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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

gas and air or epidural?

29 replies

Loubilouu · 28/01/2011 20:04

i have a while to go yet ( before im baby due) however recently all i have been thinking about is labour, even dream about it!

iv heard so many different things about epidural, and most people i speak to say they just had gas and air.

which would be best bet, healthier, easier ect?
and do you know any bad side effects for both? if sooo please tell!
much appreciated :)

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cookingfat · 28/01/2011 20:07

My first is due next week, so no personal experience yet. I'd recommend going to NHS or NCT antenatal classes as this really helped me make some decisions (which may all change in the delivery room anyway!).

girlafraid · 28/01/2011 20:09

most people start with gas & air and will move on to an epidural if labour goes on for a very long time as it is a complete pain killer - gas & air only lasts as long as you're taking it in

gas and air has no side effects but an epidural will imobilise you -the plus side of this is you will not feel any pain at all

People can be quite against epidurals as it's thought they can complicate births and lead to further interventions. In my own case I finally had one after I had laboured for 24 hours - I was completely exhausted at that point and could not have continued so I am very very glad I had it.

Best advice would be to keep an open mind and see what happens when you are in labour!

CupcakesHay · 28/01/2011 20:11

I'm due on sunday - and planning to go for everything! I think if i were you, i'd hope you can do it on gas and air, but not be adverse to trying epidural if needed.

I've heard it's best to let the midwife help you decide at the time.

thisisyesterday · 28/01/2011 20:11

i didn't like gas and air, but i don't think it has any bad side effects really?

epidurals on the other hand can (did for me) lead to more intervention
for example, it can slow/stop contractions meaning you'll then be hooked up to a drip for syntocinon to increase them again

it can mean you have to stay lying on a bed (unless you have a mobile epidural which not all hosps offer). this in itself can slow down labour and prolong it, meaning more intervention

in my case both the above happened. baby wasn't in a great position, i couldn't feel anything so wasn't pushing effectively and I ended up needing ventouse, tearing very badly, and also breastfeeding getting off to a really bad start

I have read somewhere tht epidural can make baby sleepy/not want to feed..

I had homebirths for my subsequent 2, both of whom were born with no pain relief whatsoever. I was amazed at myself lol, after having the works the first time round

I know there are people who've had very good experiences with an epidural, but I wanted to share mine as it can lead to lots of intervention unnecessarily and you just don't know how it'll pan out until you do it.

be open-minded though, take it as it comes

CrawlingInMySkin · 28/01/2011 20:11

Hi I had gas and air it is good can help take the edge of the pain, but is not as effective as epidural for pain relief, to much can also make you be sick.

I didn't have a epidural but here are the side effects and risks.

I would say dont set your mind either way and on the day see how you feel try the other methods and if you are not coping you can keep the epidural for if you struggle.

knackered76 · 28/01/2011 20:14

Agree with girlafraid, keep an open mind and see what happens! I was begging for an epidural the first time, by the time they arrived to give me one I was 10cm and didn't need it so did it on gas and air. 2nd time just gas and air, only downside I could see was that I took to much and was shaking soooo much afterwards I couldn't drink my tea or eat the toast they gave me . I do know of someone who doesn't drink, never touched recreational drugs, etc and couldn't stand gas and air as she hated the way it made her feel. Each to their own, you'll just have to wait and see what your own is :)

MoonUnitAlpha · 28/01/2011 20:15

I loved the gas and air! If you can do it just on that then I would.

I would have stuck with g&a except I had a long labour and was pretty exhausted so ended up getting an epidural so I could sleep - difficult to know if it caused it, but eventually ds was born with forceps, was very sleepy afterwards, and developed jaundice. If I can avoid an epidural in the future I will. However is was very effective as pain relief.

IrritaGirl · 28/01/2011 20:15

I had just gas and air as I was worried about potential side effects of an eipdural or other drugs. Saying that, I had a relatively short, albeit exhausting, labour (about nine hours) - had it gone on for a few more hours I suspect I may have opted for something stronger.
As girlafraid said, go in with an open mind. You can also get a half dose epidural which allows you to move around a bit.

Loopymumsy · 28/01/2011 20:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mumofmarco · 28/01/2011 20:23

epidural! I wanted a water birth with my little boy two years ago I got in the water for my natural wonderful birth! but couldn't have any drugs in there! gas is horrible made me feel sick and weak. It really really hurts giving birth, I don't want to scare you but no one told me that! really research all your drugs so you know the side effects. I had a last minute spinal so i had to have a cafeter which was the worst bit! really look into every thing! you stand a good chance of having a lovely birth because you are looking early! good luck x

ALittleBitConfused · 28/01/2011 20:27

The two aren't really either/or. Gas and air is a bit like eating chocolate when you're ill. It doesn't do anything for the illness but it might make you feel a bit happier.

newmum001 · 28/01/2011 20:27

My labour lasted 10 hours and i had Gas and Air and Pethadine but if it had gone on much longer than that i would have considered an epidural. I think the best thing is to know what options are available to you and decide as and when the time comes.

Bex22 · 28/01/2011 20:27

I tried gas and air for number one but to tell you the truth after one swig I felt really sick- similar to that really sick dizzy feeling when you've had too much too drink. I got hooked up for an epidural but DC1 decided to surface before I could have on! Did manage to get pethadin, which I have to say I found Great- made me feel I was floating above it all. I thought it did make DC1 a bit sleepy afterwards, but they generally are anyway, aren't they? Immediately went for pethadin again with DC2 and again great and really really quick labour- daughter didn't seem at all affected so I will go for it again if necessary this time (19 weeks with DC3).

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 28/01/2011 21:32

There are a few options between gas and air and an epi such as TENS, pethidine and a birthing pool, which for pain relief is 2nd only to an epi for a lot of women. A pool helps with positioning (you and baby) and doesn't increase the risk of needing further intervention unlike and epi.

mum295 · 28/01/2011 21:44

Educate yourself and keep an open mind.

I managed on TENS plus gas and air, but then had to have epidural after the birth in order to be stitched. I didn't notice the needle go in, and had no ill effects.

I wouldn't rule it out in future.

mummysweeangel · 29/01/2011 08:16

Just wait until you are in labour- keep an open mind and if you feel you need pain relief then ask for it.

Dont let people put you off - everyones pain thresholds are very different and everyones labours are different.

You may find you suprise yourself and cope extremely well, or you may need some drugs to get you by.

When i found out i was pregnant first time round i remember sitting saying "oh i will be having a natural birth, no pain relief bla bla bla" and i could see friends who had already had babies roll their eyes - no wonder- LOL !! I ended up having gas and air which i was fine with then an epidural (best thing in the world for me), however i wonder if my contractions felt worse because i was induced with a syntocin drip ? not sure. Anyway, in the end up i needed an emergency section -

Bottom line was- the baby got out safely and i was fine !

You know your own body (and mind) and do whats right for you !

Its all so worth it in the end anyway when you have that gorgeous baby in your arms :) :) :) :) :)

good luck xx

ben5 · 29/01/2011 08:21

had gas and air for both of mine. didn't have time for anything else! it did make me feel quite sick and giggly.
i did have to have a epidual because with ds1 i had a retained plancnta and they had to get it out. very odd feeling. worst thing being that i couldn't pick ds1 up when i wanted to.

Lamorna · 29/01/2011 08:24

Just keep an open mind.

lenak · 29/01/2011 08:35

Second keep an open mind.

My birth plan stated that I was open to any kind of pain relief, but other than gas and air, I didn't want to be 'offered' it - if I wanted it, I would ask.

I used a TENS machine for the early contractions - when they took me into the delivery room, I said that I would probably be wanting an epidural. The midwife laughed and said lets try the gas and air first.

The G&A did make me sick, but it also completely knocked me out.

I threw up after the first couple of puffs and then was flat out on the bed for the rest of my labour - apart from one or two 'flashes' of memory (being sick again, waters breaking and pushing) I can't remember a thing.

6 1/2 hours of established labour and it's a complete blank (from 1.5 cm to birth).

YankNCock · 29/01/2011 08:47

agree with keeping an open mind!

I had both. Gas & Air doesn't take away pain, but it makes you not care about it as much (like someone said, chocolate when you are ill).

I had diamorphine (they don't do pethadine at my hospital anymore), didn't think it helped much.

Ended up having epidural as I hadn't slept in two nights and was exhausted. In then end it was an EMCS because DS's blood taken from his scalp showed things weren't too good and he'd flipped back to back and I wasn't dilating as I should.

He fed within an hour after birth with no problems (still going at 17 months as well).

The thing to remember is if you haven't given birth before, you've really got no idea what it will feel like, so don't make any hard and fast decisions now. Gather your information now and make sure your birth partner is well informed too.

MoonFaceMamaaaaargh · 29/01/2011 10:02

I had a great (though somewhat long winded) labour on Gand A (started of with a tens).

I'll be hoping for the same this time.

A friend had an epidural as she was exhausted (due to poor management by hosp imo...took her down to induce at 10pm...didn't put drip in till 7am...grrr...). She did sleep through most of the labour which was why they advised it. However as it was such a "good" block she felt absolutley nothing.

Perhaps this is what some people want but she felt a bit robbed.

SHe also needed a ventouse (and therefore epesiotamy) as she couldn't shift position to help the baby move out. These carry their own risks.

As I say some people want not to feel anything and that is understandable as it does hurt.

The next day (moment?) I had completley forgotten the pain of my labout but a year later my friend is still mourning hers.

But you do what you need at the time...sorry if that sounds a little confused!

On a final note Gand A/epidural are not the only ways to deal with pain.
Breathing, position, movement, visulaisation and the tens all really helped me.

You are stronger than you know.

good luck

WidowWadman · 29/01/2011 11:01

When I was pregnant with my daughter I thought I'd sneeze her out with the aid of a recreational whiff of gas and air.

When my waters broke and I was hooked up to the synto I realised pdq that a) g&a doesn't agree with me and makes me feel sick and b) it did f-all for the pain, but only added feeling sick to being in pain.

All my reading around on what birth should be like lead me to refuse proper relief for way too long, and I could have avoided a lot of the pain I was in.

A lot of people are happy on g&a, and don't need anything else, but you can't know in advance whether you'll be one of them. Just try and keep an open mind and accept help if you need it.

Asking for proper pain relief is not a failing.

warthog · 29/01/2011 11:04

not an and / or scenario.

you start off with gas & air and when that's not enough ask for an epidural. but remember that they might not have an anaesthetist free when you need one. hence why i ended up not having an epi, just gas and air.

ginmakesitallok · 29/01/2011 11:07

For DD1 my birth plan included epidural if I wanted it. I didn't and just got by on gas and air. With DD2 again I only had gas and air (just for the last 10 mins - mws didn't believe I was in established labour). Every birth is different - agree you should keep an open mind.

littleshinyone · 29/01/2011 11:12

whatever you do, don;t decide now just to do it with gas and air- you'll only be disappointed in yourself if you end up using anything stonger too.

agree totally to read lots, but suggest not to make any decisions yet. wait and see what happens

good luck! horrah for babies!

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