Please can you talk me through the drug options for pain relief (not epidural though)?

[PutThatInYourPipeandSmokeIt]

I know you cna have a pethidine jab - how do you feel on it and for how long and are there any other jabs you can have?

Cor starlight you really didn;t like the TENS machine did you . Didn't help me much later on, still undecided whether to hire a 'Boots' one this time round (you need to book early if you want one). That said, my friend got through her first labour with just a TENS machine. Always worth a try if you haven't tried it before methinks.

I found the TENS machine really useful in the early stages, it gives you something to focus on and a way to take control of the pain. I was carrying it round with me along with my ipod and turning them both right up for every contraction for the first 24ish hours. After that I got into the bath for about 45 minutes, the water helped at first but it wasn't long before I was begging for an epidural.