how much gas and air for home birth

[lancarra]

I had a home birth with my 3rd and am expecting a 4th 33wks pregnant, the last time the midwife had not checked the cylinders they were empty and it was agony. She put me in our quite narrow bath and he got a bit stuck the pain was really bad I have not been able to have a bath since it was 3yrs ago(I do use shower!). We live 10 miles from hospital and the ambulance would not attend, all the midwife said was 'you will have these home has thankfully retired. It is convienient for me to have a home birth as we have no family near and the rest of it was ok but I am getting really nervous,has anyone had meptid at home and how many cylinders should I ask for ,the midwife is aware of the situation.

Sorry can't help on quantity as paramedics turned up with G&A at my homebirth - they were called as midwife wasn't sure she'd make it in time

If current midwife is aware of what happened last time then hopefully she will check, check and double check! Also may be worth mentioning it when you call the ward in labour.

Not sure if that helps.

you can also ask your doc for a prescription for pethidine

you must have been very traumatised.....ensure that the midwife knows what happened, and that you have the cylinders checked, also, you can try tens for pain relief too?

I do remind her every time I see her which is not often! twice in fact, I just don't want it to run out those small ones don't hold very much.

I did briefly try a tens for my first I don't think I used it enough to see if it worked, are they effective?

no personal experience, but have heard that they are good..you need to keep it on and keep cranking it up! not take it off too soon ! so not ideal if you want to use water as pain relief too ! , there have been a few thread on this

you could consider hiring a birth pool

I used TENS with both of mine.
Not sure if it was effective with DD but wasn't on for very long and I never turned it up.
Was definitely effective with DS (my homebirth), I kept cranking it up which took edge off pain (possibly because you have a strange buzzing thing going on as well!!). It also gives you something else to focus on. Took it off for last 15mins when G&A turned up.

I am looking at la bassine I used water with my 2nd and it did help I dont remember having so much pain that time, It would have to be put up when I am in labour otherwise the other 3 would be in it!

hi Lancarra, poor you last time! I can remember panicking mightily during my HB when one canister of G&A ran out and they seemed to be faffing forever to get the other one sorted. I can remember then saying "we're going to have to ration this" - not what i wanted to hear!! Just wanted to say that there was enough but then it ran out when they were stitching me up and i absolutely howled so yes, make a fuss and make sure they have enough.
All the best

Luckily I have never had any stitches I think that would have been the last straw!

so what pain relief is available for a home birth? just pethidine, g&a, tens and obv water if you have a pool?

I think when I had homebirths that they brought two canisters of G&A. Pethidine is also available, but you may need to arrange it though your GP.

really i didn't know that it wasn't widely available.

My GP would not prescribe meptid, so I would have had to change Dr's to get it. I was left with just gas & air & guess what - the midwife was struggling to get it working. I'd asked her to bring it in just incase, but lukily, didn't need it. I'd practiced hyptobirthing, which for me was basically deep relaxation and a breathing technique, which were very usefull. We also kept the lights very dim.
Aparently meptid is better quality drug than pethedine, and I was told to insist on it if I was is hostpital.
Try and stay calm!

some GPs will write a prescription for pethidine

BUT as loopymumsy has said, simply being at home, comfortable and able to move and vocalise as you need is a great help in managing pain

Hmmm... I must say, being in my home environment, lights dimmed, my mum & partner supporting me, huge bath (exactly what I wanted & had planned for) didn't seem to stop the pain being any less painful TBH. At one point I clearly remember being so demented by agony that I was thinking "Right. There are 4 other people in this room, perhaps if I can distract them I can get down to the kitchen & top myself with the breadknife & no one will notice....".
For what it's worth, we ran out of gas & air at one point & my mum was dispatched off to the hospital to get some more. I got through that cylinder as well, & could probably have managed another one. If you can get any other sort of pain relief on prescription, get as much of it as you possibly can IMO!
Having said all that, I don't want to suggest thtat home birth isn't a wonderful thing if you feel confident and happy about it. I'd certainly do it again.

Fair point LM, but it for me it felt totally unmanageable - although I haven't given birth in hosptial so nothing to judge my experience against. I had been going to active birth yoga classes for 30 weeks of my pregnancy, so felt quite well prepared psychologically & spiritually. Anyway, don't wan't to hijack thread & I wish lancarra lots of good luck & love. X

I had him on 11/4 used 5 bottles of entonox and an injection of meptid!. He took a while to come out because he had a hand on his head! I did not get torn but am very bruised inside, but all is well.

congratulations !! delighted to hear of LO;s safe arrival..lots of arnica now !