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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Gas and air- how soon?

30 replies

Adviceplease1234 · 08/03/2019 19:06

Hi, when I had my DD the midwife wouldn’t let me have any gas and air before the pushing stage.

Is that normal or could I have been allowed it sooner? I had pethidine instead which really spaced me out so I’m keen to avoid it really the next time.

OP posts:
AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 08/03/2019 19:45

I had gas and air right from the start. I had what was supposed to be a planned section, but I went into labour early. They gave me G&A while I was waiting for a free anaesthetist.

Aaahhhelp · 08/03/2019 19:47

Strange!

I thought you got gas an air as soon as you needed it. With my first I had nothing but with my second I had it when I went into hospital at 5cm dilated with regular constructions

Aaahhhelp · 08/03/2019 19:47

Contractions even!

Rafabella8 · 08/03/2019 19:48

Very strange indeed. You can get it from the start. They even gave it to my husband!

breaker · 08/03/2019 19:49

5/6 cms is normally when you need it. Agree re pethidine- makes you lose control!

MrsL2016 · 08/03/2019 19:52

I was given it once I was deemed I'm active labour at 4cm. I probably could have gone a bit longer with my tens if I was allowed to move around. But once I was on my back being constantly monitored it was so much more painful.

happymummy12345 · 08/03/2019 19:55

I didn't have it as it made me feel very sick and gave me a banging headache. But the midwife said I could have it during the Labour if I'd wanted it.
(Off topic but I had pethadine as I'd had a very long early Labour and was physically exhausted. I loved it, I felt relaxed and it gave me two hours or so to get some much needed rest before the pushing. I woke up and was immediately energised, with it and ready to push. I didn't feel sick or anything. But I always read on here and other places that most who have it feel the opposite of how I did. I've always wondered why it had the opposite effect on me?)

Farmerswifey12 · 08/03/2019 19:57

That's ridiculous! All 3 times I've been given the gas and air whenever I wanted it though I have always dilated to 8 / 9 before asking.

I dont understand why they wouldn't let you start with gas and air before giving stronger relief like the pethidine because you might not even have needed anything stronger as the gas and air might have been enough

Sexnotgender · 08/03/2019 19:58

Oh that’s really shit! I got gas and air when I asked for it. No idea how dilated I was as never examined. Was definitely pre pushing though.

WhenZogateSuperworm · 08/03/2019 20:00

You should have been offered gas and air before pethadine!

I was offered it straight away with DS1 but I didn’t like it. Found the spaced out feeling suffocating and it made me sick. I then had diamorphine which was wonderful!

Gooseygoosey12345 · 08/03/2019 20:02

That's harsh. I had it as soon as I wanted it.

HoneysuckIejasmine · 08/03/2019 20:05

Christ that's harsh. They said 4cm to me, i.e. active labour, but as I was induced and the pessary kicked off hyperstimulation and I was contracting almost constantly, they wheeled some over on a trolley for me. (I was not yet on delivery ward where it's piped in.)

Howzaboutye · 08/03/2019 21:40

That's barbaric.
Not exactly woman centered care eh?
Appalling.
I think it's common for first time mums to be treated poorly. It is inexcusable.

ICJump · 08/03/2019 21:44

We’re you at home? I’d understand if you were at home because it’s a limited supply.
I used it from active labour all theee times.

Original poster
Adviceplease1234 · 08/03/2019 21:49

Thanks all! Wow I had no idea other people got it so easily. Yes I didn’t have the best first experience but am hoping to advocate for myself more this time.

OP posts:
Original poster
Adviceplease1234 · 08/03/2019 21:57

IC no I was in the hospital. I had some really dismissive midwives until I got to 10cm when they became more attentive. They didn’t believe me when I said my waters had gone and told me I’d just wet myself. They also didn’t believe me when I said I had to push and were refusing to examine me. Luckily my mum persuaded them and I was at 10cm which caused a rush down the corridor to a delivery room. Because I’d had pethidine, I felt so out of it and relied on my DH and mum to fight my corner. I’m hoping for a better experience this time round.

OP posts:
hammeringinmyhead · 08/03/2019 21:59

They didn't believe I was as far along as I was, so I was fully dilated on my tens machine before I said "I really need something else!" and was grudgingly given about 5 puffs before they took it away again for pushing!

MrsMartinRohde · 08/03/2019 22:22

I got it at about 6cm. Then they took it off me at the pushing stage because they judged I wasn't focused enough.

Howzaboutye · 08/03/2019 23:28

These threads make for distressing reading.
Why oh why do the midwifes behave like this to first time mothers. They don't to second time etc mums.

It's just bullying and mean.

You shouldn't have to be lucky with which midwife you get.

I'd recommend a good doula for every new mum. Or a tiger of your mum or MIL. Birth can be terrifying for the dads. Yes they love you, but they don't have a flipping clue what's going on do they. You need a woman on your side who has been through it and seen it all before.

I think that so few women complain because they are so exhausted with a new baby that they have no energy to do a complaint. Plus it's triggering potentially as you have to recount and relive it to make the complaint. It's so sad.

Big hugs to all.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 09/03/2019 11:27

5 cms with dc1. When I turned up in labour prior to a planned section with dc2 I was offered it once they had a quick look at the 10 minute trace they did (no one had checked dilation). I declined because of how awful it made me feel with dc1 but it was definitely offered along with a whole bunch of other stuff.

PRoseLegend · 09/03/2019 11:35

I had it as soon as my contractions became consistent and a couple of minutes apart.
So, basically from the start of active labor. As soon as I couldn't talk through a contraction.
Pisses me off that women aren't listened to and believed. We know our bodies, even if we've never birthed before.

user1471426142 · 09/03/2019 19:14

That is awful. I don’t understand how they could watch someone in pain and withhold pain relief. I certainly needed it and then had an epidural. I was offered Pethidine as well but didn’t want it.

Omzlas · 09/03/2019 19:26

8cm but the MW didn't believe I should be in as much pain as I was because I was 'only just starting active Labour'.... until I insisted she examine me. Cue big panic and ringing my DH in a flap to rush him to the hospital. I found that I didn't actually use it when pushing but bit down on the mouthpiece instead. Not a bad thing I add, though I did crack it.....

MW let me keep hold of it for my stitches as she didn't want to numb me and I hadn't had any epidural etc

Sexnotgender · 09/03/2019 19:31

MW let me keep hold of it for my stitches as she didn't want to numb me and I hadn't had any epidural etc

Why the hell didnt she want to use local anaesthetic?!

Cookit · 10/03/2019 08:03

Oh I had it for stitches too! It was great! I was also numbed but I could still feel the sewing in some areas.

I asked after an hour or two of induction and was told no. Looking back, I was in about 90% as much pain then as at 10cm so I think I should have had it a little earlier. I did have it extensively though for a few hours and for about half of pushing though.

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