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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Best pain relief in labour

14 replies

stephbecominglittler · 11/05/2013 23:08

Hi was just wondering what is the best pain relief during labour I had a c section with my little boy so had to have epidural but hoping I can bare it not to have on this time any stories will b greatly appreciated s**ting myself xx

OP posts:

neverlookback · 11/05/2013 23:35

I think it depends on your pain threshold and how calm or stressed you are in labour! Obviously epidural is gonna take the pain away but if you don't want that (I've never had one) there is petahdine but that makes you sleepy and can affect baby etc
I found tens machine helped early on then gas and air but breathing slowly counting to 4 in and 4 out and I sort of went in my own zone of thinking I can do this! It's got to end soon and I'll have a lovely baby at the end and i will beat the pain and my cervix!!!
( think the g&a helped me with this visualisation) I've had 3 babies 2 were water births and I found that helped immensely, they wouldn't let's have dc's in the water as he was so big and the difference in pain at the end was massive so I highly reccomend water birth or being in the water as much as possible but everyone is different. The main thing is to try and be in control and not get scared, it's natural after all and amazing! Good luck

neverlookback · 11/05/2013 23:36

It's meant to say they wouldn't let me have my ds in the water!

intheshed · 11/05/2013 23:42

Gas and air is awesome- did the job for me!

Praying4Beatrice · 11/05/2013 23:55

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

givemeaclue · 12/05/2013 00:00

I would have the epidural again

recall · 12/05/2013 00:00

I agree?..epidural

cherrycherry41 · 12/05/2013 00:06

Epidural, best 4 hours of my life!

Katydive · 12/05/2013 16:48

I have had one normal delivery on bed with gas and air (nightmare as it was a birth centre and my hoped for water birth did not come off) so they couldnt give me anything else. Second went as planned water birth again with gas and air, fantastic, painful but only really at the very end. With my third (due in 6 weeks) I plan to go for the third again. IMHO I would not go in with my heart set on an epidural, but it does depend on your pain threshold. The pain is there for good reason and really helped me feel positive that things were progressing, epidurals can slow things along a bit. Also found the water really calming the moment I entered, I felt cocooned in my own little world where even the midwife is 'hands off' it just felt very natural.

180209cooper · 12/05/2013 17:50

Being in the water is amazing, so calming & less pain (for me) I had to eventually get out the water to give birth but really struggled once out. I would defo recommend the water, good luck x

Toptack · 12/05/2013 18:12

IMO it's not so much to do with an individual's 'pain threshold' as positioning of baby etc - many women experience very different levels of pain each time they give birth, depending on how the baby is positioned and how well things progress. I think the best thing to do is go in with an open mind, try and keep calm and ask for pain relief when you feel you need it. Epidurals are the only thing that really kills the pain but you may find you simply don't need it... Alternatively (especially if you have a slow or difficult labour) they can be a god send!

Fakebook · 12/05/2013 18:38

Epidural is the best pain relief IMO.
Gas and air made me dizzy and woozy, but I still felt pain.
TENS machine gave me electric shots!

Happylady09 · 12/05/2013 18:48

Epidural was amazing relief for me!

CreatureRetorts · 12/05/2013 18:52

Being relaxed made it easier. To do this I had to shut the world out by closing my eyes and ignoring what was going on around me. Also listening to the sound of running water was great. Sounds a bit hippy but it worked. I used gas and air for pushing with my second. Nothing with my first.

Quidgetmidget · 12/05/2013 20:05

I tried everything !

But not for the labour pain as such but because my Dd was taking advantage of my gammy hips (hyper-mobile) and pushing them out on her way down, think of a slow dislocation over a period of hours...

Anyway up to the point I was still standing, focusing on maintaining a rocking rhythm and counting out the contraction worked a treat until my waters broke around 6-7cm. At that point I could no longer stand, I hated the gas and air with a passion, Diamorphine made me very spaced out and I lost a little control and the epidural was simply amazing! I felt everything, could still move my legs but had no pain.

I tried a TENS to and for me it seemed to increase the pain but I was probably because I could not focus on my counting whilst being zapped. I also spent 2 hours in the bath which was also glorious, I did want a water birth but wasn't allowed.

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