Pethidine and childbirth - your experiences please

[Snaf]

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!

Had 3 doses when having DS1. Then was as high as a kite come grunting time. He almost died as I couldn't push. Delivered by forceps and I was cut, lost lots of blood.
Vowed never to have pain relief during another labour.
I have had 2 children since and no more pethadine.
Bad, bad, bad!

No probs at all with having pethdine.

Had it after I'd been induced and had contractions for a while but was still 0cm and seemed to be going nowhere! I was offered it. Wasn't told about side-effects at the time thought the ante-natal class was full of doom and gloom about it (and all other drugs). Was given an anti-emetic at the same time so no nausea.

Also told at ante-natal about not having it too close to the birth, but as I was 0cm that wasn't really an issue. It helped a lot, I actually slept for a while and felt much more relaxed. I also felt quite loved up and kept telling DH I loved him!

I doubt it had any effect on dd as she was born 11 hours later by em c/s. I breastfed fine and am still doing so 13 months later. I would have it again but circumstances are such that I would prob have elec c/s for the next pg (which I am hoping will be very soon!)

"the MW just kind of looked blankly at me and said well what kind of pain relief do you want?"

Where do these women do their midwifery training

When I was pregnant with dd1 I read these Sheila Kitzinger books that showed midwives with their arms around labouring women, looking at them with tenderness in their eyes.

I thought that's what midwives did - massaged you and comforted you, and basically made you feel looked after.

The first midwife who looked after me in hospital slopped into the room looking at her fingernails. Her shoes were trodden down at the back so they were like slippers. She just shuffled in and out of the room, humming in an annoying way, occasionally approaching me to offer drugs. I remember grabbing her arm at one point and begging her to help me. She peeled my fingers off one by one and told me she was going to have a short break and eat her sandwiches..... I had an overwhelming feeling that she really didn't want to touch me without gloves on.......

I had an IM with my second and third and the care couldn't have been more different. Proper loving care. Rather have that than drugs.........

have not read thread, but in response to op:

id you request pethidine, or were you offered it?
i didn't request it, in fact my birth plan said i didn't under any circumstances want to have it

Were you told about the possible side-effects for you and/or the baby?
yes at antenatal classes- mw was happy to discuss during labour and reassured me wrt to my concerns (essentially sleepy baby and trouble bfeeding)

Were you told about the timing issues i.e: about giving it too near to the delivery?
mw assured me that i had hours to go- she was right.

Did it help/did you like it/hate it?
i absolutely LOVED it. it helped me to relax deeply and even sleep through the contractions- i was having a long and inefficient back to back labour and if it hadn't been for that rest i wouldn't have been able to push on my own, i am sure.

Do you feel it had any effect on the baby once born?
none that i could tell.

Did you breastfeed after having pethidine?
yes dd was put on my breast right away and latched on completely by herself. she was a start breastfeeder.

Would you have it again? (in labour, that is ) if i had another slow and protracted labour yes. dd2 was a swift affair, 4 hours from first contraction to birth, so i didn't need it and wouldn't have wanted it.

had it as desperate for any help as G&A wasn't touching the induced labour pains.

Was sick as a dog and was passing out with wanting to sleep. Not told any side effects though I did know it could make you sleepy, just didn't realise HOW sleepy.

Didn't have it with ds 2.

Tired, sleepy,pissed

AARRGGGHHH!!!

tired, sleepy pissed

AAARRRGGHH!!!

(repeat for 5 or 6 hours)

that was my experience of it

...like mine. I was out of it and dh had to sign for an epidural as I was curling up and trying to sleep on the floor...

I remeber thinking I just want to die.

For my second baby I had it.

Did you request pethidine, or were you offered it?
It was on my birth plan that I would like it so the mw offered it to me once the contractions got really bad.

Were you told about the possible side-effects for you and/or the baby?
Yes I was told in ante natal classes, was also told they could give the baby an injection that conteract the drowsiness after the birth. Although I don't think DS had it afterwards.

Were you told about the timing issues i.e: about giving it too near to the delivery?
Yes, in ante natal classes

Did it help/did you like it/hate it?
I absolutley loved it.

Do you feel it had any effect on the baby once born?
Not that I noticed.

Did you breastfeed after having pethidine?
I bf as soon as I could and DS continued to bf for 15 months.

Would you have it again? (in labour, that is ) YES

I also had it during the labour I had after my baby had died inside me. In that case the baby had already died so obviously I didn't have to worry about it's effect on the baby. I had the full dose every 2 hours and it helped me a great deal get through a very difficult time.

Hated it, horrible stuff! Avoided it for my 2 subsequent births. It made me feel really out of it, but could still feel lots of pain. Don't remember being told about side effects at the time,although had been told about them at antenatal class previously. I did bf and with hindsight, feel that the pethidine did hinder dd's feeding, we really struggled to start with.

I actually had diamorphine not pethidine.

Two main issues:-

1. it started off a cascade of intervention - DS got distressed, leading to syntocin drip and then ventouse

1. mw after establishing I had no experience of drugs and saying it was likely to strongly affect me wanted to give me the injection when DH was out of the room, which I didn't feel comfortable with. mw did not discuss side effects, but it was covered at ante natal classes.

I thought it was OK as it made me sleep through the pain. DS was a poor feeder in general (jaundice, very slow even when switched to bottles) so I don't think the diamorphine made a difference.

HV suggested that the diamorphine caused my urinary retention after labour - but friend of a friend anaesthetist pooh poohed that theory.

I had pethadine, then afterwards midwife checked and i was nearly fully dilated, so was very very close to his birth. Made me sick as a dog too!

Baby had real problems breastfeeding, he had formula twice before breast fed but more due to jaundice i think.

If i have another one i think i would be unlikely to have it again, ,and would insist on them checking my progress first!

i had it about 5 hours into a drip induction, following a few days/nights of pessary induction. they wouldn't give me an epidural and mw was rationing g&a. i hated it too, did no good. ended up with ecs and difficulty bf but a bit unfair to attribute it to the pethidine.

The births of both my dcs were induced and I had pethidine both times. I was particularly stressed and anxious the second time and the pethidine calmed me down and took the edge off the contractions for a while. I had no difficulty with bf immediately after each birth - although I have to say that the pethidine was administered fairly early in the proceedings both times. Neither baby was sleepy.

Thanks to everyone for replying. It's been really interesting reading all your experiences. I asked mainly because I had a situation a few days ago where I was 'told' by a doctor to administer pethidine to a woman who I was sure was going to deliver within the next hour or so (I didn't administer, and she did deliver!) and we had a little bit of a disagreement about it. I've been mulling it over ever since and just wanted to get the other side of the story, as it were. Thanks again.

I asked for and got 3 does of pethadine with ds. It was bloody wonderful!! Apparently i comment to dh that it wasnt wirking and he point out that i had had it 4 hours ago and had been space cadeted since! Was warning of all risks of making baby drowsy but in fairness ds was still doing flip flops round my belly at this point (actually turned himself breech 20 hours into labour - little bugger!) and it was quite nice for him to
give it a rest for a while, breast fed happily for nine months. Love the stuff!

Had it with both of mine ,cant honestly remember being told of the side effects ,would say it slows labour down or maybe it just feels like that ,as for helping with the pain ,i could still feel pain but felt disconnected from it ,if that makes sense at all ? would choose not to have it if fingers crossed there is a next time ,would stick with good old gas and air

I had it with my DD and it was really helpful (I was induced, 30 hour labour). I had heard lots of bad things about it beforehand, and tried to resist when it was offered by the MW about ten hours in. She said I needed something as I had a long way to go and wouldn't last. I accepted it and was able to sleep for, well, I'm not sure how long, but a while. It did take away the pain for me, and I didn't feel too out of it although I suppose I must have been! I was sick later but I think that was the G&A. DD wasn't sleepy, had no problem breastfeeding, but the pethidine was given a good while before she was actually born.

Did you request pethidine, or were you offered it? It was in my birth plan and I was offered it

Were you told about the possible side-effects for you and/or the baby? Prior to labour yes

Were you told about the timing issues i.e: about giving it too near to the delivery?

Again prior to labour.

Did it help/did you like it/hate it?
I loved it gave me a boost on the gas and air (felt the same to me to be honest just stronger) it allowed me to sleep between contractions as I was exhausted after long labours.

Do you feel it had any effect on the baby once born?
It had no effect whatsoever in DD but DS was very sleepy after birth. DS dose given closer to birth time.
Did you breastfeed after having pethidine?
Yes DD fed well at birth and beyond DS slept for a day before getting the hang of it slowly.

Would you have it again? (in labour, that is )
Yes but i'm hoping my labour will shorter this time and I wont need it!

'Did you request pethidine, or were you offered it?'

I was 2cm and screaming my head off begging for an epidural. I didn't want pethidine I wanted an epidural. The mw insisted and told me it was an elephant tranquiliser that would put me to sleep until an epidural could be arranged.

'Were you told about the possible side-effects for you and/or the baby?'

No, I was given the patient information leaflet but the writing was too small for me to read whilst screaming and shaking. My DH read it and agreed on my behalf.

'Were you told about the timing issues i.e: about giving it too near to the delivery?'

No, but I was only 2cm when given it.

Did it help/did you like it/hate it?

No, it didn't do a thing. I was in too much pain for it to affect me at all. What made it worse was they then banned me from getting off of the bed to move around which is what my body was telling me because I was supposed to be drugged up. In truth I felt no effects at all. I didn't bother asking for any more when it was supposed to have worn off because I felt no different.

'Do you feel it had any effect on the baby once born?'

Yes. He came out floppy, rasping and didn't cry or feed for the first 2 days.

'Did you breastfeed after having pethidine?'

Eventually. DS was a VERY hungry and demanding baby so I was lucky that once he'd recovered he MADE SURE he could breastfeed.

'Would you have it again?'

Absolutely not in labour. Would quite like to try it not in labour to see if it actually does anything. Likewise gas and air!

I think the mw only gave it to me so that I would shut up and they would have to deal with me.

I had written on my birth plan for DD1 that I didn't want it as i had heard it made the baby sleepy and could inhibit breast feeding (ha ha birth plans for your first baby are a JOKE, you have no idea what you will or won't want at the time - I also put I didn't want a c-section, but was begging for it by the time they did it!).

After over 12 hours of contractions every 2 mins they offered me pethadine and I jumped at it as I was beyond desperate by that stage, although only a couple cm dilated . It was wonderful, the pain receded (although I could still feel the contractions) and I felt sleepy and relaxed - for about an hour or so. I had another 2 shots of pethadine over the next 12 hours, still wonderful, although had less and less effect each time.

Some time later I had an epidural and then eventually a section. DD1 started BF immediately we were out of theatre and she wasn't sleepy and no problems, although I suppose the last shot of pethadine must have been about 8 or 9 hours before she was born.

I requested it after 55 hours of labour when gas and air no longer working. Yes I knew about side effects and timing issues from NCT class. Absolutely loved it, completely forgot I was having a baby. Didn't help though with pushing stage as I was completely unaware of what was going on and ended up with bad tear. Baby born 5 hours after pethidine, didn't notice any effects but was told couldn't bath him for 2 days as he was so sleepy (not sure why). Breastfed no problem. Yes would definitely have it again whether in labour or not!

I had pethidine after the mw insisted it would be a 'godsend', so agreed, but was told of no side effects. I was completely spaced out, my dp says my eyes were rolling, and then I was sick - very sick. I got very hot and they opened a window. But i was completely out of it. Once it wore off, she offered it again and I said no chance. I didnt give birth for another seven hours (she was desperately tryin to get me to have more), but by then ds had turned, got stuck and had a poo and I had an epi.

I definitely would not have it again, all it did was waste a good hour of so of my time.