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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

induced labour and pethidine as pain killer

37 replies

user1491067594 · 25/04/2017 05:50

I am going to be induced on the 38th week which is next week as baby is getting bigger due to GD. this is my first pregnancy and I'm thinking of having pethidine as pain killer instead of epidural but I'm worried that pethidine won't be enough. Does any mums here experience induction with just pethidine as pain killer.

OP posts:
DirtyDancing · 25/04/2017 08:45

Just a heads up it crosses the placenta

MrsBellefleur · 25/04/2017 08:46

I was told pethadine wouldn't help me with the pain but it would help me relax. Ran out of time to try it though so that's my full knowledge of it I'm afraid!

SprogletsMum · 25/04/2017 08:48

I had an induction with the drip with no pain relief. I've had 3 not induced labours and can honestly say the induced one was no more painful than the others.

Topsyloulou · 25/04/2017 09:15

I think it depends if you are having the drip or the pessary. I had the pessary & ended up having pethedine at 7cm dilated as DS was back to back & I was exhausted so just needed something to take the edge of. It allowed me to relax between contractions & almost doze. Unfortunately I developed an infection & the contractions slowed right down so ended up on the drip. The hospital didn't like to give the drip without an epidural & as I was stuck in bed on continuous monitoring by this point I was more than happy to have it.

HomityBabbityPie · 25/04/2017 09:18

I know others will disagree but personally I would say if you're getting a drip then get an epidural.

Pethidine didn't even take a tiny bit of the edge off the pain for me. But my baby was back to back so that might have made a difference.

HomityBabbityPie · 25/04/2017 09:19

I should add I was adamant prior to labour that I wouldn't get an epidural. Was terrified of the needle, etc etc. My GOD was I a fool. It was SO GOOD. I wouldn't hesitate to have one again should I have another baby. TBH I was in so much pain by that point I didn't give a shiny shit about the needle.

Dottie39 · 25/04/2017 09:22

I have had four children. Three non induced with gas and air, induced labour last time and had gas and air and pethedine given towards end. It was given to calm me down as i was having panic attacks as a result of the increased pain and continuous contractions. I didn't notice any difference, but my husband said I was noticeably calmer and then able to control myself enough to push.

Original poster
user1491067594 · 25/04/2017 09:27

thanks for your replies ladies. I would not want epidural as i want to be
still be in control when pushing thats why I'm opting for pethidine. I hope pessary would work to induce my labour as if they put me on drip, i might need to be on epidural as I've heard this would make labour bit more painful that just pessary.

OP posts:
McBaby · 25/04/2017 15:10

I have had one normal and one induced labour. Induction was pessary, waters broken and drip. I didn't find the induced labour any more painful just took a long time of regular contractions to get the labour going. But it was fine with gas and air and pethadine.

SockQueen · 27/04/2017 19:42

About the only thing I had in my birth plan was "if gas & air isn't enough, I would like an epidural, no pethidine!" As it was, I managed on g&a as I went into labour with the first pessary and didn't need the drip.

bigglesgoggles · 27/04/2017 19:53

I was induced with the pessary, no drip. First baby, 42 weeks, so needed to be out.
Labour kicked in about 8hr later.
Was struggling with just gas and air so had pethidine injection.
Don't remember it taking away the pain, but do remember being more spaced out than I would have liked, as baby came soon after jab, so maybe had it a bit late.
My memory is a bit fuzzy over details but baby came out a little lethargic and rapidly got worse, so was whisked away. A short stay in neonatal and all was then fine.
To this day, I never really understood what caused it.
Whether it was the pethidiine or not, i dont know but I'd not use it again.

abbiebunn · 27/04/2017 19:57

I gave birth to my son three weeks ago. I had pethidine and it worked well for me.

Justmadeperfectflapjacks · 27/04/2017 19:59

They kept me in a week when I had pethidine as dd was so sleepy and wouldn't bf. Never used it again. .

NSEA · 27/04/2017 20:02

I had this and pethidine made me soo out of it. I could barely keep my eyes open. Took away the edge but still needed an epidural. Epidural was better as doesn't give you the out of body sensation of pethidine.

I could push just fine with the epidural, I felt everything moving but just didn't have the pain.

JustAKitten · 27/04/2017 20:03

I had it the week before I gave birth for severe pain. It helped but I'd have an epidural TBH.

babyinarms · 27/04/2017 20:10

I had pethidine on ds1. I was 7cm and panicking so they gave it to me. I hated it. I felt totally spaced and out of control. I couldn't push properly and couldn't follow the instructions that were being given to me. Baby was flat on delivery and was resuscitated as pethidine was in his system. I personally never had it again and told any one who came near me in my subsequent labour's.

JollyBobs · 27/04/2017 20:15

Pethidine was really good for me. Recommend definitely!

littledinaco · 27/04/2017 20:17

They can turn the epidural off/down at the pushing stage so you're still able to feel things and be in control when you're pushing if that's what you're worried about.

Pethadine makes some people very spaced out and out of control, can also make you vomit too. It can sometimes be good if you've had a long labour and are exhausted as it can enable you to sleep/doze.

daisygirlmac · 27/04/2017 20:19

You can let the epidural run down when it's time to push so you can feel a bit more. I personally would not be induced again unless the epidural was in first.

fafflygood · 27/04/2017 20:21

The midwives at my birth warned me that pethidine makes some people very nauseous, so they didn't recommend it for that reason.

Is remifentanyl an option where you are? I didn't find it very effective but many women do, and it has a very short half-life.

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 27/04/2017 20:25

Pethidene didn't really take my pain away, just made me feel too woozy to scream. I didn't like it at all.
A Tens machine can help in early labour and keep an open mind regarding an epidural. If it's a very long labour, an epidural is a Godsend and it's possible to push, and have some feeling, if it's timed to start wearing off towards the pushing phase.
Good luck Smile

Hassled · 27/04/2017 20:28

I had pethidine only for my induced DC - and it was bloody wonderful. I'd have sold my granny down the river for another hit of the stuff. The effect didn't last long (although it's a bit of a blur - it didn't feel long) but really did the job at the time. I had no ill effects at all.

Muddlingalongalone · 27/04/2017 20:39

I had meptid which is offered as an alternative to pethidine and would definitely recommend it if your hospital offers it.
I was induced with both dd's
G&A made me nauseous.
It's such an individual thing though. I loved my tens machine with my first labour.

twinklehickorymoomoo · 27/04/2017 20:46

All pethadin did was to make me vomit repeatedly. It was awful. It didn't take the pain away, but it made me so whoozy that I don't remember the pain if that makes sense. Epidural was a million times better, and they don't top it up close to pushing stage so you feel everything.

AppleMagic · 27/04/2017 20:52

I've had two pessary then drip inductions (both at 38 weeks because of GD). In my first I had an epidural, with my second I left it too late and didn't get one so just had gas and air. I felt so much more in control with the epidural. I could still feel contractions but they weren't painful. I felt able to focus on pushing instead of panicking because of the pain/fear or crowning. It was a really positive experience. My second labour (without epidural) left me feeling a bit traumatised.

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