Alcohol for pain relief in labour!

[Bethbe]

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

I don't think Bethbe has a drinking problem or particularly wants to drink in labour - she's merely looking at different options. We all know that it's not ok to drink and take drugs in pregnancy - yet in labour they hand drugs out freely. Consider this... if you know someone that has a couple of drinks to relax and compare that to someone that takes drugs to relax, which is worse??
I think an epidural and pethidine are pretty bad for your baby too and they last in their system a lot longer.
Obviously it would be better if you can do without any pain relief to save any ill effects on the baby, but it's good to know all the facts.
I know the risks of an epidural... labour slows/stops, you need oxytocin, baby gets stressed and then c-section, all leading to a long and slow recovery.

I agree with 3bob! I've had my own experience with social services, & you've got to be a bit naive to think they wont come down on you like a ton of bricks if you turned up pissed, fgs! With me they put me through hell because i'm an ex alcy. Thats even with me stopping when i found out i was pg. A girl i know very well drank alcohol throughout, had to have an emergency c section because of heavy blood loss at 30 weeks. The social services were definately not too understaffed to deal with her!