Narcotics are injected into a muscle in your thigh or buttocks. They may also be injected through  an intravenous (IV) tube. In some cases, you may be able to control the dosage by pressing a button that injects some of the drug into the IV tube.

You should begin to feel some relief within 5-10 minutes after receiving the drug. The effect usually lasts 2-6 hours.

Advantages
Advantages include:

• Narcotics reduce how you experience pain.
• They help you rest.
• They don't cause muscle weakness.

Drawbacks
Possible side effects include:

• Sleepiness
• Decreased memory of labor
• Temporary breathing difficulties in mother and child

Narcotics are often used early in labor, sometimes before an epidural. If these drugs are used near delivery, they can cause breathing problems and slowed reflexes in the newborn. Sometimes, a baby who is having breathing problems due to these drugs must be treated with another drug to reverse the effects of the narcotic.

For more information, read Coping with Labor Pain.

January 2007