Mumsnet Talk

Love the idea of a water birth but do you need to get out if you want help with pain relief? Does a water birth have to equal a drug free birth (with only gas and air) or is there some stuff they'll give you when you're in?

I was told G&A only... no pethedine/meptid or epidural.

Just gas and air. If you want anything else you have to get out.

I think it's only G&A but remember the water gives some relief too

Yes, I had pethidine.

I had home water birth and had a prescription of pethidine if I wanted it, don't recall being told I would have to get out of the pool if I used it.

G&A was enough though x

FWIW I have had one birth with pethidine and gas & air, and one just water. The water was better pain relief than the drugs.

You often aren't allowed to remain in the pool if you have pethidine because of the risk it makes you drowsy. Did you see OBEM - the teenage mum last week had a similar opiate and would no way have been in a state to safely labour in water. I think some midwives are happy if you've had a small dose, or it's worn off or whatever thought.

I had a water birth without even gas and air. Actually better pain relief than my previous labour with an epidural (to do with the fact that, despite the epi working, DD1 was pressing on a nerve or something)

They gave me a couple of paracetamols and a co-codamol at about 9cm. I remember screaming 'how long before these start working'. 20 minutes was the response. Ds was out 15 minutes later

only gas and air as you need to be able to get in and out of the pool in case of an emergency. But the water it self should be providing some relief too

My hospital's policy was that if you wanted pethidine you had to get out of the pool till it had more or less worn off, because it was difficult to predict how women would react (and behave).

Thanks ladies! Very useful. Guess I'll see how long I can bear it for