Advice on using gas & air in labour

[nah1974]

I'm expecting my first baby next year and would like to try and have as active/natural a birth as possible, however I don't want to completely rule out other forms of pain relief in case I need them.

I've read quite a few posts about gas & air (I prefer the thought of this to anything injectable) but it seems like how you use it is pretty important and this can make a difference as to whether it works for you or not. Specifically I've read that you can usually choose from using a mouthpiece or a mask. I was just wondering which is better? I'm not sure I can coordinate breathing through my mouth very well Has anyone tried both? Which was better? Thanks everyone!

I used it with dd and it was great!!

But, I didnt use it until I was fully dilated and needed to get on the bed to be examined. My advice, dont use it too soon. I think thats when it makes you feel sick.

When you do feel you need it you will just know what to do - I was never shown how to use I just did it!! I had a mouthpiece. Not sure I want it in a mask as there is nothing to bite on!

Good luck.

i didnt have a choice it just had mouth piece and you just take in as you feel you need it i wasnt given it until in labour suite ready to give birth and if you take it in too quick it can make you feel bit sick but overall you kind of just do as told by midwife and follow instruction and just get on with it its difficult to advise as were all different you just have to do what you need to at the time

I used it for about an hour between being fully dilated and getting the urge to push. I used a mouth piece and was told by the paramedic to breathe normally with it in your mouth between contractions and then breathe more rapidly when you have a contraction - not sure this is what you're told to do by midwives though as it does get used up very quickly! I loved it, though probably could have managed without it but it was shoved in my mouth without really asking me by a paramedic who was worried he was going to have to deliver his first baby. It wasn't really pain relief as such but makes you feel a bit stoned/in your own little world and gives you something else to concentrate on.

I have had it in 4 labours. Always a mouth piece, never been offered a mask. This is good as there is then something to bite down on. In fact with my first I actually bit through the mouth piece and had to have a new one .

There is a technique to it. You really need to start breathing it in the moment you can feel a contraction coming. Then by the time you reach the peak of the contraction the pain relief will have hit you. It takes a few seconds to act so no good breathing it in when you actually need it most iyswim. The mw will tell you how to do it though.

I was always lucky and it didn't make me feel sick. However I do know it can some people throw up. In fact with my first I had 7 canisters of the stuff before the took it away from me

Oh and after 9 months of no alcohol it is wonderful to feel so out of it!

info from anesthetists here

anaesthetists even

Pain is a bloody good teacher

I very, very quickly learned to use it! Basically I had to start breathing it in the moment I felt the contraction beginning, because then I found it took a bit of the top of the pain off...if I was a second or two late, it wouldn't have the same effect.

So my advice, don't worry, when you need it, you will know how to use it!

Agree - great to bite down on the mouthpiece. I also think it helps you to focus on long breaths

When I was delivering DD they took the gas and air off me (they'd only let me have it 5 mins before ) but I made them give me the mouthpiece as I could bite and also concentrate on my breathing.

I used it with both DD and DS. With DD it didn't seem to make much difference but I don't think I breathed deeply enough or long enough. I was in such pain I didn't really know what I was doing. (Sorry- maybe too much info ).
With DS I asked for it much earlier (I wasn't really in any pain but was a few cm dilated) and was really relaxed with it, taking long deep breaths. It really worked and was FAB. Managed to read a book the whole 9 hours or so whilst casually breathing it in.
So I would say try to start it while you'll still in (vague) control. (They can be a bit rubbish about offering it).
(It also worked really well after DD was born and I was having some stitches- that was when I felt all giggly and was talking rubbish)

And was a mouthpeice as well

I used it as soon as the TENS machine alone was not enough (but my labour was v quick so can't comment on whether the effects wear off if you use it for too long).

Top tips: if you have a monitor on, start on the gas as soon as you see the contractions starting (they seem to start climbing before you actually feel them).

Breathe in as deeply as you possibly can, not just short normal breaths.

Have a drink nearby as it will dry your throat out.

Have DP or someone holding it so you can use the mouthpeice and take it away as soon as you are done. I think this would help with not feeling sick as you can breathe normal air in between contractions.

yes big deep breaths like until you can't breath in, or out, any further. it isn't exactly pain relief though, you know you're in pain but it doesn't bother you.