Pethidine or Epudural

[ClaireCanale123]

Hi everyone I'm due in 5 weeks time and just wondering what people would recommend epidural or pethidine? I would like to go to the birth centre and possibly just try with gas and air and pethidine but not sure that will be enough? Maybe I should just opt for the labour ward and get an epidural. I realise I don't have to make a decision now or even until the day but just wondering what everyone's experiences are.....many thanks!!

I'd try with paracetamol TENS, gas and air and then pethidine in that order as needed.

If you're still struggling you can always transfer for epidural.

It really depends on your pain tolerance. You may surprise yourself and you will be given options at the time, depending on how you’re feeling.

When I was in labour I asked for something stronger than gas and air. I was offered pethidine and I remembered something about it from my NCT class (made you feel drowsy for hours after the birth, if I remember rightly) and I checked with the midwife and asked “will it take the pain away?” She said it wouldn’t, but would make me not care about the pain, so I just thought what’s the point?

I had gas and air, but I was very open to options if I needed them.

Oh and I really rated the TENS machine. I hired it from the hospital for both labours. So amazing in early labour and I think that helped me get through with minimal intervention.

Pethidine was totally pointless for me. I slept for about 30s between contractions, which didn't hurt noticeably less. Gas and air was massively more effective for me.

Epidural all the way!

I hated pethidine. It made me properly out if it and my baby was born limp and drowsy and they said that was why. I never got my focus back after it.
I wish I had gone straight for the epidural (which I had anyway)

Pethidine made me vomit and feel out of it for ages after the birth.
Epidural for my second birth was brilliant.
I’m not having any more but if I was, I’d go straight for an epidural.

Pethidine can make you vomit a lot, so definitely something to bear in mind! I did not know this when I had it. Was horrid.

Pethidine was a waste of time for me. It doesn't last long and wasn't effective for me. I wish I had asked for the epidural straight away instead of waiting for so long. I had learnt my lesson for number 2 and went straight to epidural.

Personally I hated the epidural. Made me shake uncontrollably and l kept thinking I was going to fall off the bed. Also not being able to move my legs was really scary, I preferred the pain tbh.

Why not keep an open mind and see what happens and how your labour goes? If its a straightforward and fairly quick labour you might find gas and air does the trick, but then again if you've been in labour for days and the baby is back to back or something maybe you'll want something stronger. I'd see how things start off and at the point you go into hospital you can see how you feel and be guided by your midwife. If they examine you and you are already 8cm you are going to feel less need for pain relief possibly than if you are in agony and then they tell you your only 2cm. Just see how things go?

Pethadine just knocked me out for a bit and then I woke up in pain. See how you go but I loved my epidural and fully intend on having one this time too.

I LOVED pethidine... and I also had an epidural. I had a long labour mind so the Peth helped me sleep the first night and it was heaven. I could do with some now to be honest, just to zonk out!!!

I loved pethidine, I had it at 2cm dilated and fell asleep through all my contractions until I was 9cm dilated 😂 I felt out of it once I'd given birth but I think I would have anyway after a 12 hour labour with only a hospital cheese salad to fuel me! At no point did I feel I needed an epidural after that, just gas and air.

Pethidine worked brilliantly for me both times

I had paracetamol, gas and air then pethidine. Pethidine made me throw up so had to have an anti sickness tablet. It allowed me to sleep between contractions albeit not for very long. Gas and air was my best friend. I'd quite happily have some more right now I loved the stuff.

I gave birth 6 days ago. Pethidine was needed, but unlike epidural it means you can still move your legs and control pushing, so l didn't tear. Would do same again.

100% epidural! I couldn't have got through my birth without it. Pethidine did nothing for me xx

Another vote here for pethidine. I was dead against it after NCT classes but after a sleepless night of contractions it enabled me to snatch some
Well needed Sleep between contractions. Also used gas/air and birthing pool.
Loved the fact that I could to remain on the midwife led unit and found it much more relaxed than a labour ward.
Ultimately go with the flow and be open to any options. Good luck x

Pethidine didn’t work for me. I was gutted. I think I ended up having every method of pain relief available. I liked the gas and air. Midwife had to forcibly remove it from me after my daughter had been born

Again pethidine just made me sleep then wake up in pain. Had a epidural for dd2 but it was too late after inserted I gave birth 5 minutes later ! (Although it really helped with stitches after didn't feel a thing ).

I would say try gas and air i found that quite effective made me cry alot bit like being drunk really.
All the best OP

I had pethidine and gas and air with both mine. DD was breech and DS was induced, both fairly painful labours but I managed! So whats right for you

Depends what the situation is. I coped well on G&A for my first one.

Second one had g&a, pethodine, epidural then ECS

Third one G&A then epidural for c-section

I wanted epidural but didnt get it as labour progressed too quickly. Apparently this is common.

Honestly, take anything they offer. With my last I was offered paracetamol and ended up delivering ten minutes later with gas. Birth plans tend to not be workable in the moment. Don't stress too much. Just be prepared to go with whatever you get