Pain relief in a fast labour?

[sarahscot]

My first labour was 3 and a half hours. The midwive has told me that I can expect this one to be even quicker, and that has been backed up by MNers on my post last week. The midwive told me that I won;t be able to get an epidural for a fast birth. However, in my first birth, even though it was relatively quick (and it certainly doesn't feel quick when you're going through it!), I didn't handle the pain well at all and am terrified at the thought of doing it again without pain relief. I don't think I've quite reached phobia levels, but it is certainly keeping me awake at night. I've got an appointment with my consultant to discuss my issues and fears and I want to go in armed with any information I can find.

So, to finally get to the point, do any of you have any experience of (effective!!) pain relief in fast labours? Gas and air did nothing for me, and diamorphine made me sick and sleepy but didn't numb the pain at all.

Thanks in advance. x

Anyone?

Waterbirth?

DD was fast - not as fast as yours mind!

I really liked the water - made me feel very comfortable

Oh no, poor you. I have no idea at all, but I too had super quick labours, and found gthe tens machine to be very good. I know it probably isn't what you want to hear, but it is something you can rig up youself immediately you go in to labour. Also gas and air asap.

Hopefully someone far more useful will come along soon. Good luck

I second the waterbirth. DS2 was a 3 hour labour and only just had time to get in the pool. It helped a lot.

Thanks everyone, a water birth was something I really wanted, but as I'm getting more panicky the more I just want hard drugs . . . the magic kind obviously, that give me total pain relief but don't affect the baby at all!

Also, going by anecdotal evidence, I think realistically I can expect a 1 to 2 hour labour so wouldn't have time to benefit from the pool by the time I got to hospital.

I had gas and air with ds1 (2 hr labour) which I found fantastic.
No pain relief with ds2 as he was only a 15 min labour, so no time for anything.
Have you got a tens machine?
Or what about a home water birth?

You'd be amazed at how much G&A helps during a quick labour. That and keeping mobile.

DD2 's labour was only an hour, we live 40 mins from the hospital (DH drove it in 24mins) 15 mins to cross the, normally 2 mins walk, carpark to the delivery suite, another 5 mins to the assessment suite, then to delivery suite and she was born within minutes. I wanted an epidural but not enough time, G&A made me vomit. It was amamzing how my body managed to make me cope. Yes it hurt but once she was delivered it it all stopped, I was so grateful that I didn't have the epidural as I was up and about 15 mins having a bath and was able to get about when I wanted too.

Actually, keeping mobile might help me. I was induced last time so basically confined to the bed what with all the wires, monitors and drips, etc. I think a lot of my fear stemmed from feeling so out of control.

My second labour was 3 hours 13 mins from start to finish. We signed in to the delivery suite at 8.15 and DD1 was born at 8.43 . I was begging for an epidural when I arrived, as had had a very effective one with DS1 and was definitely planning on having another one with DD1, but there was just no time for anything - couldn't get to the pool, couldn't get any other drugs. I was offered G&A but couldn't get on with the mouthpiece when I was pushing. My tip - use the G&A in between contractions, take really deep breaths, and your body will do the rest. As someone else posted, it is amazing what your body does to help with the pain naturally. Having had both epidural and non-epidural, I have to say I would have the non-epidural option again.

Good luck!

Sarah sometimes induced labours are faster than you would normally labour iykwim.
You might be pleasantly surprised and have a steadier slower time if you go into labour yourself, which may give you time to have whatever you like.

My second labour was pretty fast, a couple of hours. Being mobile definitely helps so I was pacing around and jumping on and off the bed. They were filling up the birthing pool for me to get in but baby arrived before they could fill it properly. Had a nice bath afterwards though!

Gas and air didn't do anything for me the first time around. Second time I got the point of it. I don't think I was breathing hard enough the first time. You need to really suck it in and then, wheeeeeeee, you go off onto another planet, fab! I used gas and air while they were stitching me back up again afterwards and even though they were doing it for ages as the midwife was being supervised it didn't bother me and I was quite enjoying having another go on the g&a!!!

Fannybaws, are you Glaswegian by any chance?

You're the first person to say my labour might not be fast, I really hope you're right about it being slower if I go into labour myself.

Octopus, I am seriously considering hypnobirthing and have read the book. I don't think it'd be pain-free but I do think it'd help me relax.

Having had a 42 hr labour and a 4 hr one, I had a few thoughts. Firstly - the longer labour started gradually, gave me lots opportunity to get into coping techniques but the duration caused me a lot of concern which did not help with the pain control much. I used every kind of non-interventional pain relief going - visualisation, G&A, TENS, movement.

The second, much shorter labour, was so quick that I did not have time to establish coping techniques that I used before. However I can honestly say I was so excited by how well things were going and how quickly things were progressing that I did not feel pain. Yes, a lot of discomfort and strange sensations, as you might expect, but not pain. I recall sitting on a birth stool waiting for it to start REALLY hurting as I expected it to, and it never did!

What I am trying to say is that the mind is a very powerful thing, and if you are nervous, worried, tense and expecting the worst, then it could well have a negative effect on your body. If you are excited, looking forward to the birth of your baby, feeling confident, etc, it can all be much better.

Why not try to find classes which deal with your mental preparation? I personally didn't get on with Hypnobirthing but I know it works wonders for a lot of people. I also had a one-to-one active birth session with a private midwife that was excellent - I know she does some of these sessions at various birth preparation groups in our area - there may be someone who does similar classes in your area. The power of the mind is usually underestimated - it is a very powerful thing if you learn to use it effectively.

As has been mentioned, G&A needs to be used in a particular way and you should be taught how to make the most effective use of it before you are given it. Used badly it can make you feel very light-headed and have no pain relief at all. Also, induced labours can be worse than spontaneous labours as you are anticipating things and the contractions are artificially stronger sooner.

You are doing the right things by addressing the issues before you go into labour, but please don't try to dwell on them too much with a negative outlook. And, tongue firmly in cheek here, fast labours only seem to be feared by people who have never been in labour for days! I know which one of mine I would rather go through again!

Hi

My 2nd birth was 47 minutes of which 7 was second stage and I found there is literally not time to think. Went for G&A which worked really well. Getting a bit stressed as well as 27 weeks again and we are 35 minutes for hospital and was told next one would probably be quick as well. Keeping fingers crossed it wont!!