Intravenous Pain Medications During Delivery | Healthline

Intravenous Pain Medications During Delivery | Healthline:

Narcotics

Narcotic medications are often used for pain relief during labor. Their use is limited to the early stages of labor, however, because of their tendency to cause excessive sedation in the mother and fetus. They are quite useful in latent labor, when the mother is not uncomfortable enough to require an epidural, but too uncomfortable to be without any pain medication. Narcotics are generally given to women in labor by injection into a muscle or through an intravenous line. The intravenous route is preferred because the effect of the drug can be more easily monitored.

Adverse Effects

 The most common side effect of narcotics is sedation, which can lead to respiratory depression. This is especially dangerous for the newborn. Because of this side effect, the use of intravenous narcotic agents is generally limited to the early stages of labor. Other potential side effects in the fetus and newborn include abnormal heart rate patterns and early problems with breast-feeding and behavior. If the mother or baby experiences respiratory depression from narcotics, they should first be placed in a well-ventilated area where they can get enough oxygen. Second, naloxone (Narcan), which counteracts narcotics, should be given intravenously. This medication cancels out the effects of the previously administered narcotics and relieves respiratory depression.

Morphine

 Morphine sulfate (Duramorph) is probably the best-known narcotic. It is a long-acting drug that typically takes affect in 10 to 20 minutes and lasts between two to five hours when given as an intramuscular injection. This medicine is most often used after a cesarean section because it can last up to 24 hours when given through an epidural. Intravenous infusion results in a quicker onset of action (three to five minutes) and lasts approximately two hours. Potential side effects include nausea, vomiting, and itching. Morphine, like other long-acting narcotics, is generally reserved for use during the latent phase of labor. It should not be used when delivery is imminent because of the sedating effects it may have on the newborn.

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