Pregant with 2nd, how do you use gas and air "properly"

[GothMummy]

Hi, I had a home birth with my first, the gas and air ran out so I was without it for a while till some more arrived,.. so I did the worst bit of the labour with no pain releif at all. Im going into hospital to have my second, as I dont want to risk G&A running out again! But I keep reading about using G&A properly. No one ever told me how to use it, so Im not sure I was doing it right.

Can someone elighten me before I find myself back in labour! Thanks!

I read somewhere that it takes 30 seconds to kick into your system. So inhale at the very start of the contraction, and use the mouthpiece to exhale and inhale until the end of the contraction. This should ensure the pain relief is in place for the worst part of each contraction, and then you can breathe normally between without the mouthpiece until the next contraction kicks in.

Good luck! :)

breath it early, breathe it deep, and breath it slowly.

it gives you a fabulous 'disconnect' from the pain, much like being so blotto drunk that you are drifting in and out of consciousness, but with the bonus of making all the effects go away when the contraction is over, leaving you normal.

I found the most useful part of the G&A was having something hard to bite against!! The midwife had to prise it out of my jaw when the first canister ran out!

It did seem to work well when I took long, deep breaths though so that's what I'm planning to do next time. I agree though, no one told me how best to use it - I wonder why?

coldtits is right. And the midwife told me that I should use it about 30 seconds before I need to. So as soon as I felt a contraction start. I loved the stuff!

Take a big deep breath as soon as you feel the pain start then think of blowing the pain away as you breath out through the mouth piece, keep doing it until the contraction passes. It's good as it helps to have something to focus on.

As soon as you feel the first twinge or tightness of a contraction starting, it's time to start breathing in your G&A. Big slow deep breaths and breathe it out. Keep going until the pain has gone. The breathing out is just as important so you get good exchange of the gases in your lungs. Takes a bit of practice sometimes. Persevere even if it doesn't feel like much the first few times you do it

OK, thanks, I definately did it wrong then, I took a gasp at the beginning of the contraction, took the mouthpeice out and breathed in and out normally during the crescendo of the contraction, then put it back on to take the next gasp at the beginning of the next contraction. I didnt think of breating in and out of the mouthpeice during the contraction like darth vader ;)

I wonder why the midwife didnt mention that I was doing it wrong? I definately didnt get that "disconnect" feeling with the gas and air and this perhaps explains why!!

Thanks again, I feel more prepared now!

I don't really have anything to add about technique as it has been explained very well by the ladies above - but I do have a question - how long does the gas and air last at a homebirth then?? I don't want to run out!

Yes I was totally using it wrong. I was using it at start of contraction and then stopping (for some reason I thought this was what you were supposed to do.)

Midwife told me to keep on sucking on the G&A the whole way through contraction. Thank goodness as was much better pain relief, pretty effective actually.

PS I realise that makes me sound like ab idiot!

Moog72 I dont know how long G&A lasts at an average home birth but my midwifes brought 1 cannister which ran out but then I was in labour for over 25 hours at home with the midwifes present (had been in labour without midwives for some hours previously to that).

If you are planning to have a home birth do ask what happens if you run out of G&A, and if anyone will bring any more cannisters or if theres a limit. I remember being told that one was all I was allowed and throwing a strop, and I started saying I was going to drive to the hospital to pick some more up!!

Phone calls were made and another midwife did arrive with a second cannister after some time. I have no idea how long it took to arrive though it felt like years.

Thanks I do feel more prepared now that I know how to use it properly this time/

Moog I seem to remember another midwife bought a second canister with her when they changed over. I sure they were talking about dh picking one up if mw2 didn't have one but can't be 100% on that.

I would add that I think gas and air is the perfect pain relief for childbirth - it works when you need it to, and wears off quickly when you need it to, it distances you from the pain so you're not scared, but you can still feel the pain so that you know when to push etc. I think it's amazing stuff!