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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Pethidine and childbirth - your experiences please

74 replies

Snaf · 09/12/2008 15:50

I'd love to hear about your experiences with pethidine during labour. This info is purely for my own benefit - I had a situation yesterday that got me thinking about the use of pethidine for pain in labour and would really like to know what MNer's experiences have been.

You don't have to answer any/all of these but I'd be interested to know: Did you request pethidine, or were you offered it? Were you told about the possible side-effects for you and/or the baby? Were you told about the timing issues i.e: about giving it too near to the delivery? Did it help/did you like it/hate it? Do you feel it had any effect on the baby once born? Did you breastfeed after having pethidine? Would you have it again? (in labour, that is )

Any answers much appreciated!

OP posts:
Hassled · 09/12/2008 16:00

Had Pethidine with all 4. I think was offered the first 2 times, then asked.
Yes, I knew it would make the baby drowsy (at least I knew that with the last 2) - don't know if that's the only side-effect there is.
I know nothing about timing issues - either then or now.
Breastfed after each one.
Did I like it? It gave me the sort of hit that makes junkies sell their grandmothers - it was a euphoric, peaceful, painfree few moments, before the pain kicked in again.

juuule · 09/12/2008 16:00

I was offered it and accepted it.
I was told that it couldn't be given too close to delivery.
It didn't help at all with the pain and I hated it as it made me feel drunk and out of control. I also felt the staff ignored me and heard one tell another that I was 'out of it' instead of answering me when I asked a question.
Baby needed 'warming up' when born as they gave me another shot of it too close to delivery. Put for a short while into incubator.
I breastfed.
I had one shot of it for 2nd birth, which confirmed how useless it was for me. I didn't have it again for subsequent births. In fact, made it clear that I didn't want it.

TattyCatty · 09/12/2008 16:00

I was adament that I didn't want Pethodine (or in the case of my local hospital - Diamorphine) as I'd had a very bad experience with IV morphine following a minor op a couple of years previously. I even had a consultation with an Anaesthetist prior to my due date to talk through my options, as I was so wary about having it.

Fast forward to early hours of the morning, having been in labour for 9 hours and still only around 5cm dilated - I was exhausted and MW advised me to have a shot of pethidine. I was fully aware of the possible side effects and timing issues from both my chat with the Anaesthetist and my own mother's experience - she had it about 30 mins before giving birth to me. I was a veeeeeeeeeery sleepy baby!

I absolutely loved the effect that it had, because it was totally appropriate for my stage of labour - I needed to get some rest and I felt like I was going into a dreamy state within seconds of having the injection. Only lasted for about 40 minutes (according to DH) but it definitely re-invigorated me.

DD wasn't born for another 9 hours, so absolutely no effect on her. I wasn't able to establish breastfeeding, but not in any way due to the pethodine. I'm not planning on having any other children, but wouldn't hesitate to have it again, if it was the correct time and for the right reasons.

HTH.

sparklyxmasfairy · 09/12/2008 16:03

for me it was awful only took it because was promised some rest and after being awake for about 48hrs it sounded attractive but I felt like I buried alive sort of awake but unable to move or talk

have heard other people had good experiences

sparklyxmasfairy · 09/12/2008 16:05

sorry meant to add labour took another 20hrs, dd went to SCBU very hard to establish breastfeeding

mmmcheese · 09/12/2008 16:06

I just asked for more pain relief and was given pethidine,I would use it again.It didn't take the pain away but I totally zoned out between contractions and went to sleep. Howver,I was given morphine half an hour before baby was born and she did have a bit of a funny turn a couple of hours after birth.Went quiet and floppy and had to be given oxygen.So maybe opiates arnt so good after all....

littlelamb · 09/12/2008 16:06

I had it with dd. She was induced and I wasn't 'allowed' down to the postnatal ward until someone had agreed I was in established labour. Trouble was, there was noone about to assess me The tens had long since stopped doing anygood, I couldn't have any gas and air as there was none up in the postnatal ward where I was so someone came in proffering an injection, as I recall I wasn't asked but I suppose I must have been. There was certainly no talk of what it could do to me, which as it happens was to make me violently sick. I did bf, but because of how the delivery panned out not for several hours afterwards, as I lost an awful lot of blood and was pretty out of it. Makes me angry to think of it all now really, it was nearly 6 hours before I realised I 'was allowed' to feed her, hte midwife was in the room the whole time but couldn't have cared less. I would not have it again, and managed to have ds with ust gas and air which was much better. Being nauseous in labour was just horrible.

mmmcheese · 09/12/2008 16:08

wasn't told about having pain relief so close to birth

littlelamb · 09/12/2008 16:08

labour ward

Jojay · 09/12/2008 16:11

I had it with DS1. I asked for it, but wish I hadn't bothered. I was knackered and it made me feel sleepy between contractions, but didn't take the edge off the contractions at all. I ended up with an epidural which was heaven.

With DS2 I didn't bother with it and just had gas and air - much better IMHO, as you get the pain relief when you need it, ie during a contraction, rather than when you don't, ie, in between.

Rookietherednosedreindeer · 09/12/2008 16:22

I didn't feel it helped at all. Twas fab in between contractions and I was merrily singing along at the top of my voice to Dido ( we had forgotten to bring along our selected music, to this day White Flag brings a tear to my eye ) but didn't ease the pain at all.

MrsTittleMouse · 09/12/2008 16:34

Mt DH suggested it when I was losing it after a very long labour (at 8cm). I was concerned about only being able to have one dose and needing more further on in the labour, so the MW suggested a half dose with another at transition if I needed it. It was great - I passed out completely for 40 minutes and when I woke up I'd had enough rest to see me through the rest (until everything went pear-shaped at the end, but that's another story). I have no idea if it reduced the pain, by the way, as I was out of it! The baby had no effects and breastfed, but then it was 8 hours between a half dose and delivery.

I didn't have any with DD2 as I didn't feel the need. 878+/+

MrsTittleMouse · 09/12/2008 16:34

Mt DH suggested it when I was losing it after a very long labour (at 8cm). I was concerned about only being able to have one dose and needing more further on in the labour, so the MW suggested a half dose with another at transition if I needed it. It was great - I passed out completely for 40 minutes and when I woke up I'd had enough rest to see me through the rest (until everything went pear-shaped at the end, but that's another story). I have no idea if it reduced the pain, by the way, as I was out of it! The baby had no effects and breastfed, but then it was 8 hours between a half dose and delivery.

I didn't have any with DD2 as I didn't feel the need. 878+/+

MrsTittleMouse · 09/12/2008 16:34

Mt DH suggested it when I was losing it after a very long labour (at 8cm). I was concerned about only being able to have one dose and needing more further on in the labour, so the MW suggested a half dose with another at transition if I needed it. It was great - I passed out completely for 40 minutes and when I woke up I'd had enough rest to see me through the rest (until everything went pear-shaped at the end, but that's another story). I have no idea if it reduced the pain, by the way, as I was out of it! The baby had no effects and breastfed, but then it was 8 hours between a half dose and delivery.

I didn't have any with DD2 as I didn't feel the need. 878+/+

MrsTittleMouse · 09/12/2008 16:34

Mt DH suggested it when I was losing it after a very long labour (at 8cm). I was concerned about only being able to have one dose and needing more further on in the labour, so the MW suggested a half dose with another at transition if I needed it. It was great - I passed out completely for 40 minutes and when I woke up I'd had enough rest to see me through the rest (until everything went pear-shaped at the end, but that's another story). I have no idea if it reduced the pain, by the way, as I was out of it! The baby had no effects and breastfed, but then it was 8 hours between a half dose and delivery.

I didn't have any with DD2 as I didn't feel the need. 878+/+

MrsTittleMouse · 09/12/2008 16:34

Mt DH suggested it when I was losing it after a very long labour (at 8cm). I was concerned about only being able to have one dose and needing more further on in the labour, so the MW suggested a half dose with another at transition if I needed it. It was great - I passed out completely for 40 minutes and when I woke up I'd had enough rest to see me through the rest (until everything went pear-shaped at the end, but that's another story). I have no idea if it reduced the pain, by the way, as I was out of it! The baby had no effects and breastfed, but then it was 8 hours between a half dose and delivery.

I didn't have any with DD2 as I didn't feel the need. 878+/+

MrsTittleMouse · 09/12/2008 16:34

Mt DH suggested it when I was losing it after a very long labour (at 8cm). I was concerned about only being able to have one dose and needing more further on in the labour, so the MW suggested a half dose with another at transition if I needed it. It was great - I passed out completely for 40 minutes and when I woke up I'd had enough rest to see me through the rest (until everything went pear-shaped at the end, but that's another story). I have no idea if it reduced the pain, by the way, as I was out of it! The baby had no effects and breastfed, but then it was 8 hours between a half dose and delivery.

I didn't have any with DD2 as I didn't feel the need. 878+/+

MrsTittleMouse · 09/12/2008 16:34

Mt DH suggested it when I was losing it after a very long labour (at 8cm). I was concerned about only being able to have one dose and needing more further on in the labour, so the MW suggested a half dose with another at transition if I needed it. It was great - I passed out completely for 40 minutes and when I woke up I'd had enough rest to see me through the rest (until everything went pear-shaped at the end, but that's another story). I have no idea if it reduced the pain, by the way, as I was out of it! The baby had no effects and breastfed, but then it was 8 hours between a half dose and delivery.

I didn't have any with DD2 as I didn't feel the need. 878+/+

MrsTittleMouse · 09/12/2008 16:34

Mt DH suggested it when I was losing it after a very long labour (at 8cm). I was concerned about only being able to have one dose and needing more further on in the labour, so the MW suggested a half dose with another at transition if I needed it. It was great - I passed out completely for 40 minutes and when I woke up I'd had enough rest to see me through the rest (until everything went pear-shaped at the end, but that's another story). I have no idea if it reduced the pain, by the way, as I was out of it! The baby had no effects and breastfed, but then it was 8 hours between a half dose and delivery.

I didn't have any with DD2 as I didn't feel the need. 878+/+

MrsTittleMouse · 09/12/2008 16:34

Mt DH suggested it when I was losing it after a very long labour (at 8cm). I was concerned about only being able to have one dose and needing more further on in the labour, so the MW suggested a half dose with another at transition if I needed it. It was great - I passed out completely for 40 minutes and when I woke up I'd had enough rest to see me through the rest (until everything went pear-shaped at the end, but that's another story). I have no idea if it reduced the pain, by the way, as I was out of it! The baby had no effects and breastfed, but then it was 8 hours between a half dose and delivery.

I didn't have any with DD2 as I didn't feel the need. 878+/+

MrsTittleMouse · 09/12/2008 16:34

Mt DH suggested it when I was losing it after a very long labour (at 8cm). I was concerned about only being able to have one dose and needing more further on in the labour, so the MW suggested a half dose with another at transition if I needed it. It was great - I passed out completely for 40 minutes and when I woke up I'd had enough rest to see me through the rest (until everything went pear-shaped at the end, but that's another story). I have no idea if it reduced the pain, by the way, as I was out of it! The baby had no effects and breastfed, but then it was 8 hours between a half dose and delivery.

I didn't have any with DD2 as I didn't feel the need. 878+/+

MrsTittleMouse · 09/12/2008 16:34

Mt DH suggested it when I was losing it after a very long labour (at 8cm). I was concerned about only being able to have one dose and needing more further on in the labour, so the MW suggested a half dose with another at transition if I needed it. It was great - I passed out completely for 40 minutes and when I woke up I'd had enough rest to see me through the rest (until everything went pear-shaped at the end, but that's another story). I have no idea if it reduced the pain, by the way, as I was out of it! The baby had no effects and breastfed, but then it was 8 hours between a half dose and delivery.

I didn't have any with DD2 as I didn't feel the need. 878+/+

MrsTittleMouse · 09/12/2008 16:34

Mt DH suggested it when I was losing it after a very long labour (at 8cm). I was concerned about only being able to have one dose and needing more further on in the labour, so the MW suggested a half dose with another at transition if I needed it. It was great - I passed out completely for 40 minutes and when I woke up I'd had enough rest to see me through the rest (until everything went pear-shaped at the end, but that's another story). I have no idea if it reduced the pain, by the way, as I was out of it! The baby had no effects and breastfed, but then it was 8 hours between a half dose and delivery.

I didn't have any with DD2 as I didn't feel the need. 878+/+

MrsTittleMouse · 09/12/2008 16:34

Mt DH suggested it when I was losing it after a very long labour (at 8cm). I was concerned about only being able to have one dose and needing more further on in the labour, so the MW suggested a half dose with another at transition if I needed it. It was great - I passed out completely for 40 minutes and when I woke up I'd had enough rest to see me through the rest (until everything went pear-shaped at the end, but that's another story). I have no idea if it reduced the pain, by the way, as I was out of it! The baby had no effects and breastfed, but then it was 8 hours between a half dose and delivery.

I didn't have any with DD2 as I didn't feel the need. 878+/+

MrsTittleMouse · 09/12/2008 16:35

Bugger! Sorry - DD1 at the keyboard!