Tell me about drugs during labour...

[hamncheese]

So, after watching OBEM and seeing that girl completely spaced and barely awake post-diamorphine I'm wanting your opinions on the effect different pain relief has.

This is my first and would obviously like to have as little as possible and take it as necessary but not naive enough to expect not to need anything. One thing I really do not want though is to be out of it and not remember the experience. Would rather be with it and lucid as long as I can manage the pain.

So anyone got advice as to which pain relief they liked/disliked and why, as well as which to avoid if wanting to be mentally as normal as possible during labour and birth?

Thanks!

I did the first 12 hours on gas and air - clearly not progressing too well! After they broke my waters (was still at 5cm) I leapt out of the pool in horrendous pain as the contractions suddenly started coming strong - demanded some pain relief, diamorphine was the only thing I was allowed in the birthing centre without being transferred upstairs to the hospital - so, diamorphine it was!
I gave birth about an hour after it was administered and it really helped... Was TOTALLY spaced out though, and danced through the last part of labour

Was a little detached for The next day or so...would opt for it again though

waterlego My waters did n't break with my two.
With the firs,t my MW popped them well into labour but before the pushing to encourage things to move along because I was getting tired.
The second time, things were progressing well and the same MW left it and DD came out in the bag.

I had 2 lots of diamorphine in the MLU. I wanted an epidural, but there was no space on the consultant-led unit for me. It didn't do much for the pain, but made the time between contractions a little easier. I was spaced out, but not enough to sleep. I couldn't talk, but I think that was the pain, I could still listen and understand. I can still remember the whole labour, and was focused enough to push (for over 3 hours) when the time came. DS was tired and didn't cry, but that was equally due to long second stage.

Not sure if I'd recommend diamorphine, but I'd have it again if there was no choice.

Tell me about drugs during labour... In my case there wasn't enough :)

I didn't get any until I started pushing and then it was only gas & air.
Which was probably the best as delivery does progress faster if it's more natural.... I was told by MW.

waterlego Sometimes they break your waters to help progress things or because it's procedure before having a "speed you up" drip and some hospitals like your waters to be gone before you can go in the pool. It can be that there is a pool of waters is in front of the baby's head and that prevents that baby's head putting enough pressure on the cervix to keep things going so breaking them solves that problem.

With my DD my waters went just before onset of contractions. With DS they didn't go until the second to last push before he came out. DD had quite a few birth marks after she was born DS by contrast skin was absolutely perfect which I put down to him being so cushion during labour and birth by the waters.

Excellent advice from nappymaestro and TakeYourScaffoldingWithYou imho.

I do actually wonder why they broke my waters, I mean I was at 8cm, so not exactly not progressing. I didn't think to ask at the time

Thank you ZuZuBailey,

Thank you, ayear and scaffolding I understand that it's sometimes deemed necessary if they want to speed up the labour and/or woman is tired.

I was responding to shockedballoon because from her description of her labour, it doesn't sound as though it was necessary.

Bloody fantastic thread. Thanks for starting OP. This is currently one of my dilemmas.

first birth I had a 1/2 dose pethadine- as I wasn't sure I wanted it- HATED IT felt drunk and sleepy, so then tried a bit of G&A, felt like I was suffocating, (did I mention I was panicking!!) So stuck with my Tens machine- LOVED IT and Got my epidural- which decided to go up my body not down, so they had to turn it off. Terribly long birthing bit and loads of stiches in adn out bit as a result.
2nd baby, arrived at hospital too late relied on the old tens machine and a 20 min birth, helluva pain but recovered so much quicker than with the drugs....
this birth I am wanting an epidural again and will definitely be using the good oldtens machine lol good luck ladies!

I used g&a for dd but do have short labours, then nothing for pushing. With ds I just had g&a for pushing but tgat was due to only just getting to hospital in time.

I agree re some are out of it regardless of drugs. After transition I am not mentally capable of anything. I see and hear things in my head whilst not even on g&a.

The most important thing is to ensure your birthing partner knows what you shan't and will stand up for you, they really need to be your voice.

Oh and with ds my waters didn't go till I was pushing him out, which was only a few pushes.