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Intravenous fentanyl for pain relief during labour

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery February 26, 2011 Tags: intravenous fentanyl, labour, labour pain, pain relievers in labour, painkiller No Comments

What is Intravenous Fentanyl?

It is a drug that is a powerful pain reliever (narcotic). It may be offered to you to help you cope better with the pain of labour. Some women say it takes the edge off the pain and helps them to cope better. It will take the most of the pain away but not all of it. We’ve gathered some Information about intravenous fentanyl so that you can make your labour decisions.

Doses that would take away all your labour pain would make you very sleepy and would decrease your ability to breathe. This could be dangerous for you.

How is Fentanyl given?

It is given to you in a way so it is safe for you and your baby.

First your nurse puts a tube in your hand or arm called an intravenous or IV.
Your nurse, doctor, or midwife gives you the drug through this tube or you can give yourself this drug through the IV by using a pump that you control. It is called a patient-controlled pump. If you are using a pump you cannot give yourself too much of the drug because the pump is set to only allow safe doses.

Side effects of Fentanyl

You may become sleepy
Your breathing may slow down. Some women need to be given some oxygen and be watched closely if this happens.
You may feel sick to your stomach. This happens less often with Fentanyl than with other narcotics.
Fentanyl crosses the placenta and goes to your baby. As a result, your baby may be sleepy and not breathe well at birth. If this happens your baby may be given a drug that helps called Naloxone. Naloxone is given to your baby by an injection into the muscle of her or his leg. Sometimes, if you have needed a large dose of fentanyl, your baby’s breathing may have to be watched closely for several hours.
Your baby may have some trouble starting breastfeeding because she/he is sleepy and you may need more help to get your baby to breastfeed. Your nurse and/or lactation consultant will be able to help you get breastfeeding started.

What does is it not do?

Fentanyl will not take all your pain away.
Fentanyl does not give pain relief so your doctor/midwife can help your baby be born by the use of forceps or vacuum.
If your labour is very long it may not be as helpful later on as you may need a different form of pain relief.

BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre
September 2006, BCW#766

Inspiration for Labour

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery April 25, 2010 Tags: delivery, labour, natural birth, slow birth No Comments

Wide open

Your face is soft

Your shoulders are heavy

You are safe

Your baby is safe

This is your power

You are strong

With a Newborn, time Stops

FAM, self By Jill Amery August 19, 2009 Tags: autumn, depression, fall, labour, newborn sleep, postpartum, schedules, season change, Third Trimester and Labour, winter No Comments

As summer slips into crisp and busy autumn, we have always been taught to switch gears. When we were in school, this time of year meant new outfits and funky pencil cases. Time to learn. Time to re-aquaint with the friends who were at the cottage all summer. And then you got older. Don’t you remember pouring over the thickest Vogue of the year to master that year’s trends? Tweed? Chocolate brown?

Stripping Membranes: A Drug-Free Alternative for Inducing Labour

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery August 17, 2009 Tags: alternative, amniotic sac, birth, birthing, Danica Longair, inducing labor, inducing labour, labor, labor induction, labor stimulation, labour, labour induction, labour stimulation, stripping membranes, sweeping membranes 3 Comments

We know that many of our readers prefer to go the natural route for as many of their birthing processes as possible. Sometimes inducing labour is necessary and is often conducted with the aid of drugs. But there is a simple, drug-free alternative when inducing labour is necessary: “stripping membranes” (also known as “sweeping membranes”). Sounds kind of scary, eh? So what does it entail?

How Can Your Partner Help During Early Labour?

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery August 10, 2009 Tags: bloody show, cervix dialating, cervix softening, contractions, Doula, early labour, fatigue, labour, Midwife, OB-GYN, signs of early labour, TENS No Comments

SO many spouses and helpers ask how they can help during early labour. Often the pregnant woman gets irritated if her partner doesn’t know exactly what to do, and everyone ends up frustrated and stressed – which doesn’t help the birth process. Early labour is usually the longest phase of labour.

What’s happening in early labour?
– The cervix softens (ripens), begins thinning (effacing) and dilates to 3 cm.
– You may have show.
– 10-12% of women have their bags of water break at the beginning of labour
– Soft bowel movements increase

Often contractions are sporadic at the beginning of labour. Gradually they develop into a rhythm becoming longer, stronger, and closer together. Often they are quite short at the beginning (15 to 20 seconds) and they become longer as the labour progresses. The contractions begin, peak and end. They come like waves. The pain ebbs and flops with the contractions.

Epidural Information Sheet

Uncategorized By Jill Amery February 23, 2008 Tags: drugs in labour, epidural, labour, pain management 2 Comments

Pain is a normal part of labour and birth and there are many methods available to your to soothe your pain. Breathing techniques, comfort measures and supportive coaching are essential throughout. If labour becomes difficult, extra relief may be needed from medication.

What is happening during active labour?

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery October 1, 2007 Tags: childbirth and delivery, labour, labour childbirth, What is happening during active labour? 1 Comment

Q. What is happening during active labour? What can I do to help myself or help my partner?

Active Labour – What’s Happening

Uncategorized By Jill Amery October 1, 2007 Tags: active labour, cervix thinning, contractions, delivery, giving birth, labour No Comments

Active Labour

Labour is progressing faster now and contractions are occurring in definite patterns. This is the time to go the place where you are giving birth.

Preparing for Pregnancy

FAM, pregnancy By Jill Amery July 1, 2007 Tags: conceiving, Conception, folic acid, labour, ovulation, trying to get pregnant, vitamins 3 Comments

Q – My husband and I are about to start trying for a baby and I was wondering if there is anything specific I should do to prepare my body? Should I be cutting anything out of my diet or do more exercise? Will anything help me conceive faster?

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