How did gas and air make you feel?

[BingAndTing]

I didn't have g&a with my first but did with my 2nd and Oh My God, I bloody hated it.

I'd been told I'd feel a little light headed or drunk but I took like 10 big puffs and suddenly felt completely high. I was so not in control, felt like I was literallt floating and kept forgetting to breathe. I wasn't able to speak and I was suddenly convinced something really bad was happening. It did make me feel like the pain wasn't mine, but it made me feel so horrendous I had to stop.

After, I've spoken to some women who said their experience was nothing like this. Does it affect everyone differently?

Same! I had heard about people really enjoying it or it at least taking the edge off the pain, but I didn’t do anything for me. I’m still not convinced it was even working properly as I literally felt no effects from it.

Sums up my experience!

Vomited enough they gave me an anti emetic so didn't have to give me any more when opiates were given
Horrible. Drunk/light headed etc

I looooved it. So much that I think it's probably a good thing I've never tried any illegal drugs 😳

Awful. I had some when I dislocated my knee. Felt faint and very nauseous. I refused to have any 3 months later when I was in labour.

I absolutely hated it in labour but recently had some after a minor accident while transferring into the ambulance, and it was great then, so maybe depends on your emotional state at the time. I was already feeling 'out of control' with labour, so didn't want anything to add to that, after the accident I was wiredly calm, so didn't mind the light-headedness.

I inhaled that stuff like it was going out of fashion, the midwives had to tell me to take some normal breaths because my eyes were rolling. Those 3 hours felt like 60 seconds had passed.
I remember hearing peoples words echoing around me and I felt like I was down in a well, and when I stopped breathing the gas I actually rose out of the well and into the room. Didn't even notice the pain. Gloriously stuff 😂

Me too @Row23 ! I was looking forward to it but tried it with both my children, and nothing ☹️🤣

I used gas and air in all my labours and I loved it. It gave me something to focus on. I took really deep controlled breaths with it as I felt each tightening begin, which helped me breathe through the contractions. I would stop as soon as the contraction began to ease. I did feel like I was floating and time seemed to slow down until it wore off but that was fine. It didn’t take away the pain at the most intense part of each contraction, but it really helped me cope. I did my best to stay hydrated and applied lip balm a few times throughout my labours, and I didn’t find it dried out my lips.

I felt like it had no effect at all.

God I absolutely loved it. Had the mask glued to my face for hours 🤣. Went from wanting to shoot myself from the pain to ready to party in minutes

I loved it but then took so much I was almost sick

It helped initially but when things got ‘serious’ I regretted having had it as I felt wasted and weak. If I had another baby I’d skip it altogether.

It didn't help the pain for me, just made me a little detached. I had auditory hallucinations and was convinced I was dying. Not a pleasant experience.

I loved it! Used it with all three. I felt like I was floating and the. Was back in the room as soon as I stopped breathing it in.

It made me feel at that nicely pissed level. Didn’t take away the pain but did make me give less of a shit about it. Was looking forward to it in my second Labour and ended up having no pain relief. Gutted

Loved it.
1st labour I did throw up but was also in labour with my daughter who I knew had passed away so obviously not a great experience in any way, but it did zone me out which I was grateful for.

2nd labour oh my Christ give me more! Reminded me of taking pills in my festival days and being zonked out in a field. Just chilled and buzzed and I’d have it every day if I could!!

I was given it in ambulance once after a nasty accident and it was awful. I hyperventilated and sucked down loads of it, and then was absolutely convinced the paramedics were abducting me to kill me. I was panicking and trying to get up and escape, and they were having to hold me down to stop me making my injuries worse. Apparently some people do react badly to gas and air.

So when it came to giving birth, I had "no gas and air under any circumstances" all over my birth plan.

I liked it. It felt like that perfect stage of drunkeness, where you love everyone and can achieve anything and your shoes don't hurt

Midwife wouldn’t believe I was giving birth and wouldn’t check me, gas and air was all I had for a very brief time because eventually I grabbed her arm and begged her to check if the baby was coming and she said that I could only have a small bit of g&a when she finally checked and could already see dd head(!)

Was the biggest blessing even though midwife took it off me pretty quickly.

Eye opening to see the different reactions.

I had assumed everyone reacted the same way, but I think I agree with PP that maybe it depends on your mental/emotional state at the time.

I remember thinking the midwives were hiding a big secret (that I had haemorrhaged or similar ) and I didn't believe DH when he reassured me all was fine. I was proper panicking.

While breathing it, I couldn't communicate at all and really hated that. Like I wanted to speak but couldn't.

It didn't feel like being drunk to me, much more like being high (which I've only been a couple of times and hated that too).

I am one of those people who likes to feel in control though.

I'm glad it helps so many people as I've been feeling salty about it, thinking it's a big con!

I had no pain relief for first two births and had gas and air for the third. It made me feel amazing. I was laughing hysterically and mooing like a cow. I knew I was being ridiculous but couldn't stop and my laughing made everyone else laugh too. It was fantastic!!

Drunk, giggly and nauseous.

It made me vomit. Awful stuff!

Sick, made me vomit.