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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Has anyone had a homebirth and not got gas and air ?

53 replies

MillyMollyMoo · 06/11/2009 11:05

This is my 4th pregnancy, all births have been straight forward and relatively good.
BUT I know I could not cope without gas and air and that is my only concern about having a home birth.
The birth pool did nothing for me last time, I will try hypnotherapy wherever I pop but as I say the thought of the midwife forgetting or it not working fills me with horror.

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ChasingSquirrels · 06/11/2009 15:40

I had g&a for my first birth (hospital) and LOVED it.
I didn't have anything for my second birth (home), but then it was very short.

Tangle · 06/11/2009 15:46

I had DD (my first - 9lb 12 and breech) at home with IMs and no G&A. It was in one of the MW's cars, but I didn't need it so they didn't bring it in. They said they always had it available but probably used it on < 50% of births (best guess as to why was that women are so much more relaxed in their home environment they either feel less pain or handle it better). I used breathing, TENS (which worked fine till I got to transition) and then a pool. Birth was back on dry land with nothing apart from breathing - I'd strongly recommend some kind of hypnotheraphy and/or meditation practice.

I did use G&A and LA while they stitched me back up (had to transfer for that as it was an akward internal 2nd degree that wouldn't stop bleeding), but I'm planning another HB for DC2.

ellipsis · 06/11/2009 15:58

I had a homebirth and had assumed the midwife had brought the g&a with her, but as I was starting to think, 'hmmm, might want to start on the gas and air soon', she announced she was going to call the hospital to get them to deliver it! Wasn't too impressed with that, but coped ok in the 20/30 minutes it took for it to arrive.

I'm sure it'll be easy enough to arrange, just be clear about what you want beforehand.

flier · 06/11/2009 16:15

I had an unplanned home birth and am still mazed at how the human body just takes over. Why don'y you read up on hypno birthing? Just to give you an idea of what can be done without any g&a.

LynetteScavo · 06/11/2009 16:25

I didn't need gas and air with my 3rd labour.(HB after 2 hostpital births where I demanded every drug going) The midwife got it out of her car just in case, then faffed around iwth the tank making a hissing noise which really annoyed me.

Hypnotherapy was great, but I don't think they would run out of G&A....how long do you intend to be in labour for?

reikizen · 06/11/2009 16:29

I had dd2 at home and the midwife only arrived as I was getting the urge to push so used the entonox really only for pushing and I didn't really need it then tbh. My mw delivered the canisters in advance and brought the attachment tube on the day, they can send for more though if it is a long labour (I doubt it for your 4th baby though!) Home births are a world away from even the calmest birth centre birth in my experience and pain relief is a non issue for many women. It's lovely, go for it.

CatIsSleepy · 06/11/2009 16:30

the first cylinder didn't work, so the second midwife brought a different one- then they spent so long the pair of them faffing about with it (and ignoring me!) that by the time they'd got it sorted I didn't want the bloody thing anyway
I didn't use the pool either! still it kept dh busy...

Original poster
MillyMollyMoo · 06/11/2009 17:04

Flier I've had a "hypnobirth" before and whilst I coped much much better than without it I really would rely on it completely because there certainly was some pain tightenings.
As hubby pointed out it probably a placebo affect as much as anything but I do like to have that G&A in my mouth permanently.
Also DC3 was 12 hours and babck to back so you never really know how it's going to pan out I guess.

OP posts:
Flightattendant · 06/11/2009 17:08

They brought it for mine but I didn't think it would touch the pain tbh, it was all a bit fast and furious.

Still alive though

suzi2 · 06/11/2009 18:13

I had 3 canisters and it arrived a few weeks before so i knew it was all oK and at least one would work! I was worried I'd be sick on it though so didn't add it to the mix and got on absolutely fine without.

I used it as a crutch with DS and ended up with morphine too. It was only afterwards, when pg with DD, I realised that I had only used 1/4 of a can or something in 6 hours and the MW said it can't have been switched on right. Which might explain how crap it was lol. But I still felt I needed it with him - must have been the placebo thing.

daisyj · 06/11/2009 19:43

hi detox . Hope you're well too. Good to 'see' you.

x-posted earlier, so only just seen this.

Sorry, hijack over!

Oh, and I should add that I'm a total wimp about pain, so all that 'I didn't need g&a even for the stitches' is truly testament to being relaxed in your own home and letting your hormones deal with the pain!

swottybetty · 06/11/2009 20:15

no g & a - (6hr labour) - but was in a very deep hypnotic trance so stoned in my own kind of way

BUT the moment they got out the anesthtic needle to start work on my fanjo tear, i balked and they offered me the mouthpiece. a lovely way to end 9 months of sobriety.

thisisyesterday · 06/11/2009 20:18

millymollymoo

with my first labour i had gas and air, pethidine adn then an epidural

i was very worried about whether or not i woulde be able to cope with the pain when i had a homebirth for number 2!
when the midwives arrived they left the gas and air in the car, so it wasn't on hand

i had a 6 hour labour, with a back to back baby, with a huge head, who weighed 9lb 5!!! and no pain relief at all.
and yes, i am bloody smug about it lol, cos i didn't think i could do it and i did

ds3 was also born at home, in 45 minutes, before midwives arrived, so no pain relief for him either and it was fine

to be honest, for me, the setting, positive thinkiing techniques and just being able to deal with it all in my own way were far more important to me in terms of helping manage the pain than any drugs were

thisisyesterday · 06/11/2009 20:22

and yes, the midwives i had were fantastic, they basically just let me get on with it, and only got a bit more hands on when i was taking so long tpo push ds2 out (as he was OP)
so they gave me guidance then, but were fine with me ignoring it lol, and when i announced that it hurt far too much and i didn't want to do it any more one of them said ok, just don't push for a little while it's fine
turned out it hurt a lot more trying not to push!

Velvetbee · 06/11/2009 20:29

With DC1 they didn't forget but the valve thing didn't work on the second cylinder. Managed without it for an hour then begged, sobbing until one MW drove back to the hospital for more. Not fun

ja9 · 06/11/2009 20:35

i had hb with dd

i had gas and air. it was delivered the date MWs went on call - at 38 wks iirc. just had to wait for them to arrive on the morning to coneect it.

Grendle · 06/11/2009 20:39

I didn't want G&A and insisted they didn't bring it. In the end they didn't make it in time, so irrelevant . This time MWs are happy that they will bring it in the car, but not lug it in unless specifically requested.

In terms of being open to minimal intervention, I would say in general yes, but it does depend where you are and what 'minimal' means to you and your midwives. Last time (different location) the NHS midwives found my birth plan a bit radical and challenging (e.g. no internals -which they wouldn't agree to). Now in a new location, I've been told my current 'hands off' birth plan is standard for a homebirth, wouldn't phase any of the local team at all and that they can't see anything to make a fuss about . I can't wait!

BeehiveBaby · 06/11/2009 20:41

Here they deliver it in advance, but I didn't use much in labour (had loads for my stitches though). Like a PP, I sound pretending to use it more helpful.

mamasunshine · 07/11/2009 04:57

I had my gas and air dropped off about 2 wks before my due date!

Boobz · 07/11/2009 21:13

My midwife brought 2 cannisters and I got through them in about 3 hours.... I had been in (latent) labour for 3 days and nights, so when she turned up and examined me and said I was 4cm and could break out the G&A (wahoo!) I was not holding back! But then I caned it and was VERY miffed when I sucked the last puff and the thing ran dry... DH says the look on my face when there was no gas left was something he never wants to see again... pure anger and despair! But as it happened, the second midwife took another 90 mins to arrive and I didn't have any gas during that time and coped, even though I would've prefered not to have had to...

So 2nd MW turned up and I got another cannister and a half to take me to 10cm and pushing... was all fine in the end.....

But if you're really worried, you can buy nitrous oxide (for all intents and purposes the same as G&A) from all good cake shops as it's the stuff you use to maked whipped cream. It's perfectly legal to buy it and use it recreationally! I plan to have some on standby next time, just in case...

showmethemummy · 11/11/2009 19:11

actually i think alot of your HB experience will depend on where you live (NHS lottery)and also the MWs who attend.

My first was born at home - it was a complete nightmare. I wanted gas and air, the MWs brought a faulty cannister about 3hrs after I first asked for it; then one of them brought oxygen by mistake to replace it (another 1.5hrs later).then the last one ran out after about 20mins.
I was completely hysterical because I knew that I would want at least some pain relief, and was prepared to manage on gas and air, but not NOTHING. when I had it it worked fantastically well.

I had 2nd deg tearing - the MW sent me to hospital for stitching where I again only had gas and air.

Second baby delivered at hospital and I had pethidine followed by gas and air. Labour went fast (and much much calmer). MW great.

Anyway I live in Tower Hamlets (east London)
There are no prizes for delivering without the pain relief that you really want.

Sorry if that's abit cynical.

marjean · 11/11/2009 19:37

3 home births. First with gas and air - big mistake as it made me feel sick and interrupted my breathing. Second with no gas and air at all as there wasn't time. Third with a small puff or two during transition. Totally manageable with all the other stuff available (water, breathing, moving etc). Each of mine have been totally different in the ways in which they have gone - eg I was obsessed with using Tens for my second as it had proved so useful first time round but it didn't arrive before my baby and it was fine. Go for a home birth - they're fab.

EcoMouse · 12/11/2009 03:11

Boobz not sure what you meant by nitrous oxide being legal to buy and use recreationally? It's illegal to inhale it or purchase it for the use of inhalation. Unless by recreational you meant whipping cream of course

OmniDroid · 12/11/2009 06:55

My HB I think there was some G&A but I didn't use it. No, what am I saying - there was because I used it when they were doing my stitches, was the only time I needed it.

My NHS midwife was fine with minimal intervention btw, no checks after I got in the birth pool.

Original poster
MillyMollyMoo · 12/11/2009 11:56

I'm also guessing that if on the day there is any nonsense about gas and air not being available i can still go to hospital so nothing to loose by giving it a go right ?

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