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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Home Birth and Pethidine?

18 replies

EddieIzzardIsOrange · 19/12/2012 15:31

Just wondered if anyone had had pethidine at a home birth? I've just been to my midwife appointment and asked about pain relief in labour for a home birth and she said they dont 'do' pethidine, its just gas and air available.

This is my 2nd pregnancy, gas and air in labour last time made me projectile vomit with each contraction very very sick and so dont want that. Being in water also made me panic.

Also we have no childcare options for our son (will be 2.5 when baby arrives) so options of going into hospital would be to leave him with people we dont really trust (not very relaxing in labour worrying about your child) or go to hospital on my own while DP has DS (thought of this scares me)

Also dont want anybody apart from DP to see me in labour (including a doula)

I looked online (homebirth website) and it says many trusts do allow pethidine to be prescribed by a doctor beforehand and administered by a midwife at home, anyone any experience or tips/advice?

OP posts:

MoaningMingeWhimpersAgain · 19/12/2012 15:44

I looked at this first time around - in my area you can't get it. In theory the GP could prescribe it, but whether or not the MW would be happy to give it is another issue. I decided to go for G and A plus pool. (had baby in hospital in the end anyway)

But pethidine can also make you feel very sick, and can make breathing problems more likely in the baby so I can see why they may not be keen to use it at home. If you really really want it available, it is worth asking your GP whether or not they are willing to do a prescription, and getting an appointment with a Supervisor of Midwives to discuss your options and their policies, and see what you can negotiate.

joby21 · 19/12/2012 15:53

I am planning a homebirth and have got diamorphine prescribed by my gp. I am hoping not to use it as it does have a lot of side effects. And am hoping to use TENS, entonox and a pool but felt it would be good to have it as a back up!

Original poster

EddieIzzardIsOrange · 19/12/2012 16:00

So in both your cases, it could/has been prescribed?

I think I am going to have to push the issue and ask around to speak to different professionals, it was just the very blunt way the midwife said 'its not done' when I had been under the impression previously it could be an option

In my last labour, it was a god-send - had it just as contractions were becoming very strong and very painful, took the edge off enough to have a little sleep/rest and woke up as my waters broke and was ready to push, baby born 8 minutes later!

I know that my second labour is unlikely to be similiar to my first and I'm not even guaranteing I'd use it (or have time etc) but the thought of having nothing stronger than paracetamol availalble should I feel its getting unbearable panicks me

OP posts:

FreeButtonChristmasTree · 19/12/2012 16:02

I know in my area they don't even use it in hospital for labour so it might not be a homebirth issue, more a trust wide policy.

Annianni · 19/12/2012 16:07

I had a homebirth for ds1 (he's now 8) and I had pethidine.

I don't remember there being an issue about it.

I'm in the north west.

It was wonderful stuff :o

Original poster

EddieIzzardIsOrange · 19/12/2012 16:16

Annianni I quite agree! I'm in the North West too, hope theres some way I can work it out...

OP posts:

Amerryscot · 19/12/2012 16:22

I had a prescription for pethidine in my first homebirth. In the end, I didn't need it, and the midwife made a big fuss about disposing of it in my toilet and documenting it.

I think you need to prepare yourself for what you can have, or to have nothing. When I had my last child in the US, I didn't want an epidural so knew it would be nothing - and I coped knowing that up front.

Lots of women vomit in labour, and that has nothing to do with Entonox. It is just the body purging from every orifice.

I really recommend you build up a support network. Many homebirths result in transfer to hospital, and you really don't want to worry about your DS at this time. If you are in labour in the day time, do you want DS to be around, or even sitting in front of the TV hearing your groans? It's hard when you don't have relatives, but sometimes you have to just bite the bullet and make friends in your community. Most people don't bite and they are perfectly trustworthy.

MoaningMingeWhimpersAgain · 19/12/2012 16:26

If you do have pethidine/diamorph, they will probably not want you to use the pool (if you are having a pool) too. I decided a pool and being at home was more attractive than going to hospital and getting the good drugs.

I did have pethidine with the 2nd baby after transferring in (both were booked HBs and both times I transferred in) and I couldn't honestly say if it was much good for the pain, but the baby was quite sleepy in the first few days and didn't feed well for a while. TBH I think they just gave me the pethidine to shut me up because they kept offering it to me, I didn't ask for it.

Startail · 19/12/2012 16:38

I still have mine in a dark cupboard, DD is almost12

Original poster

EddieIzzardIsOrange · 19/12/2012 16:42

Moaning I'm not having a pool, dont like the idea of being in water for some reason and even freaked out in the bath in labour with DS

I'm hoping theres some compromise including staying at home and the good drugs being available!

OP posts:

redwellybluewelly · 19/12/2012 17:49

Just to say that labour itself can make you sick and I wouldn't touch pethadine with a long sharp stick. Would you consider a tens?

Paradisefound · 19/12/2012 17:55

I know pethadine can knock you out completely, then intervention may be required to get baby out. Probably not a good idea for home birth.

Annianni · 19/12/2012 18:36

I do remember that the midwife gave me half a dose, then the rest later on.

I didn't have or want any gas and air.

Good luck :)

Aboxofmaltesers · 20/12/2012 08:26

Pethidine is on the 'Midwives Drug Exemption list' (have a look at the NMC website) which in essence means that any registered midwife can administer it, although they can't supply it. Your GP will have to prescribe, a pharmacist dispense and then your midwife can administer it. I went to my GP at 37 weeks and had to order it from the pharmacy which only took a couple of days.

Some midwives will not been keen to administer it at home as it does slightly increase the incidence of neonatal resuscitation, however, as it is on the exemption list a healthcare trust can not stop them for administering it. Speak to your local Supervisor of Midwives for clarification.

CanIHaveAPetGiraffePlease · 20/12/2012 08:37

Please have a back up plan re. Your child. There's a couple of reasons -what if you end up noisy, in a lot of pain and frightening your child? We planned a homebirth but I needed to know my daughters needs would be taken care of if she was frightened.

Also more importantly if you end up in hospital. I ended up in icu after a haemorrhage. Obviously not at all the plan but ended up without my husband for long periods as he was with my daughter.

I did meet a doula I liked but had no pressure to use her. I was glad I did as it meant I had someone who could take my child away if I needed (or support me while husband was withchild). Daughter also had a day at a friends.

However I'd completely assumed my hb would go well and wish I'd had a really good plan b!

nannyl · 20/12/2012 09:50

I had pethidine avaliable for my homebirth

i had to get a prescription from GP

It was a massive palarva though as its a very controlled drug and normally only given direct to a health proffessional, who has to account for it. I think homebirth is the only time when its handed directly to a patient.

I was told very firmly by my GP to take good care of it and to give it to midwive who will document its use and disposal.

When i cashed in my prescription the chemist told me the same, and made sure i knew what had to happen, and that it would be tracked and documented.

as it was i didnt need it. i didnt even need gas and air, TENs was ample for me, so i gave it to midwife then she did whatever she had to do with it...

Not sure im even going to bother getting it for my next homebirth in june...

nannyl · 20/12/2012 13:15

also i think the pharmacy had to order it in especially as it wasnt something they normally stocked, so i think i had to go the next day to collect it... (trying to remember)

brettgirl2 · 20/12/2012 17:55

I was told no because of the risk of breathing difficulties after birth.

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