Gas and air - what's it like?

[mamatomanygirls]

Hi, I am due to give birth to no.4 in 7 weeks.

This time I would really like to try and avoid an epidural for various reasons. However I've always been scared of gas and air as I have a complete horror of vomiting or even feeling sick and I've heard it can make you nauseous.

What is it like? Does it really help with the pain? Does it make you feel sick and lightheaded too?

Thanks in advance.x

I also have a phobia of vomiting and for this reason I wanted to avoid g and a like the plague!

I've had 3 babies - one with an epidural and 2 with no pain relief other than tens and water. Tried g and a with no 1 I think but I was so scared of being/feeling sick I didn't really breathe it in properly.

Did you have epidurals with all your three? Do you want g and a because you feel you need something without an epidural? If you're well prepared you may find you can manage without anything at all. I did pregnancy yoga and it may sound funny but the breathing really helped me through. I found focussing on breathing takes your mind off each contraction.

Would also highly recommend a birthing pool as I found this gave good pain relief.

I hated it. Who wants to be spaced out during such a precious moment in your life. Get an epi ffs and be sober to welcome your child into this world.

Completely agree with spacegirl. I practiced yoga, visualisation and breathing for my second and was really focused. It was really manageable.

Laptop - each to their own, but I hated not being able to feel my first daughter being born (and ended up with forceps, probably as a result of ineffective pushing). I'd rather have gas and air, which wears off in seconds. Very few women are spaced out during the actual delivery, but it's a very personal thing. I don't think it's a 'ffs' matter.

It's like a double gin on an empty stomach. You don't feel very out of it and you're completely fine between contractions or as you're pushing as you don't generally need it then.

Much better than an epidural as you can feel properly how to push so much less chance of baby getting stuck or you tearing.

Sorry second, no offense intended but could just not understand the posters who loved being "spaced out " or "high" on such an occasion. I can understand the pain relief but not the high iykwim.

Love love love it :) Best thing about it for me was the fact as I'd only had gas and air with DD (she's 5months now and ACE), I was 'back in the room' straight away. I remember every last second and I felt like me IYSWIM. I also gobbled it up later when a very large obstetrician with hands like Peter Schmeichal told me he had to put his finger up my bottom. I think DH would rather have had some at that juncture too.

Laptop - I can understand that Laptop (no offence taken), but I was one of the ones who felt quite 'high' on gas and air and loved it. I would never have wanted to be spaced out for the birth itself , but by the point I got the gas and air I'd been having intense back to back contractions for 36 hours, and was only 3cm dilated. The ability to take a little 'holiday' from that was actually very good for me mentally. Mind you, I didn't get past 4cm and ended up on the syntocin with an epidural. With DD2, the labour was a much move manageable length, and I can totally relate to your sentiments then - although a probable malposition again meant that visualisation and breathing went by the wayside and shouting my head off vocalisation and strange positions were what got me through.

loved it - had it in advanced labour for both births and found it really helped with the pain of contractions, as much for having something to focus and slow down my breathing as for the analgesic effects. I did get a bit giddy and light headed but nothing too disorientating, and the effects are very short-lived.

oh, and both times it was taken away for the pushing stage, which I didn't really mind, as those contractions I didn't find nearly so painful.

I had it with DD2, only while I was in the big bath then I got out to deliver and I didn't use anything from then on. I wasn't nauseous at all. I had an epidural with DD1 and a lot of problems so I was being monitored carefully this time. I had a four-hour labour, mostly without pain relief, and no problems at all.

It's worth a try, I think.

MW took mine away just as I was pushing DC4 out

I was ready for her when I was having DC 5

I loved it, it really helped. Trick is not to overuse it though!

wish i'd known you could have anti-emetic jab in labour. I filled two bowls with my oh too recent dinner. Don't think I can blame the gas and air entirely for the puking, the room was hot and stuffy and i felt much better minus stomach contents and with windows open. It did put me off though so I took pethidine. Big mistake, progressed really quickly and was so spaced out giving birth I barely remember the nice bits ie delivering baby and it did bugger all for the pain. At least with gas and air it wears off quickly. If there's a next time I'm going to show a bit more committment and give it a serious go.

I was also sick the first time but realised quickly not to breathe in too much too fast. Knew what to do second time round and needed nothing else. Loved it and remember asking the midwife very politely both times whether I could maybe please take it home with me... They refused to let me keep it, both times

Oh, and I only started using it both times when I was 8+ cm. Apparently it works better if you don't use it too early?

Thank you all! I think I'll make up my mind on the day....it's really great to have all your advice about how it really feels.x

Love it love it love it! How can u not......!

I loved it and never felt sick. I did get a bit giggly which kept DP entertained. I agree that having something to focus on helps stress levels and breathing.

Fantastic stuff - used it all the way through with both mine. What makes it super fabulous is you can bite really hard on the mouthpiece breathing in its lovely dreamy floatyness. The effects wear off quickly so I would imagine that if you did feel sick, as soon as you stopped you would be ok???.....................No doubt someone will be along to tell me different...................................

I loved it - I ended up having an epidural in the end but still had the gas and air!

Wonderful stuff

I had the same horror of vomiting as you OP and avoided G&A in my first labour for the same reason. Was sick anyway. A lot.

Used G&A from 7cm until just before pushing stage in my second labour and it was AMAZING. I got into a really good breathing rhythm with it and it really helped me keep my mind and body relaxed. I did hypnobirthing and there is a bit of difference of opinion over whether G&A is necessary or hinders if you are using hypnobirthing techniques but I found it brilliant. Not a jot of nausea either despite v quick labour.

It didn't do anything for me at all. I took two mouthfuls and gave up. I admit that breathing through my mouth felt unnatural to me, so perhaps I gave up too soon.

I just used TENS otherwise.

I feel as though I really missed out on something. G&A sedated me a little but didn't have much effect on the pain. In other words, I still felt it but couldn't be bothered complaining about it!

Didn't make me feel sick though.