Gas and air and pushing

[Awhiteelephantintheroom]

I am 20 weeks pregnant with #4 and starting to think about the birth now...

With both my first children I had epidurals, and gas and air with my third baby. When it came to the pushing stage the gas and air had run out so I had to push without it, meaning my second stage was very painful.

The G&A provided good pain relief and I'd like to use it for the pushing stage this time too, but I was just wondering, how?? Do I take a few puffs at the beginning of a contraction, or do I keep the gas in my mouth and push as I breathe out the gas, and take a puff before each push? I am a bit nervous about the pushing part so want to try and get the best pain relief possible for it.

Sorry if this seems an odd question, I asked my midwife and she just said to "go with it" at the time.

I used mine to breathe - in through mouth (piece) , out through nose. I think MW said it takes 30 seconds (?) to take affect, so big breathe in when you think contraction is coming.... for pushing I think I did sort of that, big breathe in when MW said one was coming, then big push. You will develop your own little routine/system. :)

Hi, I had just G&A at the pushing stage (thankfully it hadn't run out!) and I think I refused to let go of the mouthpiece the entire time I was pushing. Every breath I took, I inhaled G&A and exhaled back into the mouthpiece. It was my lifeline! When the time comes, you will just "go with it" as your midwife said. If the midwife thinks you're getting too spaced out to push effectively, she might try to take it away from you though - I swore at mine and tried to slap her when she did this, and she didn't try again

Congratulations - and giving birth for the 4th time too, I'm in awe!

big deep breathes, fill your lungs :)

My gas and air was taken from me so it wouldn't distract me from pushing, meaning I had to do it with no pain relief!!! Evil mws!!! They had already denied me an epidural. Grrrrr

I was told it wouldn't help with the pushing so told not to use it. With DS however I was given it back and told to suck on it everytime I needed to push to try and stop me pushing before the EMCS.

Yes, I just kept the mouthpiece clenched between my teeth and the breathing took care of itself. First time the MW took it from me (as with SarahScot), second time I just hung on. It kind of took care of itself, really, no special form of breathing. Oh, and I had it back again for the stitching afterwards too - could really enjoy the gas and air properly then with no contractions (wink)

oh that winking face didn't work...

I always used it/bit on to it when in the pushing stage, i don't think it helped much to be honest.

I had an epidural with my 4th and still used the g&a, it was a security thing, it made me feel better! The doctor thought i was mad though

Gosh that stuff was mad though, i remember believing that the telly and heart monitors were ganging up against me. I also had a craving for m&m's when on it, i used to plead for them between gasping it in.

goodness i am sniggering like a child just thinking about G&A now!

you thought you were on the TV???

My midwife told me it wasn't really much use during the pushing stage, and it can in fact take your attention/effort off the pushing.

She attempted to take it off me (but failed!). I kept the mouth piece in my mouth and just bit down on it rather than inhaled. Found it helped.