Vistaril during labor

[Shell_Ell]

The other thread about use of morphine in labor got me thinking.

Talk to me about the use of vistaril in labor. What are the indications? Dosage? Effects on the mama and baby?

I'm specifically wondering how it is used in relation to mothers who are experiencing prodromal labor.

Thanks in advance!

[jengacnm]

I have very recent experience with Phenergan in late labor. The nurse suggested it, and it was effective enough that I had to think: How is it I've been a midwife for 7 years, a nurse for 6 years before THAT, and I'm just now learning about this?

It seemed to have the desired effect of relaxing mom a good bit, but doesn't cause the respiratory depression problems in the newborn that narcotics can have-which is why I'm always torn about a mom getting narcotics at 8 cms. It made her sleepy, but so had two days of labor; and in my perception it made her much less sludgy than narcotics usually do.

The one major drawback is an effect seen with narcotics-mom would doze off between contractions and wake up with a start with each new one-she felt like she was constantly contracting, though we could see she was relaxing well between them.

I'm quite glad to have this to offer-just a little something for the homestretch for women who want it, something that's non narcotic.

Let me hasten to add that women wanting something for pain at 8 cms (or more) is one of the toughest parts of my job. I'll coach, coax, cajole-"Can you make it for another half hour? You may have your baby by then! How about another 15 minutes? How about ONE MORE CONTRACTION?" About six months ago a mom I was trying this with finally said to me, "Isn't this supposed to be my choice?"

Ouch.

[Ironica]

Originally Posted by jengacnm

The one major drawback is an effect seen with narcotics-mom would doze off between contractions and wake up with a start with each new one-she felt like she was constantly contracting, though we could see she was relaxing well between them.

Sorry, not a birth professional, but...

Something that was suggested by our birth instructor during our first pregnancy that she had used, and we used to good effect as well, was to have my husband *wake me up* just before each contraction started. I was on CFM at the time, so he could look at the monitor and see when it was ramping up, but also used his watch to gage when it was time. He usually woke me up about 10-15 seconds before I would have been awakened by the contraction, and I never had that jarring sensation of being woken by the physical sensation. Felt much more restful that way!

ETA: we hadn't used any narcotics or other medication at this point (just Pitocin... ugh); I just had had only about 4 hours of sleep in the last 48, so I was falling asleep without any help ;-).

[texaspeach]

eta: n/m not a birth pro had questions that were easily answered by a google search.