Pethidine - is this normal?

[pinkdelight]

Hi there, wonder if anyone else whose had pethidine can help?

In my first labour, I had a shot of pethidine for pain relief. It was very helpful for a while, but after 3 or 4 hours, it went really strange and bad. Apparently I was conscious, but I was totally out of my body/locked in my head, like I had no control of what I was saying or doing and couldn't communicate. I didn't feel like I could see anything and all I could hear was a vague commotion in the background and a dull throb of hospital radio. No one noticed because I guess I was expected to be a mess at this point - my husband was really upset by the state I was in, but assumed it was just the pain. It felt like it went on for ages and I didn't really 'come to' until I had an epidural several hours later.

I'm pregnant again and planning on having pain relief in labour, but know that they won't go for an early epidural, so to avoid this happening again, I'd really like to know:

a) was this normal i.e. how the drug works?
b) was this an abnormal reaction to the drug?
c) was this the effect of the drug wearing off and my brain trying to cope with the pain?

Sorry that was a bit long, but any help would be much appreciated!

[AKMD]

I had pethidine and was completely out of it for a few hours. I was almost asleep between contractions (which hurt!) but I was aware of what was going on. TBH I was in such a mess because of the pain (induced labour so no chance to have a nice build-up) that I'm not sure if the pethidine made any difference.

I would ask your midwife and/or doctor for more specific answers about pethidine.

[DetectivePotato]

Why can't you have an early epidural? Surely your last experience should count.

[addictedishavingagirl]

hi i started a thread on pethidine a few days ago and some one gave me this link (from the baby center) theres a few side effects on there that it doesnt seem to mention anywhere else.

[pinkdelight]

That's interesting AKMD. 'Completely out of it' sounds about right - course that's a helpful escape from the pain, but not a good state to be in really. Would you have it again?

Detective - how does it work? They were very reluctant to give me one last time even though we kept asking in increasing distress, and then the anaesthetist was stuck in surgery so that was more delay. I get the strong sense from the hospital they don't prioritise them for 'healthy' women in labour, esp not till they're already well-dilated. It is just a matter of making even more forceful demands?

[pinkdelight]

Thanks for the link, addicted. That's really useful. Think I definitely fall into the 1 in 3 who find it unpleasant! Very interesting about being able to ask for smaller doses.

[juuule]

I had pethidine with my first. It did nothing for the pain but made me feel very drunk and not 'with it'. Everyone around me ignored anything I said and talked over me. Not a pleasant experience.

I said I would never have it again but was talked into it with no2 and given half a dose. Still did nothing for the pain, made me feel out of control but didn't last as long.

I refused it for subsequent births.

[Hevster]

I saw a consultant last week as I am fighting for a c-sect following last traumatic birth, have not won the battle yet but have got it written in my notes that I can have an early epidural so that might be an option for you rather than pethadine

[pinkdelight]

That sounds similar again, Juule, the people ignoring you. Pretty horrible when you're the one having the baby. Can I ask, what did you do for pain relief in subsequent births?

[AKMD]

I say now that I wouldn't have it again but then I was adamant that I wouldn't have it for DS and I did. I had to wait over 6 hours for an epidural after I asked for one as the anaesthetist was in theatre and attending to other women. I suspect I was only given one in the end because my blood pressure was so high that it was giving me chest pains.

[juuule]

For my other 7 births I had gas and air for some and nothing for the others. Laboured at home, walked about, rocked in a rocking chair.....did whatever made it more tolerable. Apart from one of them by the time I got to hospital the baby would be on its way and no time for anything else. The other one I got to the hospital 4 hours before delivery and it was the hardest labour of the 7 to deal with. For me, I think that the least time spent in the hospital, the better able I am with coping with labour.

For my last baby (induced) I sat on a ball at the side of the bed and rocked while attempting to read my book to distract me. When the ball got uncomfortable I'd walk to the toilet and have a sit down there for a while then go back to the ball. Was on my own as everything was wound down for the day and I was waiting for the next day for them to try to induce again. I had considered an epidural because I was frightened of being induced due to my first birth experience (also induced) but I'm more afraid of epidurals so was relieved not to have needed one.

[JaMmRocks]

I reluctantly had pethidine with DS2, it was meant to tide me over until I was 'properly' in labour while being induced. Unfortunately my waters broke about 5 minutes later, and the pethidine made me very weird and incoherent at the birth and totally zonked right after. It also wiped DS2 out for about 3 days afterwards, which the drs would not confirm but has since been confirmed to me by someone else. He had to stay in NICU while they tried to work out what was wrong. So I would say for me personally, NEVER NEVER again.

[DetectivePotato]

I had an early epidural as I have M.E. and I had seen a consultant and it was agreed that it was the best way to minimise the amount of time I was in pain. You asked how it works, do you mean the actual epidural? It goes into your spine and you are numb from the waste down. You can't feel any contractions from then on. I could still feel enough pressure with the baby to push but I did need forceps as he was distressed. I thought the epidural was fantastic and I slept on and off throughout labour as I couldn't feel any pain at all.

Your hospital sounds a bit crap. Obviously there does have to be an anaesthetist available at the time to do it, but if you really want it I cannot see why the hospital should repeatedly refuse you. I would go back and speak to someone there and insist on it, or put it in your birth plan and get your DP/DH to tell the midwives that you want an epidural now and don't let them fob you off. TBH it is disgusting the way they are acting over it.

[diggingintheribs]

I ha pethidine and it dis absolutely nothing to me but made baby sleep for 48 hours! I seem to hear more and more about people being unhappy with it.

This time I will not be having it and will either take the pain (again!) or ask for an epidural.

[pinkdelight]

Thanks so much for all your help and advice. am definitely leaning towards the NEVER again view - Jammrocks story, and others, are shocking, and just make me glad that at least it didn't have any ill effects on ds1. Like Detective says, I shall just have to put my foot down and be much more demanding about my birth plan. My hospital is pretty crap I must admit, but I don't believe that any others in the area are any better, sadly.

[diggingforvictory]

I was given pethidine 48 hours into labour. They gave it to me to help me sleep because things were progressing so slowly. I spent the night semi-concious, unable to move or speak but in terrible pain from the contractions. The midwife who checked up on me during the night wrote "sleeping peacefully" in my notes!

Afterwards, own midwife said people can react to pethidine in different ways and my experience was not unusual.

[LynetteScavo]

I had pethidine when in hospital for a kidney infection with DS1. It worked brilliantly.

It wasn't quite as effective when I was in labour with him, but it did mean I could keep still for the epidural to be administered.

It didn't do the job with DS2. It made me hallucinate. I thought the bed was 5 ft high, and 2 feet wide. Which wasn't good, as I was on all fours on the floor, and the evil cow midwife was insisting I got up on the bed. It seemed like a huge effort. Also, I couldn't figur out why the sheets on the bed were pink and the person standing in the corner was wearing grey (she hadn't been introduced to me, I and I couldn't figure out who in hospitals wore grey). I later realised I had been hallucinating, and colours had changed. And I couldn't keep still enough for an epidural.

Can you aim for gas and air to take you through to an epidural?

[BigMommaOfAlmost4]

I had pethidine with DD as I was terrified of having an epidural and was in extreme pain from the syntocin {sic} drip used in my induction. In hindsight I wish I had had the epidural! Felt totally out of it, totally not in control and still in terrible pain .

Not pleasant at all and to add to that, I had a terrible time trying to breastfeed DD as she would never wake up long enough for a decent feed in the first few days as I NOW know she was also affected from the pethidine and this is quite common. Was never warned about this by the hospital which I think is totally out of order. Really ruined the first few days afterwards as I was so stressed out about why she would not feed!!

Am expecting DC4 any time soon and will so be having an epidural if I need more than G&A.

[insertwittynicknameHERE]

I had pethidine with DD2, it did nothing for the pain and made me throw up. I found the G&A much better TBH but DD2's birth was very quick (2hrs 18mins).

I also had to have a shot of pethidine for pain relief a few hours after having DD2. I had severe chest pain (suspected pulmonary embolism) The pethidine then did have an affect on the pain and made me very sleepy but I wouldn't describe it as feeling as though I was 'out of it'

[GroovyGretel]

I had pethidine after dd was induced - and by all that is holy it was terrible.

Throwing up every hour, felt totally out of it, had constant monitoring as it sent foetal heartbeat low...

stay away, stay away!

[Eliza70]

I had pethadine with DS1 and it was terrible, exactly as you describe - totally zonked out "away with the fairies", like a very bad trip. When DS got into distress I mananged to rouse myself a bit. He was also very very sleepy for the next few days.

I made it clear that I was not having it with DS2, in the end it was a great delivery, arrived at hospital at 12am baby born 50 minute later, just gas and air - amazing!!

[Wholelottalove]

I had pethidine with DD and never again. Made me sick everywhere, did nothing for the pain, but did make me very spacey and out of it. DD was very sleepy and jaundiced and had to be readmitted to hospital after a couple of days. I know for some people it works brilliantly but the only thing on my current birth plan is 'NO PETHIDINE'!