I am finding out the name of the drug he is listing on my sheet. I'll update that when I find out. He says the opiates interfer less with innercostal muscle use so it should have little to no impact on my ability to breath. We agree that it would be a bad idea to make my breathing labored with cf.

I had previously considered getting the epi placed but no medicine administered unless I needed a c-section or decided I wanted pain management. I have decided against this option after talking with him. He said without the application of the drug there is no way to tell if it's placed incorrectly and there can be clotting issues. No thanks! I wonder why the birthing class even suggested this as an option.

So my plan is this...
Natural labor and delivery
If baby is distressed or other reason for c-section arises if they have 15 min's they will do the opiate epidural, if they only have 5 minutes (to get the baby out safely) we'll do a spinal and if they have less than 90 seconds they'll sedate me with general. Of course, they wish that I'd just get that epidural in early so it's their "just in case" but I'm declining.

My question for you all...

HAS ANYONE HAD AN OPIATE EPIDURAL? Please share your experience :)
 

LouLou

New member
I met with the head of anesthesiology to put a plan together for pain management should I need it. I plan to go without but if I'm exhausted and unable to cope I'll want the best plan in place for my care...not just what the anesthesialogist on staff at 3 in the morning thinks sounds good.

He is suggesting a very, very low dose opiate. I am finding out the name of the drug he is listing on my sheet. I'll update that when I find out. He says the opiates interfer less with innercostal muscle use so it should have little to no impact on my ability to breath. We agree that it would be a bad idea to make my breathing labored with cf.

I had previously considered getting the epi placed but no medicine administered unless I needed a c-section or decided I wanted pain management. I have decided against this option after talking with him. He said without the application of the drug there is no way to tell if it's placed incorrectly and there can be clotting issues. No thanks! I wonder why the birthing class even suggested this as an option.

So my plan is this...
Natural labor and delivery
If baby is distressed or other reason for c-section arises if they have 15 min's they will do the opiate epidural, if they only have 5 minutes (to get the baby out safely) we'll do a spinal and if they have less than 90 seconds they'll sedate me with general. Of course, they wish that I'd just get that epidural in early so it's their "just in case" but I'm declining.

My question for you all...

HAS ANYONE HAD AN OPIATE EPIDURAL? Please share your experience :)
 

wanderlost

New member
how will this, if at all, affect the baby? I know that meds like demerol which can be given IV can make baby very sleepy and not willing to nurse soon after birth.
 

wanderlost

New member
how will this, if at all, affect the baby? I know that meds like demerol which can be given IV can make baby very sleepy and not willing to nurse soon after birth.
 

wanderlost

New member
how will this, if at all, affect the baby? I know that meds like demerol which can be given IV can make baby very sleepy and not willing to nurse soon after birth.
 

LouLou

New member
Okay so this is what they said...

Typically we use an opioid named Fentanyl. It is short acting and has less association with respiratory depression compared to morphine.

I agree 100% Shannon and will definitely be doing some research on this. If you come upon anything please let me know. I really do plan to go natural but with my lung function and hemoptysis I feel I'd be naive to not have a 'smart' plan in place just in case. After all when in labor will not be the time for me to start doing research, right?
 

LouLou

New member
Okay so this is what they said...

Typically we use an opioid named Fentanyl. It is short acting and has less association with respiratory depression compared to morphine.

I agree 100% Shannon and will definitely be doing some research on this. If you come upon anything please let me know. I really do plan to go natural but with my lung function and hemoptysis I feel I'd be naive to not have a 'smart' plan in place just in case. After all when in labor will not be the time for me to start doing research, right?
 

LouLou

New member
Okay so this is what they said...

Typically we use an opioid named Fentanyl. It is short acting and has less association with respiratory depression compared to morphine.

I agree 100% Shannon and will definitely be doing some research on this. If you come upon anything please let me know. I really do plan to go natural but with my lung function and hemoptysis I feel I'd be naive to not have a 'smart' plan in place just in case. After all when in labor will not be the time for me to start doing research, right?
 

wanderlost

New member
I agree having a plan is good with the hemoptysis. I know fentanyl is a serious pain killer and I woulnd't be suprized if it didn't grog baby out - which isn't to say that if you need it not to get it, but have a plan for this as well because you want to establish good nursing habits from the start and hospitals are big on formula pushing.

Just remember your emotional sign posts so that you and hubby can recognize them, as if all is going well CF-wise, when you get to the self doubt sign post you will need lots of encouragement to get through it ( and you will! millions of women have made it through - you can do it!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> )

I'm getting so excited for you. I feel like i have been on your journey with you in all your preparations!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 

wanderlost

New member
I agree having a plan is good with the hemoptysis. I know fentanyl is a serious pain killer and I woulnd't be suprized if it didn't grog baby out - which isn't to say that if you need it not to get it, but have a plan for this as well because you want to establish good nursing habits from the start and hospitals are big on formula pushing.

Just remember your emotional sign posts so that you and hubby can recognize them, as if all is going well CF-wise, when you get to the self doubt sign post you will need lots of encouragement to get through it ( and you will! millions of women have made it through - you can do it!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> )

I'm getting so excited for you. I feel like i have been on your journey with you in all your preparations!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 

wanderlost

New member
I agree having a plan is good with the hemoptysis. I know fentanyl is a serious pain killer and I woulnd't be suprized if it didn't grog baby out - which isn't to say that if you need it not to get it, but have a plan for this as well because you want to establish good nursing habits from the start and hospitals are big on formula pushing.

Just remember your emotional sign posts so that you and hubby can recognize them, as if all is going well CF-wise, when you get to the self doubt sign post you will need lots of encouragement to get through it ( and you will! millions of women have made it through - you can do it!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> )

I'm getting so excited for you. I feel like i have been on your journey with you in all your preparations!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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