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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, no pethidine. This changes everything!

33 replies

Inglori0us · 01/11/2013 06:58

I was booked for home birth with dd1 but couldn't have it due to her coming early and complications. I'm now booked in with them again for baby 2 due in April and the midwife has told me they can no longer give it. This has given me The Fear.
I wasnt planning on having the pethidine but it was a safety net incase things got too tough. Now I have the option of gas only. Eek.
Am I being a wuss?
I had a very long & medicalised birth last time which ended up with epidural, high dose induction drip and forceps in theatre.

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TheRobberBride · 01/11/2013 07:08

I don't think you're being wussy at all. It's normal to be concerned about pain relief.

However, do remember that you have the option of transferring to hospital at any time if things get too much and you feel you need more than gas. Are you planning on using anything else to help ease the pain? E.g., a birthing pool or TENS?

It's really common to have a bit of a wobble even if you really want a HB. Mine concerned a friend who had a serious PPH shortly before I was due. It gave me The Fear too. But I talked things over with my MW and I decided to go ahead. Dd2 was born at home.

Original poster

Inglori0us · 01/11/2013 08:03

Yes I used a tens machine last time and LOVED gas & air. In fact I loved it so much I felt totally hammered and couldn't focus on any of the hypnotherapy techniques I'd learnt.
Not sure about a pool. We do have a big bath I can use early on. Think a pool might be an unnecessary hassle keeping the water at the right temperature?

OP posts:

Jorior · 01/11/2013 08:12

Why don't you try a birthing centre? It's like a compromise so you can deliver naturally but if it all gets too much or if there are complications, it's easy to transfer.

MavisG · 01/11/2013 08:31

You can get a pethidine prescription in advance from your GP & keep it in your fridge. If you need it your hb midwife can give it, she just can't bring it herself.

MavisG · 01/11/2013 08:33

PS pool totally worth it - I've had one in, one out. The temp stays reasonably stable & anyway boiling the kettle a few times isn't so bad for your birth partner.

Seff · 01/11/2013 09:27

I had pethedine in labour with DD and all it did was knock me out for 2 hours and then make me wake up vomiting. I think this is quite a common reaction so maybe a reason why they don't want to give it for home births any more.

Having said that, I've made sure DH knows not to let me talk myself into having any once in labour because I'm sure I'll have a wobble!

You mention hypno techniques, could you look into that again as well?

Mumof3xx · 01/11/2013 09:28

I had pethidine with dc1&2 both times I regretted it, it slowed everything down made me feel spaced out and frustrated!
Dc3 I only had gas n air and felt soooo much better

HorryIsUpduffed · 01/11/2013 09:46

The pools are very clever and only lose heat at one degree an hour. Water is incredible for pain relief. Definitely worth considering. Certainly taking a long warm bath in early labour will do lots of good.

If you get to a point where you need more pain relief than they can give you, you would still have the opportunity to transfer to hospital. But statistically you are less likely to need that pain relief if you are at home.

underthemountain · 01/11/2013 09:52

I had pethidine in hospital for my first birth but like mum of 3 I just felt that it slowed everything down. Not sure if the rest it gave me was worth it. Nonetheless I had it on standby at home for my second birth, just in case. We had trouble getting hold of the midwives though and by the time they arrived it was too late to use it so I just had gas and air and it was fine.

Original poster

Inglori0us · 01/11/2013 10:31

Thanks for all this.
mavis that's good to know about GP.
With regard to the pool, is the cleanup afterwards a total faff? DH seems to think it's going to be a gruesome and arduous task when he'd rather just sit with me and the baby.
We also have dd to consider. She'll be just 2. MW is happy for her to be around, but I'm not sure!

OP posts:

BroodyAndMoody · 01/11/2013 10:43

I went to my GP to get a prescription for pet hiding and he wasn't at all keen and said to get my midwife to call. In the end I have decided not to bother as if I was to take it, I couldn't get in the pool, which would really be gutting.

I am due in ten days, so I left it quite late to find all this out, so I would check sooner rather than later with your GP.

Good luck for your home birth! X

BroodyAndMoody · 01/11/2013 10:43

Pet hiding! Pethidine!

Hawkmoth · 01/11/2013 10:49

You may find it less painful anyway as you're less stressed and more able to move and choose positions as your body tells you to.

I can understand why you would want to have it in place though and my midwives just said I'd have to sort it with GP if I wanted it.

Original poster

Inglori0us · 01/11/2013 10:51

Haha Broody my phone does that autocorrect too.
Good luck with yours too.
I think I'll aim for pool and gas and see how it goes. I'll be doing hypno too. DH can just deal with the pool debris after! I also have a friend who's a newly qualified doula so may have her for support too.

OP posts:

Bue · 01/11/2013 10:57

Ingl0rious, just to make you aware, some midwives at homebirth will refuse to give pethidine even if prescribed by the GP. They are very wary of the respiratory effect it can have on the baby. Same reason Broody's GP didn't want to prescribe it. Perhaps that is something to ask your MW about.

I know what you mean about wanting the safety net, but keep in mind that most second births are much quicker, and pethidine isn't usually given in active labour anyway (again, because of the effect on the baby when it is born). And if it does become too much, you can always transfer in!

NoComet · 01/11/2013 11:08

I still have a vial of pethidine in the cupboard.
DD2 is almost 13

It was my safety net, prescribed by my Doctor, our MW won't have it in their cars. I'd needed it in hospital with DD1, but home was so much more relaxed and I could move about. Only needed gas and air!

xxaussiebabyxx · 01/11/2013 13:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TeaAndCakeOrDeath · 01/11/2013 13:31

I agree with Mavis, I had a homebirth in June and thats what I did, got the GP to write a prescription beforehand and had it waiting for the midwife who was allowed to administer it, just not prescribe/carry it herself
However, my midwife from the GP surgery (not the midwife from the homebirth team who actually attended the birth and delivered DS2) was really funny about pethedine being a pain relief option for a homebirth so I spoke to the Supervisor of Midwifes (ours is based at the hospital) who spoke to her and things got sorted out from there, that might be an option?

Geneticsbunny · 01/11/2013 13:57

They don't bother with pethidine round here we just get morphine! Still got mine left from my previous home birth. Saving it in case of zombie attack.

Original poster

Inglori0us · 01/11/2013 14:41

Bunny that comment made me snort with laughter.

My last labour I did tens and gas for 12 hours then had an epidural as I was put on a high dose induction (30 hours had passed since waters broke and I was only 2cm).
All in all it was the opposite of the birth I wanted.
Hoping it's more relaxed and natural this time as the last one really shit me up. My dd was back to back, very distressed, I had emergency forceps in theatre.
The home birth midwives here used to give pethidine but this has changed since my last pregnancy.

OP posts:

pastygirl2010 · 01/11/2013 14:49

Hi OP, I also wanted a homebirth last time and ended up being bullied into an induction at 42 weeks and had every medication under the sun! For what its worth the pethidine totally knocked me out in a bad way and I lost control of the whole labour (think I would have anyway). I don't really remember hardly anything. Very different to the experience I hoped for.

I also ended up with forceps and a 3rd degree tear. Just wondering if you had any opposition to having a homebirth this time? I really want one but know I my history is not in my favour? I know that it is my choice etc etc but just interested if you have had to fight for it or they are keen for you to have a homebirth.

I would be reliant on the pool though I think, that would be a non negotiable for me, and I also found TENS helpful in early labour last time.

Hope it goes well.

Original poster

Inglori0us · 01/11/2013 14:58

Pasty sounds like you had a bad one, like me. At my 10 week check in appt the midwife said I might not be able to have the HB because of the previous forceps, but my HB MW is totally fine with it. We have a fantastic HB team here and they are very eager to let you have one if you want.
It's odd as last time I was dead against pethidine but I guess this time I want a safety net. It was c

OP posts:

Original poster

Inglori0us · 01/11/2013 14:59

Sorry!
It was comforting knowing that there was another option. Now I feel like I'm flying solo!

OP posts:

2kidsintow · 01/11/2013 15:01

Pethedine made me sick as a dog when I had it with DD1.
With DD2 they told me I was too far gone to warrant having it. I don't think I noticed much of a difference in the pain level, tbh.

comewinewithmoi · 01/11/2013 15:03

Are you me? I was beside myself when told I couldn't have pet hiding as a safety net for homebirth.v nearly a deAlbreaker. However, it wAs my best birth ever, had Dcs before and one since all in hospital.

Go for it. Honestly, it will probably be fine. In your own environment, you deal with pain100 times better. Really good luck!

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