Did you get G&A during labour in antenatal ward?

[seeingdots]

Hi all
I'm now overdue with my second and trying to prepare myself for the possibility of ending up being induced again if this one doesn't come spontaneously. DC1 was back to back and induced at 40+13 and at the moment this one is B2B too (not for want of me trying to turn him) and less engaged than 2 weeks ago so it's not looking imminent.

I'm scared of being induced again because of my experience with my first. Labour kicked off quickly with just the pessary and was fairly quick at 4.5 hours but I (not that uncommonly, I know) got pretty much ignored throughout my labour, which went from 0-60 immediately. I wasn't allowed access to gas and air as the midwife told me they could only give me that in the labour ward but there wasn't room for me there. Only when I was pushing did the midwife start to take me seriously and do an examination to find that, surprise surprise, I was at 10 cm and there was a sudden rush to get me to the labour ward. Miraculously gas and air appeared at that point and I got it as they were wheeling me in the bed to the labour ward.

So I was left wondering afterwards whether they really weren't able to give me pain relief any earlier or whether my midwife had just assumed I wasn't as far along as I was and therefore didn't 'deserve' pain relief yet.

Can I ask what your experiences were of access to pain relief during induction? I'd like to know what is reasonable to expect (and get DH to advocate for) if I find myself in the same position again.

I think you can have gas and air anywhere (I’ve had it in A&E and on and EPU before) so cant see why they wouldn’t give it to you as soon as you need it. Hopefully your experience will be different this time.

My experience was remarkably similar to yours.

I'm currently planning my second and it will be a cold day in hell before I submit to another induction.

Can you go for a planned section instead?

Given that you can have gas and air at a home birth, it's strange that they'd say it's unavailable in the labour ward.

I'd check with the hospital in advance to confirm what happened last time - potentially put it in your birth plan and make sure they read it? Pretty sure the NICE guidelines are that they can't refuse you gas and air if requested.

I'm sorry but I wasn't allowed g+a until I got to labour ward. Very similar situation, was pushing as being pushed down the corridor to labour ward. The relief when I got there and was allowed the g+a was immense.

But it all happened very quickly, I think it was about 10 mins between being confirmed I was in established labour and being wheeled down the corridor, so I only had a handful of contractions.

Can you only agree to induction if there is definately space in labour ward? I'm sure they'll take you seriously if it was quick before. They certainly did for me.

My second induction birth was such a positive experience for me compared with my first. I found it incredibly empowering.

Good luck with it all

I had gas and air in a side room once I was in established labour but not pushing, iyswim... I have to have a mask though as the mouthpiece makes me spontaneously vomit for some reason

It was only available on labour wars for all three of my births, presumably because you don't need it till you are in labour. They obviously didn't get you there quickly enough, which is crap but if there was no space there wasn't much else they could do?

Another similar experience. Not allowed gas and air as not in established labour (could have pethidine though?!). Finally got some as they were pushing me down the corridor 10cm and pushing.

So what happens if you're on AN ward and having contractions? No G&A available?

I'm being induced Saturday so this has worried me a bit!

@incogneto

Yep.

Same here. Wasn't until I begged them to examine me (a couple of hours after the first where I was only 1cm so against the "4 hour" rule which is more important than the fact the woman is trying hard not to push her baby out) did they agree I was in established labour and could go down to labour ward for gas and air.

Still can't get over how they would leave a woman clearly distressed and in pain like that and not listen to them.

They rushed it to me on the ward when I went from 'that's a wee bit sore' to 6cms in about ten minutes.

Think I had to beg.

@serii oh shit

I was induced, but I don't think gas and air must be common here in the U.S. Is it true induced labor is quicker, but more painful? They told me I had five to six hours left of labor...I was at completion. They didn't check me until ten minutes after I was convinced I had to poop and walked myself to the toilet against their wishes and concerns.

I was induced and had gas and air on the ward before being transferred to the delivery suite. Baby was back to back and I was struggling with the pain even with g&a - midwife kept saying she didn’t think I was more than 2-3cm. Thankfully hubby pushed for her to examine me (I was somewhat out of it) and low and behold, I was 4cm and taken to delivery.

My sister had a similar experience to others though, was in established labour in induction ward, they didn’t have g&a but did have pethidine. They wouldn’t take her up to the delivery suite as they ‘didn’t have space’ (but midwife told her that if she’d walked in off the street in that state they’d have been forced to admit her.

I find it weird that different trusts have such different policies on this.

Nope. I had pretty much the same experience as you. All done in 2 hrs and no pain relief.

I didn't have an induction but all my requests for g&a were ignored. I was eventually told I couldn't have it in there ward I was in.

I dont know where it was I got it as an examination and observation of blood ( I had a partial placental abruption) had me taken downstairs in a hurry and all jewellry removed for theatre. They had the bed laid flat so I have no idea where I was or where I was really going.

Anyway I finally had it for what seemed basically a few mins in whatever room I was in.

Back on the ward though i wasnt offered so much as a paracetamol.

Delivery room only for me as well, I think I got a paracetamol on the antenatal ward! It (G&A) was directly piped in from the wall though so no portable tanks that I saw

I was induced and after my second pessary and some very painful examinations the nice nurse finally suggested gas and air! It should definitely be available. I was only allowed for examinations etc though. You might, as others have said, have to beg.

Good luck!

I had gas and air on antenatal ward a couple of weeks ago....they wheeled a canister of it in on a trolley! I hated the stuff and refused to have it after a couple of puffs

Remarkably similar story, OP. Induced, labour very fast, no room in delivery so had to wait, terrible contractions really close together, no gas and air offered. I wasn't downstairs long before I gave birth, I kept telling them I needed to push but they didn't listen.

I saw nothing of g&a until I was down on delivery. Worse 3 hours of my life waiting for that!

I had a portable canister of gas and air in the examination room before even going on to the home from Home suite. Once there i was plugged into the wall. Midwife said she'd never seen it kick in so fast. No shit Sherlock - is already been in labour for 40 hours with a stuck baby 🙄

Two back to back deliveries here. I’d be asking about a CS if I were you.

Same as you. Given a paracetamol and a bath when no space on labour ward. And told to clamp on the 'bit' that would give you gas and air if there was any! No gas and air until at labour ward.

I was given pethadine on antenatal ward so I could get some rest as I was in pain but not established labour. I was given gas and air for all my examinations too. I felt very well cared for throughout. If I'm induced again I will ask for the same. I also recommend an epidural! I had a back to back labour too. Argh!