AbbyMN needs your "pain relief in labour" thoughts.

oh - and dd was back to back and 9lb 12oz

Was fully intending to have any pain relief I wanted/needed (including epidural)

Had paracetamol (v. early stages) and TENS machine. It wasn't as painful as I had anticipated and was also quicker so I was able to manage the pain. I was just starting to get tired and thinking I might need something else (gas and air) when I was told I was fully dilated so didn't need it. Had loads of it for the stitches after though

Didn't want much pain relief beforehand, and managed to get through both labours with a tens machine. Briefly tried one puff of gas and air and vomited. The midwife took it off me straight away.

Labour was every bit as painful as I had expected, second labour was more so, but he was just under 10lbs and I think that made a difference to me. First baby was 7lb 6oz and I delivered her myself.

Definitely didn't fancy pethidine because I had heard it can affect baby. Didn't want epidural cause don't like needles.

Tens took the edge off the pain, but no more. And at the end of the labour, I don't think it made any difference at all.

i had gas and air only as had been told i wouldn't be able to have an epidural so i had to deal with it

i just listened to my body - was upright and mobile/squatting and it was all ok

What helped was 2 birth partners to support me through it - no doubt at all how much that helped

Was euphoric after delivery; told DH i "would be doing that again"

DS was also back to back

I had gas and air from 6cm, mostly to stop me throwing up. But it did work. Only downside was that I scratched my face badly on the mouthpiece by leaning on it

The best things were the non drug though - really hard back massage and a hot flannel on my back (DS was OP), and my lovely doula

I never got to a point where I wasn't coping, so never got to thinking about other pain relief

no pain relief apart form gas and air
no reason why

oh GOD NO abby

I didnt have pain relief in my first labour because I had heard so many horror stories about giving birth that I had it in my head that I was going to feel like I was going to die.
So when I didn't I just knew it was going to get worseso I thought I would save my options for when it hurt more.
The point where I felt I couldn't do it any more was as DS1 was crowning and by then it was too late.
I did however have gas and air for my stitches and it made me feel so tipsy that I started talkig to my midwife about bum sex as she stuck her finger up my bum to make sure she hadn't stitched right through

DS2 I already knew I could cope with the pain so was much more relaxed about it all. same as above for gas and air with stitches though.

i had a homebirth, assumed i'd have g and air. but put on my birth plan that i'd ask for it, didn't want things forced on me.
forgot i'd written it
was thinking about other things
no pain relief

(natal hypnotherapy cd on a loop though...)