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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Gas and air V Epidural - honest opinions please

114 replies

Trying4baby2021 · 08/01/2021 10:55

Hello everyone,

What are the thoughts on gas and air versus an epidural? I would like to have a water birth which I know you can't do with epidural. I'm worried it will be too painful with just gas and air. I'm a first timer - any advice would be welcomed x

OP posts:

cervixissues · 08/01/2021 11:09

Following with interest! Also a first timer and my current plan is to try a water birth with gas and air too, however also open to an epidural if it starts to get too much!

CupcakesK · 08/01/2021 11:11

I had both and then ended up having an EMCS. Gas and air just made my head go a bit fuzzy, which was nice but didn’t do anything for the pain. I was having very erratic contractions and could barely move around so then I had an epidural. The epidural removed all of the pain, which was good, but then I definitely couldn’t move around.

I didn’t get anywhere near the pushing stage as my contractions and dilation didn’t progress (party epidural but partly ???my body), but the way I felt with an epidural, that would have been difficult as I couldn’t feel anything. It did mean that when I needed the EMCS I already had the epidural in place so they just topped it up and my LO was out within 30mins of the decision

AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 08/01/2021 11:13

Gas and air did nothing for me. But I haven't had an epidural to compare it to (emergency section).

WeakAsIAm · 08/01/2021 11:15

I had epidural with my first - my contracts stopped after so ended up with an emcs. Having the epidural already in made the section faster, but essentially had maybe caused the situation in the first place.
Gas & air used for my next two, it just makes the pain bearable; a bit like being drunk if you like you can feel the pain but it doesn't overwhelm you so you can get on with the job of giving birth.
Good luck all you new mums to be

Chanel05 · 08/01/2021 11:18

I had both and the gas and air didn't touch the sides for me, however my dd was transverse. Epidural was fantastic! I had always thought I wanted a water birth until I was on the way to the hospital, contracting every minute and a half for a full minute at only 2cm . I'd recommend an epidural to anyone, as would three of my friends who had no intention of ever having one!

If your baby happens to be back to back or transverse (very unlikely), an epidural won't numb the back contractions but it will dull them.

MorelloKisses · 08/01/2021 11:18

I had gas and air and then went into an emergency situation and had a spinal block (which I think is medically similar to epidural) I also had the opioid leg injection at one point during a very painful back-to-back delivery.

Only the spinal block provided real pain relief. Gas abs air did nothing, the injection reduced my ability to ‘grab’ the pain, but it was still there ( hard to describe).

There is no real comparison with gas and air and an epidural.

Original poster

Trying4baby2021 · 08/01/2021 11:19

Thanks to everyone who's answered so far, everyone's experiences are so different. I'm going to try for gas and air. I am a wimp with pain though so might give in and get an epidural

OP posts:

tnetenba · 08/01/2021 11:20

I had just gas and air and didn't actually find it too painful or unbearable. Obviously it hurts but it wasn't as bad as I'd hyped myself up to expect. I wanted to just use gas and air just due to possible effects on breastfeeding. In the earlier stages I thought I'd need all the drugs going and was going to ask for an epidural but I had just progressed more than I thought (so what I thought was only 20% of the pain to come was actually more like 90% and I didn't have much more to endure if that makes sense).

If you aren't dead set on an epidural then go in to it aiming for minimum pain relief but be well researched in what you might want and when (and aware that you might not get an epidural if you want one due to staffing, also aware that sometimes they don't work). On reflection I really enjoyed childbirth even though I didn't have a typically great experience and it wasn't what I had hoped for (induced, lying on my back, third degree tear).

You'll do great no matter which route is needed for your little one to arrive.

sproutsnbacon · 08/01/2021 11:22

Gas and air and a tens machine together were quite good. Pethadine was horrible in my first labour but I was desperate for a bit of relief in the earlier stages in my second and it was great.
Had epidural in my first it did help with the pain hugely. Did have an emcs first time but that was due the baby being too big to exit.

Respectabitch · 08/01/2021 11:22

I had a water birth without gas and air and it was fabulous. I didn't like the gas and air and didn't use it.

I had an epidural with my second as I was induced by drip and couldn't use the water. It crashed my blood pressure. Would've preferred the first birth again but different births, different circs.

20viona · 08/01/2021 11:22

Gas and air made me constantly sick throughout labour. I had a very quick labour so didn't have time for an epidural however I did get a spinal block afterwards due to needing manual placenta removal. This was absolute heaven compare to the pain id suffered up to this point. Id have an epidural In future if possible.

BabyMoonPie · 08/01/2021 11:22

I had gas and air and a water birth. I was adamant I didn't want an epidural if I could avoid it. I had to have a spinal block later due to needing surgery to repair a tear and I hated the lack of feeling in the lower part of my body and being stuck on a bed with a catheter in.

sproutsnbacon · 08/01/2021 11:22

Gas and air did nothing in my first labour but was good in second

Bluntness100 · 08/01/2021 11:22

Gas and air did nothing for me either.

Gumps · 08/01/2021 11:26

I had gas and air with my first two and bloody loved it. At one point they tried to take it off me and I went mental It made me feel like I was drunk in the back of a taxi on the way home after a big night out. The only thing I did have afterwards was a sore throat from sucking so hard. Both the labours with my boys were fairly short (around 6/8 hours) although my first was back to back and a shoulder dystocia. Water for the first one was lovely and I stayed in the bath for hours.
When I had my daughter (third labour) I had an epidural. It was a 30 hour labour and from the start it was so much more painful. I thought from experience I was in transition as I was in so much pain but turned out to only be two cm dilated (another back to back). Epidural worked well and stopped me being exhausted but I was very sick afterwards.
I think go Into it with an open mind and see how you cope with it. The fear of the unknown is tough but you may find the water words well for you. Unfortunately I want allowed in water for two and three after the shoulder dystocia and really missed it.
Sending good thoughts.

Yuddiesorno · 08/01/2021 11:27

I had Gas and Air for first, plus Pethidine when Gas and Air not enough (this was a few years ago so not sure if that's still offered). With second absolutely nothing as she was in such a bloody hurry! Did treat myself to some Gas and Air for the stitches though as thought I deserved it having been in car doing 100 mph and barely getting out of the lift before delivering!!

FWIW my advice would be keep an open mind and go with the flow! Good luck x

FudgeSundae · 08/01/2021 11:29

So if you decide to wait and see, know this: once you decide you are in enough pain to need an epidural, they will give you a sheet to read and page the anaesthetist, which could take no time or could take an hour or more. When he/she arrives, you need to sit COMPLETELY STILL while they thread a needle into your spine. While you are having contractions every minute or more frequently. It’s not fun and is a bit terrifying.

Also, I did that and then the epidural failed completely - some people have slightly unusual anatomy or the anaesthetist makes a mistake. If that happens and you’re lucky it does nothing (what I had), if you’re unlucky it can go into the wrong bit of your spine and cause varying levels of drama. This is very unusual but worth being aware of before you’re in massive pain and they hand you a consent form!

I had no choice but to go on with gas & air as there was no time to resite the epidural but in the end she was born 3 hrs later which really wasn’t too bad. I’m pregnant again and this time I’m going to try just gas & air and see how I go as the stress of the failed epidural wasn’t worth it and I clearly have weird back anatomy!

Also think about the time after your baby is born - I was able to get straight up and have a bath which was AMAZING and I’d be upset if I couldn’t do that again.

BlairCorneliaWaldorf · 08/01/2021 11:30

My view is no point going straight to the epidural, might as well start with gas and air and see how you get on. Then ramp up to epidural if you need to.

Timeforabiscuit · 08/01/2021 11:32

I had just gas and air - and it just took the edge off at the peak of contractions. You couldn't have too much of it as I just went spacey with it.

That was enough as i didn't want the added intervention.

MaizeBlouse · 08/01/2021 11:33

1st birth: no pain relief at all, v fast labour (under 2 hrs) gave birth in the triage room to a 9lb baby! I had practised hypnobirthing in the months before and it honestly helped me feel so calm and in control. It was painful, not half as bad as expected. Crowning was the worst and I had a nasty tear. I was not in a good position for pushing and was ignored in the waiting room for a long time, deemed a 1st time mum who couldn't handle the pain. When they finally examined me they could see DCs head! Had to have an epidural for tear surgery post birth and I hated how numb it made me feel, also the catheter etc afterwards.

2nd birth: also v fast labour (2 hrs from 1st contraction to birth) but this time I got in the birthing pool, used gas and air throughout and also made an awesome soundtrack of all my favourite music. Again I used the hypnobirthing breathing and got in to a position that suited me. DC2 was also a 9lb lump but no tear this time and I was out of the hospital the next morning (DC was born at 10pm). The gas and Air totally helped me with the pain but you have to use it properly, deep long breaths in and out and know when to stop for a while to clear your head, get back to reality then breath it in again on the start of the next contraction.

Congratulations OP and good luck

Bluebelltulip · 08/01/2021 11:35

I think it depends how labour goes.
DC1: I tried gas and air, it helped but not enough, tried diamorphine and it worked well.
DC2: I used diamorphine only.
DC3: tried gas and air again as midwife didn't want to give me diamorphine too early, then had diamorphine and ended up with an epidural too but had it so I could still move and feel things but took the pain away.

I found all the labours were different so be open minded.

modge · 08/01/2021 11:35

I had gas and air and like PP found it took the edge off the pain to let me focus - I also think it really helped me to breathe as I was so focused on getting the gas in!

I was lucky enough to have the birthing pool at hospital but whilst in early labour at home, I also found the tens machine amazing for dealing with the contraction pain.

Mylittlepony374 · 08/01/2021 11:36

I'm also a wimp with pain. Had epidural with first. Gas and air only with second. If I having a third I would go gas and air all the way. Epidural has higher chance of forceps etc which is what happened with my first, I couldn't feel to push and ended up prepped for section but ultimately a forceps birth. Gas and air was enough on second birth to get me through. My Recovery was so much quicker.

Chanel05 · 08/01/2021 13:31

I will as as well that it's okay to have as much of as little pain relief as you'd like! No one gets a medal at the end of labour for having a pain relief free birth.

It's worth noting that if you go for an epidural you'll want to request one ASAP as it depends on the availability of the anaesthetist. I had to wait two hours for mine, due to emergencies taking priority. A few days later, my friend at the same hospital only waited 15 minutes.

Comefromaway · 08/01/2021 13:40

I'm needle phobic so epidural was never an option.

1st birth I tried the gas and air but it made me feel funny (i'm also an emetophobe and I drink very little alcohol as I don't like the feeling of being drunk) so I threw it back at dh (poor dh) and did without. They did persuade me to take a couple of puffs when I was being stitched afterwards.

2nd birth I had a water birth and didn't use anything else. The water was so soothing.

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