Systemic Medications used in Child Labor

The most common uses of systemic medications are derived from morphine. These types of medication can be administered every two to four hours depending on what is necessary, and can be done through an IV or intra muscular.

Keep in mind that any medication that is taken, whether you are pregnant or not, does have collateral effects and the analgesics used during labor are not exempt from this factor, however the doctor will try to do all he or she can to minimize these after effects by often times combining medications. Some of the most common effects of these medications in a mother are nausea, vomiting, somnolence, and a lowering of the arterial pressure. The grade in which it affects the baby depends on how close the medication was administered in the time of the labor. If a high amount is administered two hours before the birth of the baby, the newborn might be somnolent. While it is not very likely breathing will weaken, the doctor might administer a medication to immediately counteract the previous medication. There has not been any evidence that suggest that administering these medications in adequate doses and measuring with careful control, have an effect in the development of the delivery or in the incidence of cesareans.

Regional Anesthesia
Systemic medications are distributed within the blood flow throughout the whole body. However, almost all of the pain of labor and delivery is concentrated in the uterus, vagina and rectum. This is why in some cases regional anesthesia is needed, which allows administering analgesics in these particular areas. Regional anesthesia looks a little bit like the analgesic injections the dentists use on your gums. The medications that are used as regional anesthesia can be local anesthesia, such as lidocaine, a narcotic, or a combination of both.