Oromorph - labour

[brambles89]

Hi! Has anyone had oromorph during labour? What was your experience with it? Did it slow down progress etc?

I've never heard of anyone having it on labour. Would it even be allowed for the babies respiration?

I don’t think its used in labour in the UK

I stand corrected. Apparently it can used in the latent phase of labour.

I didn't have this during labour (only gas and air) but i dod have it after an operation. Blimey NEVER AGAIN!. I felt like I was floating on the ceiling and I was constantly vomiting and absolutely pouring with sweat!

Oramorph isn't used as labour analgesia

it would be no more problematic for the baby's respiration than using IM pethidine or diamorphine.

I didn't have oramorph, but I had diamorphibe while in labour with DD1. It really helped, and while I felt a bit sleepy on it, DD came out great with top APGAR scores.

Yes I had diamorphine too. Helped me but I know others hate it. I felt very relaxed still had pain but didn't seem to care about it as much.
Baby was fine I didn't have it too late maybe a few hours before he was born.

Same with the others. No oramorph (tbh I only thought that was given post partum) but yes IM diamorphine.

I thought it was wonderful. I was sound asleep between contractions, though I had barely slept in the previous 60 hours. There was pain towards the peak of contractions which I used gas+air for. If I could remember which hand was holding the mouthpiece ofc. I ended up sucking on my own fingers if I remembered incorrectly.

There was a second midwife present at birth in case baby had trouble breathing. But the diamorphine was wearing off at that point (5 hours post injection) and baby's APGARs were fine.

Interesting!

i have actually had it twice for both my labours (in England) First time I was offered it and it made me feel so good (like on a warm fuzzy cloud) albeit for only a few hours.

second time I asked for it and was given it again.

i was never informed of any risks/negative effects and to be honest never asked. Both babies born completely fine and latched straight away

I’m currently pregnant again and have done a lot more research this time about my choices and can’t find much info at all about oromorph! Hence asking as it doesn't seem like it’s that common.

my second labour lasted a bit longer and I wondered if the oromorph may have slowed down progress.