"you can't have G&A yet cos you're only 5cm"

[glovesoflove]

That's bollocks isn't it? Any midwives be able to explain if it is true?

It is horrendous when women are not taken seriously during this very stressful time. In some other countries things like epidurals are given prior to a patient feeling excruiating pain so that the woman can have a positive pain free experience if that is what they choose.

Birth should be led by the women labouring, not anyone else. HCP's are there to assist, advise and monitor. If a woman chooses to have no pain relief, then let that be her choice. By the same token if a woman chooses to have every type of pain relief available and start it at the first tinge of pain they should have that as well.

"but it's something that should be discussed with the woman so that she can make an informed choice".

And that is hitting the nail on the head. The trouble is it just doesn't seem to happen.

Eg I have had diamorphine. I hated it. I used it when my son was stillborn and I am certain the loss of control would cause me serious amounts of anxiety. I would much rather have gas and air and take my chances with the problems that might cause and I resent the attitude that "MW always knows best" (not from you Viva).

I am an intelligent adult. I expect to be treated like one.

I had G&A before I was even properly in labour because they broke my waters to induce me and it hurt! I didn't let go of it after that.

Sorry you went through that Starlight

The only thing I will say is that sometimes the midwife does have her hands tied due to hospital policy. Ie no gas and ait until 4cm.

But if thats the reason why its refused then that needs explaining to the woman along with what other options there are.

If I'd known the reason I'd been refused gas and air early on in labour I'd have asked for it later instead of an epidural. Then I'd have have been more mobile and progressed better and maybe would have avoided the section. So I completly empathise. Was 10 years ago and still upsets me.

What did you use in your labour/s Viva?

Sorry xposts

When I went into hospital I was 5cm. I asked straight away for the epidural, which they arranged as soon as possible, and in the meantime gave me gas & air. I thought that should be fairly normal...

Starlight - no you wouldn't. No gas and air or epidurals until 4cm, its hospital policy and I can't go against it. You wouldn't even be on labour ward at 2cm so no chance.

You might be on a labour ward at 2cm Viva, taken up at 1cm.

I was

viva what about induction? i was expect ed to go through my third day/night of no sleep with a synto drip and no epidural. i never got past 3cm.

glove i am with you re the blessed treat of the em cs. it was fantastic. why do they torture us when itnis quite clear what the result is going to be? i know so manynwomen who've been through 'failed' induction, when it was quiite clear it wasn't going to work. I think the mws know it too, is why they starve us in case of op.

And I'm not saying its right at all. But there are limited beds, we struggle for space on labour ward and they are strict most of the time about the 4cm rule.

If someone was very distressed at 2cm it would be diamorphine/pethidine or a bath and oral analgesia or nothing.

I also spent a night on labour ward with G&A because they over stimulated my cervix with the pessary and I was in agony.

Viva are you just talking about your hospital or in general?

At 9cm dilated (and 15 mins from DD being born)I was moved out of assessment room and into labour room and the mw finally said "were you wanting any pain relief?"... yes please that would be nice.

Memoo - I can only say what happens where I work and in 7 years I've never known anyone go to labour ward at 1cm. If people come in from home and are 1cm they're sent home.

I wasn't allowed gas and air until 5cm even though I was being induced. I was given diamorphine instead when I started crying ( I was upsetting the other patients on the ward and the children who were visiting)

Anyway three days later, emcs

Fishie - synto inductions are a bit different, you'd be mroe likely to get an epidural then (where I work). There isn't the worry about epidural making contractions die off as the idea is that the synto will make the contractions carry on. Obviously didn't work for you.

You'd already be on labour ward and being monitored so ideally would be having one to one care so more likely to be allowed an epidural. Cos thats one thing where I work, women sometimes can't have epidurals as there aren't enough midwives to provide one to one care thats needed if you have an epidural.

Oh no please don't tar us all with the same brush. I would encourage any women to use G & A at any stage. Epi better after at least 3cm and even better still later to avoid cascade of intervention. However i would never refuse any womnan anything she wanted. Sometimes women do want an epi at transition and often we can work through it but would never say NO. How cruel. Please don't take such a dim view in light of a few awful experiences.

Blimey Viva, I'm glad I didn't have to give birth where you work!