what.pain relief did you use and at what stage?

[UptownFunk00]

I had my DD2 last week was just curious when/if people used pain relief and if so how far along?

I started active labour about 9pm Monday night and had DD2 at 12.20 on Wednesday afternoon. I wasn't confirmed established until 3am on Wednesday.

Started Gas and air at 4cm and then epidural at 6ish about an hour and a half later.

Just interested in others experiences.

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

Enduced 3pm. Had a measly confine tablet about 2:30am. Turns out I was in transition at that point and DS born by forceps at 3:10am.
Had a spinal for stitching up which was absolutely AMAAAAAZINNNNG!!
Was scared of both forceps and injection in back but both OK.

CONGRAULATIONS on DD2!

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

*coedine not confine!!?

[UptownFunk00]

Kudos - I don't think codeine would've touched it but then hadn't slept for 2 nights so was a bit impatient anyway! :o

[spnfan]

I had codine at around 5cm which I promptly vomited up! Then had a pethidine injection which sent me to sleep, woke up at about 6cm then went to gas and air. Was on that up to and during 3 hours of pushing.

Then discovered DC was presenting brow so had to have EMCS. They gave me something that slowed my contractions which felt ineffective. The spinal however was AMAZING!!

[winewolfhowls]

I used a tens machine but not sure how helpful it was really. Gas n air but they were reluctant to give that! Begging for epidural but they put me off till it was too late

[WilLiAmHerschel]

Got given a paracetamol when I arrived at the hospital. Once I hit 4cm I had g&a... And was told to go easy on it. I'm still upset about that nearly 2 years later. I'd have killed for some codeine or anything slightly more effective. When she gave me that paracetamol I wanted to cry. I take stronger stuff for my periods.

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

Erm, no, the coedine (accompanied by a 'wow you're such a wimp' patronising look from the midwife) funnily enough did nothing. Thankfully she had the grace to look sheepish when she realised I was +1 and involuntarily pushing haha!

[winewolfhowls]

Congrats btu!

[karaline]

i didn't manage any pain relief for either of them, the first one came very quickly on a very busy day at the hospital, the staff were too busy to take much notice of me until my partner was standing in the doorway of the delivery room shouting 'get in here i can see the head' i had a tiny bit of gas and air after, while they were doing the stitches and i didn't like it much.

i had the second one at home and they forgot to bring the gas and air. he was an undiagnosed breech

people have said i'm really strong and amazing for managing without pain relief with such a fast birth and a breech, but what they don't know is I have a huge phobia of needles. I'd go for all kinds of pain over a lumber puncture any day.

[YesIcan]

I had tens and gas for 2 induced deliveries. 7-8 lb babies. (I'm 5ft 8). V straight forward deliveries.
I asked if an epidural would slow things and when told yes, I just wanted things to move on. I actually got annoyed at the MW who kept offering an epidural.

[TheCatsMeow]

Pethidine at 1cm then had a spinal for a CS

[Junosmum]

Waters at 3am, paracetamol at 9am when 3cm, paracetamol and codeine at 4pm. A bit of gas and air between 6 and 7pm when 10cm and pushing. Local anaesthetic at 10.30pm for episiotomy and baby born by forceps at 10.52

[Junosmum]

Oh yeah, and then a spinal for surgery for retained placenta, which was amazing but thoroughly fucked me off that they refused me an epidural 4hours earlier because "baby will be here in 20mins" lying knobs. (Sorry, birth trauma).

[Dachshund]

Induced labour, got to 10 cm on gas and air alone but her head was turned so no progress meant the drip and epidural at that point as I'd heard the horror stories about it! Just as well as ended up having episiotomy and ventouse delivery.

[ICJump]

Induced birth so used hot shower from the third contraction, birth pool and g&a from about 3-4cm til baby out.
Oh and demanded g&a for the injection for local before stitches which raised a few eyebrows. I figure if someone is going near my vag with a needle they have to give me something!

[Natsku]

Started gas and air at only 2 and a half cms dilated because I was a wuss (and the midwives were nice enough not to send me home)

Had aquablisters some time later which hurt being put in more than the contractions themselves and did sod all for the pain.

Later on I had a para-cervical block which again didn't really do much, and just as I was begging for something better for the pain I was checked and was fully dilated so was too late anyway.

[BosomySusan]

Gas and air for dc1, induced on syntocinon drip so pretty much from the start of contractions. Nothing at all for dc2 and dc3, both home water births.

[LadyLuck81]

Nothing. I had two paracetamol in early labour with number 1 but threw them up. Just water births both time. No gas as it made feel nauseated.

[WalkingBlind]

Done til 6cm at home with nothing, G&A from that point at hosp.

Got Pethidine and fell asleep lol, woke up and got an epidural but have no recollection of asking for it? Weird because I have a really severe needle phobia but have absolutely no recollection of the needles at all. Kept using the G&A til after stitches as well!

[Dixiechick17]

Offered Gas and Air about half an hour before I had the urge to push, tried it for two contractions and didn't like it. Had nothing else instead, I was offered it again for the injection and stitches, at that point I really enjoyed the Gas and Air :D

[vvviola]

DD1 Gas and Air from about 4cm, then got pethidine injection at about 8cm. Made some noises about getting an epidural a while later but was told that I'd have a baby in my arms in less than half an hour and the anaesthesiologist wouldnt have got there by then.

Had DD2 in Belgium. Pethidine banned for women in labour, hospital didn't offer gas and air (due to some study connecting it with problems for the staff??). Only option is epidural. I am a big fat wimp and refuse to have needles near my back. So did without at first, thinking I could change my mind later. DD2 arrived 45 minutes after my waters were broken, so once again, no time.

[YokoUhOh]

Absolutely nothing until fully dilated and pushing - i went from 6-10cm straight away - I hadn't got a clue how far along I was. Then gas and air. Then a 3rd degree tear (DS turned) so I had to have a spinal and go into surgery...

[Micah]

Got gas and air even though i "wasnt in labour"

I asked for an epidural at 1cm. Got looked at sideways. Told them i wasnt coping then, and if this was going to get 10x worse, they'd better sort the anaesthetist.

Turns out the pain was because everything was going to shit and i got my anaesthetist and cs within 10 minutes.

[Sometimesithinkimbonkers]

With all 3 DC has G&A for pushing!!!! DH reckons I'm hardcore but I'm just lucky and have had quick, straightforward births !

[NotCitrus]

3 hours - hot bath.
5 hours - TENS on way to hospital.
6 hours - G&A on way to MLU.
7 hours - birthing pool
15 hours when I had to get out, max TENS didn't cut it and G&A neither. Got epidural.
Ds born after 40 hours.

Second time, got to hospital with TENS on max and had epidural within 30 minutes. Very similar to previous time - wish I'd had money from all the consultants who told me "no-one has a ventouse twice"!