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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Pethidine or Gas and Air which made me go bonkers?!!

37 replies

sarahhal · 23/08/2005 16:52

Just thinking about my birth plan for number 2 due in three weeks. I had a quick (5 hr) labour with DS and managed with gas and air and pethedine. I did however feel totally out of control, had no idea how to push and was convinced they were using a trumpet instead of a ventouse to deliver my baby! I'm keen to feel more in control this time and without the orchestra - anyone know whether it was likely to be the G&A or the pethedine which made me so spacey? I'm not actually convinced that the pethedine made any difference to the pain relief so am more than likely to avoid it this time anyway.

OP posts:

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sweetkitty · 23/08/2005 17:01

I had a 4 hour labour with DD and only had G+A I felt pretty out of it most of the time, felt like my body and the baby took over and I was a bystander. I did know I had to push (despite midwives telling me it was too early) and despite begging for epidural/caesarian/death at the time I knew that if I pushed the pain would go. I think when you are in that much pain you're not really with it anyway. The G+A was great for the stitches afterwards though!

ninah · 23/08/2005 17:23

It must've been the pethidine, gas and air made me feel sick so had pethidine mainly, made me crazy in a good way, shouting how much I lurved dp etc
On reflection maybe I should have injection now, before I go home

kid · 23/08/2005 17:27

I had gas and air which made me feel drunk! I found that if I used too much of it, I felt out of control so I concentrated on just using it as the contraction started. As the contraction faded so did the effects of the gas and air.

peaceandlight · 23/08/2005 18:01

I felt was completely off it on the pethedine and vowed never to have it again. So, with my second ds i had gas and air and was much better.

bubblerock · 23/08/2005 18:13

I had pethidine & gas & air with DS1 and was off my head - the birth was still painful and I felt totally out of control - I also threw up afterwards.

With DS2 I just had gas and air which took the edge off the pain but I was much more in control and was able to feel more - it was a wonderful experience and I can remember it clearly not like a hazy alcohol fuelled party - and I didn't throw up after which was a bonus

LilacLotus · 23/08/2005 18:16

pethidine made me lose control and the gas and air (which had been great for 25 hours) didn't work anymore when i'd had the injection. DP had to decide to get me an epidural as i had completely lost it and i was rolling on the floor.

Kidstrack2 · 23/08/2005 18:19

Maybe a combination of both! I felt pretty much out of it and not in control first time round. Second time round I just had gas and air with no injection and felt very much in control!

Spoo · 23/08/2005 19:09

I had G and A and did not have the feeling to 'push'. However, I put this down to the fact he had the cord wrapped around his neck and hence I did not feel the pressure. I had to have Forceps. What was the reason for your assisted delivery? I am convinced that the reason I did not feel the urge to push was because of DS's head not applying pressure due to the cord.

champs · 23/08/2005 19:12

hi! i had G&A and felt like i was going mad. I was all over the place. felt out of control at times and also like everything was in slow motion. have never had pethidine so don't know how that would make someone feel.

Original poster

sarahhal · 23/08/2005 19:31

Spoo, I had to have ventouse delivery as his heart beat dipped with every contraction. I didn't get the urge to push either just huge amounts of pressure which made me convinced I was going to be the first woman in the world to give birth out of my bottom!!!!

OP posts:

steffee · 23/08/2005 19:57

I had pethedine with the first two and felt out of control with both. The first I was terrified because I didn't know what was happening, or what to do. The second, I wrote in my birth plan that I didn't want pethedine, but ended up with it anyway. I remember saying to the midwife "am I supposed to push now" as I didn't have a clue, and she looked worried and got another midwife in.

The third I just had G&A and loved it!

milosmum · 23/08/2005 20:20

i also has gas and air, which i was fine with but then the mw gave me a shot of pethadine and at that piont i became truely detached from the whole situation. i really would nt have it again as i, personally, feel it really ruined my birth experience with ds.... hope yours goes well

Frizbe · 23/08/2005 20:40

I think I just got the pethadine at the right time, as apart from a quick waffle, where I double checked someone hadn't just offered me a lamb roast dinner, I was fine! G&A made me sick, so will be going with pethadine this time round too!

Katemum · 23/08/2005 20:56

Gas and air sent me loopy, no idea where i was and was talking absoloute rubbish.

KiwiKate · 23/08/2005 21:43

Hi Sarahhal - I only had G&A with first baby (second due just a couple of days before yours!).

Found G&A BRILLIANT. I used it very sparingly (at the peak of contraction only), so inbetween was breathing normally, totally in control and aware of everything around me.

My labour was also pretty quick, and I was really glad I didn't have any other drugs - especially as mw decided that she was going to arrange an epidural which I did not ask for, did not want and did not need. DH had to fight her off for me (what a hero). Needless to say, we have a new mw for this baby.

This time round I am planning a water birth (if poss). I've heard that really helps with the pain for most women. Am keeping options open about other pain relief (you never know how it might go), but would prefer either nothing or just G&A if poss.

Flossam · 23/08/2005 21:46

I felt no more off my head with the gas and air than I did when I was fully dilated and ready to push before they bloody gave me the stuff. It's the pain I tell ye, not the drugs!!

Now, thats made you feel so much better hasn't it? Seriously, the G and A made me off my head during the stitches. But I breathed it continously only to break off for lovely giggles!

starshaker · 23/08/2005 22:03

gas and air was great asked if i could take some home they said no this was all i used but labour was only 3 1/2 hours

misdee · 23/08/2005 22:05

i have no idea what i said with gas and air, i was out of it baby!!

mummyhill · 24/08/2005 08:33

I used gas and air and did not feel out of control, just a little light headed till they added pethedine to the equation which made me really out of control. Will not be using it in a fortnights time.

greenbean · 24/08/2005 09:16

I overused G&A with 1st dd and felt totally out of it. With 2nd dd, used tens machine for most of labour and then just a bit of G&A towards the end. this was 12 years ago.

Bozza · 24/08/2005 09:17

This is my opinion only.

But if I was you I would avoid pethidine this time round if you can. You had a quick first labour so the chances are that your second one might be even quicker and they advise avoiding pethidine in the latter stages because of the potential effect on the baby. Gas and air might make you feel out of control etc but you can always stop taking it at any point whereas once the pethidine is in your system you have to wait for it to wear off. I think its more likely the pethidine that made you spaced out - it is a strong drug.

I only had gas and air with DS and felt out of control but even before I'd started taking the drug - its partly your body taking over and being in the hospital environment. I had DD at home with just a few puffs of g&a and was much more in control - the lovely midwife was very supportive but let me set the pace.

TuttiFrutti · 24/08/2005 09:49

I hated pethidine - it made me feel really spaced out and druggy, and not in a good way. I was standing up when I had it and had to quickly get onto a bed so that I wouldn't fall on the floor. Not a nice experience.

I've never had G&A so can't compare the two, but friends who've had it say it was a big help.

bambi06 · 24/08/2005 09:49

DEFFO PETHIDINE...

Harrizeb · 24/08/2005 15:46

Hi, I had G&A and pethadine, after getting the injection I fell asleep and slept for 4 hours and through 4 cm's of dilating.
I was having G&A at the same time DH was watching the monitor and every time a contraction came was putting the mask on my face and telling me to breath. - Really have very little recollection of anything until I really had to push and was told that I couldn't and had to fight it. I do remember being told to breath, taking a deep breath and thinking I am breathing what are you talking about?

The birth was a daze and was totally spaced out afterwards, and felt like I was about 5 minutes out of time with everyone else.

Water birth and G&A next time for me.

H x

Harrizeb · 24/08/2005 15:50

Should have added this to my post. I did find having water running over my tummy a real help, I got to 6 cm's doing this. Didn't think about it at the time, but could use the shower head in the bath to do it - DH was sat with a jug pouring water over my tummy..

H x

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