Talk to me about pain relief

[chops12]

So DD1 was a v straightforward pregnancy and was due to give birth in a midwife led ward. Unfortunately she did not want to come out and had to be induced on labour ward. I ended up having an epidural and forceps and episiotomy, and also haemorrhaged, and couldn't move for about 24 hours after the birth.

I understand that everyone's pain threshold is different and every birth is different but I know how much it bloody hurts lol and an epidural was a lifesaver, but I'm worried that that is what could have contributed to the need of forceps.

So what other options of pain relief is there and how effective is it? I tried gas and air and that didn't do anything for me. I know there's something called pethidine? And possibly another I can't think of the name?
Any help would be much appreciated

@TheIntrovertedMum gosh yes, first labour and delivery was extremely traumatic. I ended up with PTSD, post natal OCD and post natal anxiety to name a few! I really was both physically and mentally messed up. It took me a good 18 months to even change my mind about having more children. I was induced first time and from induction to delivery was 4 days.

I originally wanted a planned section this time around, but after speaking to my consultant I realised I was actually at peace with however baby came this time , and that being slightly more relaxed about it all , I think really helped. I didn’t set my heart on one way or another until quite close to delivery when I realised how much I wanted to VBAC.

By the time it came to the crunch, I was saying I couldn’t do it, and just wanted to go straight for a section as i was struggling with how quick everything was going and baby was in distress because of how quick it was happening too. Before I knew it, I’d done it! He was born less than 3 hours after arriving in hospital. I was in active labour for less than 2 hours. Yes, it was painful, and I did tear, but the pain from stitching up the stitches was worse than the delivery. They let me decide when to push , I felt totally in control, and that feeling when I got to hold my son was amazing, and I forgot all about the pain.

First time, I didn’t get to hold my son for 90 mins after delivery - this time, nobody but me held him for the first 60 minutes!

I went in for a water gas and air birth and ended up on a drip with an epidural as I was so terrified of the drip being to fast to get used to pain wise. I was terrified of the epidural as well but it was amazing. Took the pain away and I knew when to push, yes I had an episiotomy and ventouse but my baby was 9lb 4 and for a first baby I didn’t do bad, there was no way I could have done it without pain relief.

If I had an another I would go straight for the epidural. The midwife told me during labour that they don’t let second time mums have it early on/that you have to get at least 4-5cm dilated which I never got to find out why.

What pain relief have people used during induction? Anyone managed induction without pain relief?

I managed induction with just gas and air and a failed epidural. The pushing was with no relief, just the pain relief for the contractions. It's possible to be done but it does hurt; then again, so do most births. Good luck!

First birth was a dream, water birth, pethadine, they gave me gas and air but not convinced it was plugged in!
Second birth - induction - horrendous - tried pethadine, gas and air and finally an epidural but nothing at all helped.
Hoping my third will follow the first!

@Magpie1976 I had the drip and did 34h back to back labour on G&A

Unfortunately I just had 2 paracetamol .

By the time the midwife agreed to check me 2 hours into my induced labour I was already 10cm and pushing.

I told her repeatedly I needed pain relief but she keep saying I was in early labour so couldn't gave anything.

First Labour I had diamorphine and gas and air... was sick s lot and a bit high.

Second I had a waterbirth with just gas and air... amazing!