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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Meptid experiences

11 replies

islandbaby · 12/11/2010 18:13

Hi all

the maternity unit I am hoping to go to doesn't use Pethadine, only meptid.

Can anyone tell me how this drug was for them? What stage did you use it at, and how effective it was?

Am HOPING not to use any pain relief other than gas and air, but am certainly not going to turn down anything stronger if it comes to it.

OP posts:

MegBusset · 12/11/2010 18:18

I used it with DS2 when I was pretty close to demanding an epidural (after 23hrs of labour)

It made FA difference tbh but put me off the epidural long enough for me to be ready to push, about 20 mins after the Meptid

Pethidine with DS1 completely knocked me out, and I'm sure contributed to me needing an epidural later on.

G&A is great stuff so hope it works for you :)

rockinmum · 12/11/2010 19:52

Hiya

I had meptid with my daughter and it knocked me clean out for about 1.5 hours lol.

My husband finally got the chance to leave the room and get something to eat apparently.

Have you had pethidine before then? How was baby on it? OUr hospital only gives you gas and air then pethidine or morphine. NO chance of an epidural or anything else, but was concerned after reading about the effect it can have on the baby. :)

EthelredOnAGoodDay · 12/11/2010 22:59

i had meptid when i was about 2 cm (had been in the hosp for 6 hours by this stage, but not in 'established' labour . Felt as though it didn't touch the sides, but my waters broke about 10 mins after they gave me it and then within 2 hours i was in established labour and demanding an epidural. i did actually manage without an epi, as went in the pool for the rest of the labour and can thoroughly reccomend that; combined with G&A it was WAY better than the meptid!

good luck.

WidowWadman · 13/11/2010 12:43

I had Meptid, because G&A did nothing for me when I was on the drip and I really really didn't want Pethidine. It took the pain away and I had a clear head (unlike G&A, which only made me drowsy but didn't do anything for the pain).

Sarahlou8 · 13/11/2010 16:00

I've had meptid with all three of mine.

I tend to shake quite a lot when in established labour and meptid stops this and left me feeling very calm although not drowsy although it didn't take the pain away at all. However I don't think its meant to, it just relaxes you.
I was given it at 6cm dilated, just as i was seriously contemplating the epidural that I really didn't want. It got me through till the end.
It had no effect on my little girl either, she was born awake and alert and fed with no problems within minutes - something that doesn't always happen with pethidine.

browntown · 13/11/2010 22:32

I had meptid on the advice of my midwife who gave me the choice of meptid or pethidine - I said I didn't know so she made the choice for me.
It made my lips feel funny, and after four hours of labour crawling around on the floor in tears I actually managed to have a conversation with the midwife and my husband between contractions.
DD was delivered within 10 mins of me actually getting the injection (we didn't know it was so close at the time otherwise I/they wouldn't have bothered). But I felt absolutely fine and 'with it' afterwards and was able to breastfeed.

systemsaddict · 13/11/2010 22:40

Had a couple of doses of Meptid about 24 hours into a slow induced labour and loved it! I had just got to the not-coping stage and it gave me enough rest and took the edge off enough to get through a bit longer, then an epi in the end. I am a big fan of the opiate painkillers after all that!

MiniMarmite · 14/11/2010 19:31

I had meptid just a few days ago when having my second. My reasons for doing so was that I had given birth to DS1 with gas and air but he was back to back and the final stage was very painful and ended with a ventouse delivery at which point I was made to put the G&A down (as is common practice for pushing anyway I believe) so I was left with no pain relief at all.

DS2 was also known to be back to back and I didn't want to go through this with no pain relief again. I chose meptid because it is considered to have very few side effects for mum and baby (e.g. it doesn't make the baby as drowsy as pethidine).

My midwife timed administration very well by giving it about 20 minutes before she thought I would be ready to push but I felt that it didn't really make a lot of difference - delivery was hugely painful but it is likely to have taken the edge of enough for me to get the job done!

MiniMarmite · 14/11/2010 19:32

p.s. mine was a drip-induced labout

Original poster

islandbaby · 15/11/2010 00:35

Thank you for all your responses. I hadn't heard much about it, before so that is all interesting.

OP posts:

carlyvita · 18/11/2010 15:34

The side effects are supposed to better for baby than pethadine. Most NHS only supply it on request generally as it costs 10 times more too!

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