To think that gas and air IS pain relief

[NancyDrewRocks]

OK so it is none of my business...and no woman deserves to be judged on how she gives birth and her method of pain relief...blah...blah..blah.

But got off the phone to very proud friend who tells me how wonderful her DC's recent birth was, how amazing she was and how she did it all without pain relief and I congratulate her, tell she is fabulous and how there is no way I could have managed, she must be so proud.

I then laugh at how I almost swallowed the gas tube so desperate was to cram it in my mouth...at which point she says "oh well I did have gas and air".

Now in my books that is pain relief so AIBU (or just jealous that I missed the opportunity to mention how utterly fabulous I was to give birth without pain relief because gas doesn't, apparently, count?!)

Am a terrible mother all round Awassailing. Epidural with my first, which failed terribly and hated every second of childbirth. So I went and demanded a CS for my second before I even got pregnant! Which I got and loved.

Quick, call the SS

oh god - no not the SS - I've only just got rid of CP (well almost)

I must be really rubbish - G&A; 2 x pethedine; epidural and eventually an em c section

certainly no medal, perhaps a ritual branding instead??

How long does gas & air stay in your system?

Being pedantic, I could argue that the actual birth was without pain relief as I had stopped using it then.

Couldn´t coordinate the pushing and the gas & air!

Aw, Riven, Claw3, perhaps that was insensitive of me. Certainly didn't mean to imply that not having a happy, healthy baby was a failure.

I am a Big Fan of epidural-assisted birth (and never really got why you wouldn't have pain relief). But yes, after going through the whole process without any pain relief (not my choice!), I do feel like I want some sort of recognition for the ordeal! And not to say that the first time wasn't incredible but I didn't realise how connected I would feel to the whole birth process with the pain, hard to explain I think. Amazing to think your body can do it (with or without).

As said, would still choose Lots of pain relief next time. The feeling of euphoria/kudos/whatever not as good as the feeling of no pain IMVHO!!

Adair, no offence taken at all. My comment were not at directed you, was just kidding, i dont even like gin!

The gas and air got taken off me at the pushing stage - which is when I'd really have loved to keep going on it. Faaaabulous stuff . YANBU in that it is pain relief, but she may not have had it at the part where it really 'smarts'.

I really wanted proper, good old drug-related pain relief, but they wouldn't give it up. Noone should feel/be made to feel judged or second-best on their use or not of any pain relief. It's not always(never?)in your control.

PS. Has anyone claimed the fanjo like a bucket award yet? I think we should have a red carpet ceremony [hgrin]

YANBU but only because those who think they are fabulous for doing it without pain relief are the ones who should realise giving birth is a huge process for everyone that they should be proud of regardless of what interventions may have been needed.

I would be thrilled for her that she had a lovely birth experience but also a bit if she thought that made her or her experience superior to anyone else´s.

Some people call a drug free birth ´natural´ whereas others say any vaginal birth is natural and others say all birth is natural by dint of being a natural process in itself!

I had an epidural at about 1 cm dilated (they said 2cm but I suspect it was purely to cheer me up ) but it fell out and it took them hours and hours to realise why I still seemed to be in excruciating agony. It was eventually refitted and worked beautifully for the last few hours. So technically I probably didn´t have any pain relief, not paracetamol and no G&O til about 8cms. I still say 1 cm though! I think its a bloody badge of honour just to have got through it!!

ermm well I did have failed epidurals - they "topped it up" 7 (or was it 8 - I forget now) times before the anaesthetist had to say "sorry no more" - they thought my scar was rupturing as I was still in so much pain

Santa, dont be ridiculous, although i may be a junkie, my fanjo decreased neatly back to the size of a pea instantly and i did not piss myself everytime i coughed!

well I still have a small fanjo apparently - and I have a perfectly intact pelvic floor too

Unfortunately I have folds and creases, and stretch marks, and all the other bodily things that come with having children

The last time my sister went for a smear test, the nurse asked her what 'size' she was, as they had three sizes of speculum. The nurse then commented that after three children, hers was like 'an old welly boot'. My sister was very

LOL Santa, i havent been for a smear since dp lost his watch!

ROLF - second - I nearly spat my coffee over the keyboard at your last post

(btw don't just love how threads "morph" (no pun intended ) on MN)

LOL Second, did it echo when he said it!

thesecondcoming I hope you skewered his chipolata...

Sound like a real charmer second

I had gas and airwith my first and nothing with my second and third (I wanted it they just didnt believe i was in labour until too late!) the gas and air made practially no difference other than making me need a drink. It is pain relief but inmy opinion not very effective!

fernie - you mean a bit like taking a paracetamol for a broken leg

It took me until my 4th DC to realise that the only way to get any pain relief with gas and air was to breathe it continously .
At our hospital though G &A only usd in 1st stage ,the midwives take it away when you get to the 2nd stage.Have to say it is very weak compared to the G & A I was given to pop in a dislocated thumb ,which knocked me out completely after a couple of breaths

back to the gas and air.

I had it and tbh, I still felt the pain, I just didn't care, iyswim. I was aware that it hurt like being buggered by a cactus, I could feel that, but it didn't matter.

Strangest feeling of my life.