Labor at Gunnison Valley Health

Caring for mom

Coping and Pain Management Measures for Labor

• Movement: walk around the family birth center and/or Gunnison Valley Health campus

• Breathing and Relaxation: ask your nurse to help you with breathing techniques.

• The Bathtub: many women find this extremely therapeutic and relaxing during labor. Nurses will check your baby’s heart rate intermittently while you are in the tub.
  • FYI: you cannot use the tub if you are receiving Pitocin or have an epidural
• Counter Pressure and Massage: focus on your back to offset labor pains. Ask your labor nurse to show you or your partner how to perform these.

• Labor Ball and Peanut Ball

• Aromatherapy: Feel free to bring your own aromatherapy

• Labor Bed: we can adjust this into many positions.

• We encourage you to move as much as possible - dance, walk, sway, bounce on the ball, whatever feels good.

• Medications for Pain:
  • Epidural: administered by an anesthesiologist or CRNA. The medication does not cross the placenta, and can provide complete pain control during labor.
  • Fentanyl: this is an IV narcotic. It can take the edge off contractions and help patients relax in between contractions. This medication does cross the placenta.

Medications in Labor

• Antibiotics: this is given to women who are group beta strep (GBS) positive. It can also be given if the amniotic sac has been ruptured for a prolonged period of time.
• Cytotec: this ripens and softens the cervix making it more ready for contractions to cause dilation. Administered orally or vaginally.
• Epidural: administered by an anesthesiologist or CRNA. The medication does not cross the placenta, and can provide complete pain control during labor.
• Fentanyl: this is an IV narcotic. It can take the edge off contractions and help patients relax in between contractions. This medication does cross the placenta.
• IV Fluids: these help to keep patients hydrated during labor.
• Lidocaine: this medication is a local anesthetic that is sometimes necessary if a patient requires repair of the perineum after delivery.
• Magnesium Sulfate: this medication is given to prevent seizures in patients with preeclampsia.
• Pitocin: this medication causes uterine contractions. It can be used to strengthen uterine contractions during labor. It is also used after delivery of the placenta to keep the uterus contracted and prevent excessive postpartum bleeding.
• Terbutaline: this medication is administered as an injection. It is sometimes given to relax the uterus and stop contractions if indicated.
• Tylenol: administered for headaches and/or fevers during labor.

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