what.pain relief did you use and at what stage?

[UptownFunk00]

I had my DD2 last week was just curious when/if people used pain relief and if so how far along?

I started active labour about 9pm Monday night and had DD2 at 12.20 on Wednesday afternoon. I wasn't confirmed established until 3am on Wednesday.

Started Gas and air at 4cm and then epidural at 6ish about an hour and a half later.

Just interested in others experiences.

1st labour I used tens for early labour, paracetamol & warm baths. Then used gas & air for contractions when I got to mlu at 4cm, had to wait 2 hours before I was 'allowed' in the pool but had to get out after half an hour as I was involuntary pushing with every contraction. Then got scared & asked for pethedine (was in transition) but luckily baby arrived before they were able to give it to me.

With my 2nd, home water birth, I only used breathing & only just made it into the water in time as my husband insisted on waiting for the mw to arrive to start filling up the pool & I was 8cm at that stage so I laboured whilst limboing to keep my bump in the water. Not quite as relaxed as I was hoping for but I felt a lot calmer & in control (well of my body, clearly not In control of the birth pool!) & not at all scared. But did make sure mw had set the gas & air up ready in case I changed my mind & wanted to use It.

I was lucky to have 2 quick straight forward labours

dd1 I had everything going, was an induced labour of a back to back 9lb 4.5 oz baby.

dd2, used a tens machine and stayed home until I was 7 cm. Ended up having a dose and a half of pethidine and she was born 4 hours later. Again back to back and 9lb 9.5oz. Wanted a water birth and to avoid drugs but was refused water birth due to spd (on crutches), still miffed by hospital midwifes refusal.

I was 3 cm for at least 12 hours and finally got given pethidine as I was up all night (and the night before with early labour pains) so I could sleep a bit. Then some pills but they did nothing. When got nearer the end I got gas and air but was refused epidural beacuse they were busy. Thanks for that. And the mw took the g&a away when I was pushing (hour and half)

Nothing for dd and ds. Waiting to see for no 3! Was lucky as first 2 early.

Gas and air for about 60 - 90 mins of a 2 hour labour with ds1.
Nothing with ds2 as he was too quick.

I was induced with pessary and synto drip. Started with gas and air at about 4cm-5cm dilated, but it made me really sick, so I gave up on it and battled through after that. Luckily my labour and delivery was only 3 hours long! If I'd had the average 8-12 hour labour, I highly doubt I would have managed without something else!