Gas and air V Epidural - honest opinions please

[Trying4baby2021]

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

Birthing pools are amazing! I had gas and air for my first but the contractions were on top of each other but not quite strong enough to progress when I got in the pool they spaced themselves out and I was able to relax, it was lovely... I just had the pool for my second, she was quite fast, 3 hours total. With my third I didn't make it out of the assessment room she arrived in 20 mins and had nothing. I agree, every birth is different. Plan for all possibilities but don't get too stressed about it. As the others say, go with the flow... Best wishes op!

Gas and air did nothing for me except make me throw up.

Epidural all the way! Didn't hurt at all, and the relief was bliss.

Gas and air doesn't stop the pain, it just sends you off with the fairies for a few seconds.

Saying that I managed 1 out of 3 births on just gas and air and it was perfectly fine and I was able to manage the pain fairly easily. I didn't have a birthing pool - I'm that old I'm not even sure they had such a thing way back then . But I did overstay my welcome in a very big, very lovely warm bath with quite a long queue of expectant mums waiting to use it behind me. By the time I was finally persuaded to get out I was nearly ready to push. The water really helped - so I can see why you want a pool.

The other 2 started out as gas and air and when I couldn't cope anyone longer - epidural was given when I asked for it.

I'd say keep an open mind. And see how it goes.

I felt the gas and air did help take the edge off the pain or at least took me away from it, somehow? Hard to remember TBH, it was 12 years ago! I just hope to god when I give birth in August the hospital actually has it and doesn't take it away for covid reasons - apparently if you're covid positive it spreads it much more readily all around the room. And since it's already considered a bit niche here I can imagine they just going nope altogether.

I had planned for a water birth but a very long labour with no dilation ended that plan. Also I did take some baths during labour to try ease the pain but they did sweet FA....much like gas and air! The only point GandA helped me was right at the end for the pushing phase when I was trying to remember my hypnobirthing techniques and needed to concentrate on breathing. I had wanted to avoid an epidural but was wild with pain about 35 hours into labour and had one - best thing I've ever had in my life 😂😭 so glad I did.

If you want an effective pain relief then epidural. I don't know what I would have done without. Even with, it was bloody painful. But my pain threshold is quite low so I knew I am asking for it right away. Good luck with the birth

I had forgotten TENS. That is fantastic stuff, but what people often don't know is that you need to practice now and then from week 38 to get the maximum effect, not just whack it on half way through labour. (I fell asleep with it on at about week 39 and literally woke up high as a kite once, so many endorphins).

The other thing I would say is if you feel out of control and as though you are going to die, it probably makes sense to go for all the drugs they will give you at that point. A lot of it has to do with the position the baby is in combined with the quality of the care you are getting. If the baby is being stubborn and/or the care is a bit crap, then drugs are brilliant.

When I got induced with my first I was already exhausted after 3 days, the gas and air just made me angry because it wasn't doing anything lol if your a calm person under pain I imagine it might have helped but I just said give me that epidural and give it to me as fast as humanly possible but then again I begged the woman to rip the drip out of my arm as they just broke my waters and my contractions hit a whole new level I did not feel I needed the drip. I never cried through the pain but cried the second the epidural kicked in, it was absolute heaven! She checked me right after said oh wow your 10cm, she was inexperienced and never checked me before giving me the epidural as I went from 2cm to 10cm in like 30 mins so no wonder I was begging for relief I thought I had a manh hours to go lol. I was worried I wouldn't be able to push as effectively so I just pushed soo hard that the baby shot out in 3 pushes and it was all over. I never felt the epidural go in and for me it was a great experience.

I ended up with no pain relief as didn't getbon with gas and air. I was so used to breathing out with the contractions when i then had to start breathing in it confused me so stopped using it.

Maybe just have epidural as back up plan if pain is too much?

first birth
Pethedine injection stopped my legs shaking

gas and air made me throw up
epidural meant i couldnt feel anything to push, failed ventouse ended up in theatre after 24 hour labour in case forceps didnt work

2nd birth
nothing

I preferred the send birth , was more painful but much more in contral

Lazy and bruffin, I had no pain relief either and it was all fairly easy and straightforward.

I had an epidural with both of my babies but with my second I used gas and air until the aneasthatist arrived. It was ok, doesn't stop the pain but takes the edge off, nowhere near as good as an epidural. I couldn't feel a thing with my first baby and my second baby was back to back, still couldn't feel anything apart from slight pressure at the pushing stage

I absolutely loved gas and air it made me feel high BUT no n way was it enough for the pain. Of course, lack of resources meant they just couldn't get anyone in in time to do an epidural and I had a horribly painful birth. There seems to be some stigma around epidurals in the UK which I honestly think is a lot to do with cost cutting. My French mum friends all had epidurals and never even considered not having one. Having sad that, if you do have a relatively easy birth, water can be amazing and you might not need anything more. There's just no way to know I'm afraid...