Anyone else had remifentanil for pain relief? Big fan!

[Crmmum]

I had my first baby in August in Aberdeen and had remifentinil for the last 2 hours, so worst of the contractions, pushing and stitches (urgh!). Is this available in other areas? I'd highly recommend it if it is. My baby was back to back, and I said no to an epidural, so I had a drip attached with this, which I could administer myself. It didn't take the pain away, but it made me feel like I wasn't experiencing the pain, if that makes sense. The midwife told me it was a good alternative to pethedine, and made me less likely to require forceps than an epidural does. I was told it is a new drug being used for childbirth at that particular hospital, and wandered if anyone else had used it?

We are just starting to use it at our unit but it is only being offered to women for whom epidural is not suitable.

Nice to hear perspective of someone who's used it

I had it and I thought it was awful.

I was completely off my face and unable to move for hours.

Then when it was time to push they took the fucker off me!

So I had to push for an hour (pointlessly) with no pain relief.

And I was still confused and disorientated, but now in a lot of pain and very distressed.

I had it for birth of DD at St Marys in Manchester 9 days ago. Wanted an epidural as contractions were v.painful and they were putting me on the syntocinon drip, but couldn't have one due to risk of infection (something to do with my white blood cells/platelets). It didn't take the pain away completely but definitely made it more bearable, especially alongside gas & air.

I like the fact that it is short-acting and has no effect on the baby (unlike pethedine). Having the button to press also gave me a sense of control.