Drugs to take at home in early labour - what's allowed?

[Essie3]

I mean legal ones! Paracetamol is ok, I know, but what about stronger things - co-codamol? (I had that when I broke my foot, and it was fab).

What about the ones not allowed in pregnancy - ibuprofen etc?

I'm having a minor panic because mw has gone on holiday and forgotten to give me my tens machine...I want to stay at home as long as possible.

Don't take ibuprofen - it is still dangerous until the cord is cut.

Paracetamol, not ibuprofen or asprin or anything like that. You could take cocodamol but it is a prescription only drug, it is strong and I personally would not want it to be passing through to my fetus, although it is sometimes prescribed in pregnancy. Don't forget it has paracetamol in it too. I found a wheat bag and baths really useful.

essie -have you thought about a tens machine too?

I won't suggest my mothers suggestion of a large whisky when she had my sister...

cocodamol is fine to take in early labour.

Why don't you hire another tens? you can get them in boots or on express delivery.

i was advised to take paracetamol. but hot baths seemed to work better.

tesco also now do tens machines at thier pharmacy.

along with the paracetamol and warm bath, I'd suggest a wheatbag and a birth partner who is good at back massage -proper finding the knots and working them out, not just tickling IYKWIM?

Its funny really, that we worry so much that once you are in hospital you are offered heroin!

I believe champagne is traditional

Don't do what my friend did and eat cannabis in early labour. She was in her birth pool really bummed out and not at all coherent - oh and it didn't help with the pain either!

Hi Essie! Divvy, I agree about the heroin thing - and WMMC - DP and me were debating this the other week, and whether or not making a space cake or similar was a good idea. A friend of a friend did it and said it really helped.... I just wonder if I might end up a giggling wreck.

On a more serious note, a mw did say paracetamol and codeine were ok. Maybe a glass of wine would help too? Or champagne of course WMMC!!

i drank a pina colada i had been craving for months.

Don't do it - it makes you very incontinent and grumpy in labour apparently. Gas and air is available if you wish to fly!

My MW says a glass of champagne is fine as long as we save one for her!

I'm probably too chicken to try the space cake tbh - it can affect me in totally different ways, and wouldn't want to risk incontinence (even if it was because I was PMSL) or having a whitey! Try explaining that to the mws... And I suspect DP would snaffle it anyway!

The mw who sent me home after two days of contractions (grr - admitted at 7cm less than 2 hours later, am still bitter!) told me to take codeine. DH went to the pharmacist to get some and once he'd told them what it was for they point blank refused to give it to him even though the mw had recommended it. They said it shouldn't be taken in labour. I think it was because it is linked to breathing difficulties in the newborn but am not absolutely sure.

Ok, great, thanks for the tips on Tens - I hadn't really thought about other options eg Tesco/Boots, and was in a panic. (Spacecake right now for me, perhaps, to make me relax ). Whinegums - cannabis makes me sleepy, so now I'm seriously considering it!! Should have been on a regular dose for the last few months!

Beer, now that's really reassuring! I'll make sure I'm not out of my head by the time I make it to hospital, though! Can you imagine turning up totally plastered?!

Will now go and look online for massage during birth.