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Original poster

Alcohol for pain relief in labour!

152 replies

Bethbe · 23/10/2006 12:44

I'm trying to find out about use of Alcohol as pain relief for the first stage of labour and can't find a thing about it! Can anyone help?

If I feel like it I'm planning to down a half a bottle of wine (maybe more if it goes on too long), or perhaps take the odd shot! I can't find any information to say that I shouldn't........can anyone help?

Bethbe

OP posts:
Rhubarb · 23/10/2006 15:27

antidote to alcohol????? You're a scientist and you wondered if there was an antidote to alcohol????

You know, I'm kinda losing you here now!

CarolinaMooncup · 23/10/2006 17:57

Bethbe, I wonder if most people here think alcohol's a bad idea because we've been in labour and really can't imagine doing it pissed.

You can get a spacey kind of feeling in labour and you don't always have much sense of time passing, so it's not a million miles away from feeling drunk anyway .

My NCT teacher recommend one glass of wine in the very early stages to help relax, but I can't say I fancied even that when the time came.

As people have said, you don't know how long it's going to take. You'd be better off keeping your wits about you IMHO.

Blandmum · 23/10/2006 18:01

I felt quite queasy in labour, and the last thing I'd have wanted was booze!

zippitippitoes · 23/10/2006 18:05

also the time in labour (not sure there is one to be honest) when you might drink is highly unlikely to be a normal time to drink so it's not really a plan ..ie would you want half a bottle of wine and a whiskey for breakfast or 2 hours after going to bed?

Blu · 23/10/2006 18:09

We went out for dinner when I was on the earliest stages of labour, and I had a glass of wine, but that's part of remaining relaxed and confident, not about using alcohol to deal with pain. However labour and birth progress, you don't want to be sick and dizzy on booze when you first look into your newborn baby's little face!

madmarchscare · 23/10/2006 18:12

Blimey, I would hate to think what would have happened if I had been drinking. No pethadine, no epidural, would I have had a crash section. How would that have worked?

I see how you might wonder Bethbe, but really its a no brainer surely.

MKG · 23/10/2006 18:23

My hypnobirthing teacher told us it was ok to have beer in the last few weeks to help us relax, but I would spend the whole time worrying about how it would affect the baby.

Bethbe-I know that you don't really buy into anything without proof and I respect that, but whatever you take in the baby takes from you. Would you give a newborn wine or beer in a bottle? If you wouldn't, than don't drink while pregnant. Aren't you worried about FAS?

Also giving birth takes energy . . . you sweat like a pig. You need to make sure that you eat and drink things that will give you energy. Not slow you down.

Piffle · 23/10/2006 18:24

FAS would not occur from half a bottle of wine in the first stage of labour...
I've no sci evidence to back that up but am fairly certain..

mears · 23/10/2006 18:35

Bethbe - in the 'olden days', alcohol used to be given to women who were in pretwrm labour because it seemed to stop contractions.

You will not find any research about alcohol use in the first stages of labour as I don't think that research propsal would pass an ethics committee

I personally do not think that a glass of winein early labour would be a problem. Not so comfortable about 1/2 a bottle i have to say.

The main problem I can see is that the maternity services are not that impressed with drunk women in labour (have seen a few). They are often abusive and unco-operative which is not conducive to a good labour experience. Isn't a good idea incase an operative delivery and anaesthetic is required.

Stick to birthing ball, TENS machine, baths and paracetamol. They are known to be effective research wise. Good luck.

MKG · 23/10/2006 18:50

Piffle,

I know that a glass of wine in early labor probably won't have any affect on FAS.

"I drink only 1-2 glasses of wine a week, and the occassional half pint!"

I was referring the that statement. I'm in the US and don't know what the recommendations are in the UK, but if I told that to my OB she would be down my throat about it.

Bethbe, I got this quote from the CDC website here in the US.

"There is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant and there also does not appear to be a safe time to drink during pregnancy either."

spookegypt · 23/10/2006 19:51

she is drinking the max recommendation in the UK MKG

spookegypt · 23/10/2006 19:52

not that i'm condoning it or otherwise, just thought you might like to know what it is.

Piffle · 23/10/2006 19:54

MKG never saw that statement
The UK maximum recommended in pregnancy is
1-2 units 1-2 x a week
Which she is within the limits for
I also drink occasionally
I know the attitude in the US is far more stern
Interesting how the newborn mortality rates differ though...

moaningpaper · 23/10/2006 19:56

Bethbe I tried to find out about this too

In the end I drank three beers when I went into labour and ate a pizza

It definitely relaxed me - I don't think that half a bottle of wine would be a problem. Just make sure you drink water too so you are hydrated

I would definitely do it again

Spidermama · 23/10/2006 20:03

Wouldn't it be counter productive?
Rather like saying you want to drink half a bottle of wine before running the marathon to ease the pain.

moaningpaper · 23/10/2006 20:07

It depends what your aim is

For me, I just wanted to relax a bit because the first time I was soooo stressed when I went into labour

The second time, a few beers so I was a leetle bit pissed, a 1980's show on MTV and a pizza and I was tres chilled

I'm sure it helped

MKG · 23/10/2006 20:11

Piffle,
I think our mortality rate is so high because minorities and low-income groups often are left without health care. Here if you don't have health care through your job and don't qualify for government assisstance you are left with no choices. Insurance is too expensive to pay out of pocket. Therefore many women do not get prenatal care.

I don't think it has anything to do with health recommendations.

Original poster
Bethbe · 23/10/2006 23:45

Thanks Mears for the advice!

I'm not planning to get drunk, - I want to be as in control but relaxed as possible!

Not sure I like the idea of possibly slowing the contractions either, - as this might lead to interference that might not be needed otherwise!

The UK recommended intake during pregnancy (which I feel is another issue entirely to use during labour) changes constantly and whilst I'm aware of FAS, It doesn't apply to drinkers in general, but to excessive drinkers!

I don't want to get into a drink or not during pregnancy debate as I believe this is something entirely different and would probably go on for years.

However, I, personally do not see drinking as a risk for the LO, but I realise that others think that it is a risk not worth taking and respect that - I on the otherhand think that becoming a neurotic mother not drinking/breathing in car fumes/gardening/eating certain foods/going out/having a life is a risk not worth taking, but that is my opinion and I recognise that it is personal!

OP posts:
Original poster
Bethbe · 23/10/2006 23:50

Actually, I'm perfectly happy with the 'don't hoover' advice!

Spider: I would never run a marathon

Moaning: Did you end up in the labour ward drunk?

OP posts:
moaningpaper · 24/10/2006 08:48

lol no I didn't arrive drunk

It was many hours before I had to go into hospital - and frankly the long minutes while you wait for the midwife to give you your x-cm-dilated score would probably sober anyone up pronto

but it definitely helped relax me for the first stage and ease the terrifying shock of oh-my-god-I-am-in-labour and I would deffo do it again

Original poster
Bethbe · 24/10/2006 09:01

Moaning: Thanks for your 'sobering' advice!

Guess I just need to be careful! Don't want to end up in the labour ward being uncooperative and difficult, or with contractions slowing down, but I still think having a bit to drink should be okay!! - providing I feel like it at the time!

Perhaps I'll add pizza to that!

OP posts:
Pruni · 24/10/2006 10:33

Message withdrawn

purpleluce · 25/10/2006 07:38

Bethbe

Saw your reference to this posting at weekend and enjoyed reading it. I am with you to be honest - you are not talking about getting pissed and lets face it the amount of alcohol that can be drunk without getting pissed by an individual varies (Ok, OK don't start slating me about how much will go to the baby) but ultimately depending on our size and tolerance even during pregnancy means that we will have different efficiencies of metabolising it.

Also - and I know this isn't the debate here, I have to say the general...US are even worse I agree view that you can't have more than one unit a week of alcohol now without risking FAS really irritated me during preg as I couldn't find the definitive rates of risk caused by drinking say a unit a night (as many working mums are in the habit of) It just seemed to go back to the usual story of- you haven't had the child yet so feel guilty about being a bad mother again already.

Incidently, the only definitive study I did find was that FAS (syndrome not spectrum) occured in 33% of children born to mothers who consumed 50+ units a week. That is still a 2/3 chance of not (!) and not sure I managed 50 units a week even at Uni.................!

Sorry for rant, but I am with the person who said they want to know the facts not the simplistic, lowest common demoninator scare stories.

There are lots of people who abuse their bodies who are blessed with perfectly healthy babies and there are others who have lived their pregnancies like saints and have babies with problems - cause and effect is not always clear

purpleluce · 25/10/2006 07:41

Sorry (it's early) having said that, I am on my second here, if I had had a glass of wine with dinner (quite likely) and went into labour I wouldn't worry.

However, I wouldn't actually choose it as my pain relief of choice in the early stages of labour. I used tens which was really helpful - gave me something to focus on espec if you get the ones with the pulse, breathing exercises, walking, lavender. All the usual stuff!

We did a 3 mile walk in early labour with my dd and did go to the pub but I didn't fancy a drink anyway!

HauntedsandCastle · 25/10/2006 07:57

So what if you need a c-section? Don't think that woud happen if you are under the influance!

Not to mention that alcohol thins the blood, therefore making healing more prolonged!

I would be surprised if you are let to do this by the delievery team!