Vasovagal and Giving Birth

You can find an independent midwife and have a safer homebirth without all the needles, meds, bad medical advice and fear of giving birth.
Best of luck!

Most hospitals insist on poking you, Ask for a hep lock. Then its one poke and if you do need an IV or something the poke is done...
Heres my personal opinion. REFUSE TO GET IT IN YOUR HAND>
When in labor with #2 i wanted to do stuff with my hands and having a needle poked into it made it quite uncomfy to move my fingers...
#1- induced and used drugs 8 lb 3 oz
#2 and 3 - induced w/o pitocin and all natural 9lb 7 oz and 10 lbs

Hi! I have never heard of any one with that besides me! I did natural child birth and did fine. My vision did gray and I saw stars on and off a little but I did it. I think you will be fine. My little boy will be 1 on Thursday. Good luck and enjoy your baby!

Hi H. ~
I'm an L&D nurse so I might be able to help. I really don't know much about the vasovagal syndrome, so I was just looking it up online. I have had patients that get light-headed, dizzy, sweatty, and nauseaus when we have to start the IV. Obviously I have no idea if they had what you have, but I helped them to calm down, slow down their breathing, layed the head of the bed down, and given them cool wash cloths. All of those things seem to help.
You need to know that: 1. There will be pain having a baby. 2. we do have to start an IV in your arm or hand (depends on where we find the best vein to get). You can't get out of the IV - everyone gets them, so set yourself up for it now. At my hospital we actually draw your labs when we start your IV, so you do get saved a poke. If you decide you want an epidural (don't automatically say NO, leave the option open. You don't know how things will go and you just might want it at some point. You won't see the needle or anything, since they're working behind you. Our job as nurses is to help you, and we'll be there for you.
Good Luck!
D.

I was diagnosed with this several years ago. The Dr. I had at the time said that it is not uncommon for women to "outgrow" this issue during or after pregnancy. This has to do with the fact that blood volume increases significantly in pregnancy. Also, later and more recently I was told that these vaso-vagal issues are more than likely silent migraines. (Hence the woman who saw "stars" which would be classified as a precursor or aura.) I have solved 90% of these symptoms by drinking purified water and taking electolytes faithfully. (This increases blood volume as well.) I highly recommend Tracelyte by Natures Path Supplements. It is a low cost ($25/mo.), highly effective, no sugar or added flavor supplement that is highly absorbable by your body. (and no I'm not getting paid to say that!) The other % was helped by removing MSG and nitrates from my diet (can be found in processed meats and MSG which is everywhere... so you have to read labels, it is used as a flavor enhancer- you can avoid this altogether by eating organic foods also). I also agree with the woman who suggested hiring a midwife. There are no I.V.'s and they won't prevent you from eating or drinking which could cause you to become dehydrated and exhausted during labor. However, if it is necessary to go to the hospital, they will go with you and help you transfer for the care you need. Also- you have the right to refuse ANY procedure or medical intervention in the hospital(like I.V. or epidural, pitocin or c-section or episiotomy, or whatever it is that you don't want during your birth). Unfortunately, they will put a lot of pressure on you in the hospital to accept these things even if you have the legal right to refuse. Do not be bullied by hospital "policy's" during your labor by nursing staff. At the very least, make sure you have someone (partner or doula) who knows what you want and is familiar with your medical history and can stand up for your rights during labor/birth. Feel free and e-mail me if you have more questions because I understand how nerve racking giving birth for the first time with this condition can be! Congatulations on your little blessing coming soon!

It is my understanding that vasovagal women change during labor, the primitive part of the brain tends to take over and the vasovagal issues don't occur, or occur infrequently.

I don't know much about your diagnosis, but I do feel for you! I think I can speak for lots of moms on here when I say that we will be thinking of you and praying for you!

~L.

I have never been diagnosed with anything, but from birth I have had symptoms like that... Didn't know there was a name for it! If I see blood or get nervous about a blood draw or some other stuff I can actually FEEL my blood pressure drop and I pass out. To others around me it looks weird though because I don't just "faint". I fight it the whole time I'm unconscious (roll my eyes around and try to move). When I was a kid, my mom had me tested for all sorts of stuff and the doctors just decided it was mostly mental, it didn't do me any harm and I'd grow out of it. Well, as an adult I still do that once in a GREAT while (like at the dentist once - kinda embarrassing that was!).

I was super nervous about that when I had my baby last year. I was afraid I'd pass out and they'd end up doing a c-section or whatever. Somehow I made it all the way through without so much as getting dizzy though. The worst part was when they put in the IV - I'd never had one before so I thought it was going to be bad - it wasn't. I just made sure that every time they poked me throughout the pregnancy they let me lay down on a table instead of sitting or standing in case I passed out and made sure that they knew that I had a history of passing out so they wouldn't be caught off guard if I did. I think it helped that I knew it was necessary for the babies health. Also, I tried not to think about the labor before it was actually there. I thought of it this way - it's going to happen whether I want it to or not so why worry about it.

Doctors deal with this kind of stuff all the time. I don't think what you have is really rare - though since you were actually diagnosed you might have a more severe case than most. Just make sure you're lying down - look away - and try to talk about something non-related while you are having blood drawn or whatever seems to trigger it.

Good luck and congrats!

I was diagnosed with that, too. I had it since I was just a little child. The latter part of my pregnancy helped me to get over it. I had gestational diabeties and had to give myself shots and of course poke my fingers many times a day. I made it okay....I was very surprised! I had my daughter natural...no c-section, allthough I did have induced labor. Started it on a Tuesday and did not have her until almost mid-night that Friday. It was a long haul and they had trouble with my IV's because I was swelling so bad. I surprisingly agreed to an epideral, too! Odd thing for someone afraid of needles to do, but it was worth it! It is amazing what you are able to cope with through the whole experience to make sure you have a healthy baby. Just keep your eye on the prize! You will be fine...I was surprised at what a contraction really felt like...not that bad...it was like the worst pms I ever had. I know I said I had an epidural but that was during the very last hours of labor and I did a low dose one ...I still had use of my legs. I know others say the medication is bad for the baby, but it is also not good for the baby if you are not relaxed. You will do what you feel is right for you and yours when you are going through it. Good luck to you ...you will be in my prayers.

H...Sorry I won't be able to be much help...I'm just surprised to hear of the vasovagal..my son who is now 28 was diganosed with vasovagal faints..I'm sure it is the same thing...he doesn't have a problem with blood or having it drawn, only hurting himself and having excruating pain...He hasn't had any for a few years, the last one was worse than the others and very scary..one was in the presence of our Dr. As it turns out there were only a hand full and most of them happened in the last couple of years of High School...

Do you have them happen very often? and is it always when you get hurt?

I hope some one else will be able to give you some insight on this as I think I would be concerned also!!

Good Luck...B. C.