Labor pain relief options

[northernnomad]

Doing my birth plan this week and had thought I was pretty decided on epidural but wanted to get feedback from personal experiences first. Did anyone manage with other combinations or with nothing at all?

Also, where there other things that anyone feels helped them get through the experience?

Genuine question: is it even possible to state in your birth plan that you want an epidural? I was under the impression that it was down to mid wife's discretion/ availability of anaesthetist/ luck of the draw when you request an epidural on the NHS.

No its very true, there is no choice, its down to particular circs on the day.

i can honestly sit here and say out of my 3 births

(1) gas and air plus 3rd stage injection labor slowed had to have a drip was awful
(2) an injection plus placenta injection not to bad
(3) my BEST labor of all no pain relief at all not even gas and you know what my labor literally pain free i stayed 100% in control and calm i even had a drug free placenta delivery no injection nothing

Everything I read on here and heard in real life told me if I had a drip induction, to have an epidural straight away. I had a 3 day induction, ending up on the drip.

First two days I had paracetamol
Had some cocodamol to have my waters broken
About 4 hours after the drip was started, I had diamorphine to help me sleep
Started G&A about the same time as I woke up for every contraction
Baby was born not long after I think the diamorphine wore off (suddenly felt everything a lot more, and didn't feel sleepy!). G&A for pushing.
And then local anaesthetic jabs which didn't work for being stitched up for two fecking hours so I had G&A instead.

I really would go in with an open mind. My drip was being ramped up really frequently because there was meconium in the waters and they wanted to get the baby out sooner rather than later, but I didn't want to go for an epidural until I'd tried other things. I was glad I didn't have an epidural.

I'd do it exactly the same again :)

Tens was great until my waters went - after that it was like the pain got out of control. G&A did nothing for me, just made me feel panicked. Epidural was amazing...

There are some good posts on here by a MNer called jcb77 who is an anaesthetist I think - worth a search !

First labour: induction, gas and air, back to back. Gas and air was AWFUL - made me hallucinate; only used it during transition.

Second labour: had regular Alexander Technique lessons during pregnancy, and had my Alexander teacher with me during labour. Between contractions, she helped me relax the muscles that didn't need to be tense (especially neck and shoulder muscles; Alexander teachers can do that with a touch sending pressure in a particular direction). No other pain relief; 4 hour home birth labour. It made a huge difference being consciously aware of what my body was doing and managing to help rather than hinder it. Totally recommend it :)

I've used TENS with all three of mine and each time got to 9-10cm before using G&A for pushing. First one was a water birth ( take the TENS off!) with the other 2 I laboured quickly and had no time for the pool.
I think Natal Hypnotherapy and staying upright and mobile helped enormously.

A cascade of things you'll try in order is a good idea, perhaps more important is to specify anything you are definite you don't want. E.g. I didn't want pethidine. Keep a fairly open mind, nobody knows how your labour will go or how you'll cope on the day.

Had a birth plan both times, both times things were pretty straightforward, but I was 100% aware that things might have been different, so they were more about options preferred in various circs than an actual plan.

Back-to-back labours both times, with only Gas & Air (+water birth for DS2). DS1 kindly turned before delivery (plus was 4wks early so small head! ), but DS2 came out the wrong way up () - yes I only had G&A, but you couldn't have pried it out of my hands with a fecking crowbar. Didn't feel drunk on it either time, just slightly sick and dry mouthed.
The midwife had warned me that an epidural would make a b2b delivery more likely to need instruments, and I was v v keen to avoid intervention.

Several anaesthetist mates had told me to avoid Pethidine at all costs - they didn't believe it suitable due to the adverse effects on the baby after birth.

DSis had G&A for DC1, and v successful Hypnobirthing for DCs 2 & 3 - she says DC2's labour and delivery were entirely pain free.

Arrived too late and had to wait two hours in busy triage, to be told I was eight and a half cm and too late for epidural. Follows gas and air and agony for maybe 3 hrs till somebody realised baby was face presentation. Was given spinal block and started joking with doc while I was being prep for c section. Nothing like my birth plan, which was epidural centred because I have a very low pain tolerance.

Nothing works as in takes the pain away, except an epidural and that might leave you feeling very sick and faint (it did with me anyway).Tens/pethideine and gas and air takes the edge off the pain a bit.It took me 4 labours thougn to figure out to breathe gas and air all the time, otherwise it just begins to kick in as the contraction is going off.

TENS machine, co-codamol, hot bath, walking around and sitting on the stairs with my husband rubbing my back. Gas and air from when I arrived in hospital at 9cm dilated however, I didn't use it much as it made me sick although it was very effective pain relief. I was really annoyed that despite my determination to avoid an epidural baby got stuck so I needed a spinal anaesthetic after trying to push him out for 2 hours (huge head!)

A mix of paracetamol, pacing and baths at home until I needed to go in to hospital. I was 8-9cm and cannot describe the relief of getting in the birthing pool. It was so much better than the bath, because you can move in it and this helped to keep the pain at bay for me. I had Gas & Air but the Midwife said I wasn't using it effectively (right from the beginning of a contraction all the way through) it was good to bite down on though!

I had to get out of the pool to go on a drip after my contractions stopped, I had imagined an active labour but I could barely stagger to the bed, I just wanted to curl up and couldn't have walked through it. The water was magic, go for the pool if you possibly can. If it's not for you you can change your mind.

I took some paracetamol, used a heat bag in between my legs and made a buzzing sound for each contraction - something I learnt at yoga. I found this really useful and 'buzzed' during each contraction until I had gas and air and then had the mouthpiece in my mouth instead. I did feel like an buzzing idiot, but better than thinking about the pain.

I found water really effective and had a bath at home and used the birthing pool in hospital. I also loved gas and air. The only very painful bit was the head crowning, but the phase was too short to request any more pain relief, just had to endure it.

I didn't like the idea of TENS so didn't use it.

TENS, as gas & air made me vomit, prodigiously. I can't believe women entrusted control of their TENS machine to DH/DP. Keep hold of it yourself, start early in labour on low number. Increase intensity as labour progresses. Enjoy!

I have survived all my 3 births with gas and air, with the addition of a paracervical block (a local anaesthetic). All were induced and very intense with contractions coming with short intervals (1-2 mins), well, at least as soon as they got properly started, labours were 6-18 hrs. I cannot imagine how it is possible to give birth with epidural as I understand it might numb your entire lower body, although I certainly do understand in lengthy labours it might just be the only thing you want, to feel nothing for a bit so you can rest even a little while. Gas gives you control and something to do, and to concentrate on and once I got my hands onto that mask, I never let it go until I actually had the babies out :-D I know it doesn't work for everyone, actually I hear it works for only a few, and I have been called a poster child (mom!) for gas, as so often it doesn't really help at all and that is usually just due to incorrect usage. Well, labour is not really the kind of situation where you would have the patience to try again and practice, so if you don't get it right, I perfectly understand not being willing to try again and maybe delay that epidural you are waiting for.
I just instantly got it, and managed to time it correctly so that for every contraction I was always blissfully tipsy, feeling everything, but just mellowed out, didn't take the pain entirely away but it gives you such a nice feeling you just don't really care :-) And then in between contractions ou are instantly normal. The only problem is that you might not want anyone videotaping you when you're inhaling the gas as it tends to make you speak drowsily as if you indeed were tipsy... and people forget you are actually not drunk, and can hear and understand everything perfectly. But then again I never wanted any videos of my births, pretty horrid thing to watch later, I should imagine.

Never tried TENS, it isn't used where I come from. I hear it is a bit of a hit and miss, works wonders for some and does nothing for others. A bit like aqua bubbles/blisters used in some countries, a friend told they hurt like hell (injecting water under your skin hurts, I'm sure!), and she wasn't sure what the intended method of pain relief was, to inflict different pain so you forget labour pains, maybe?

Best of luck to your birth!

Oh, forgot to mention that of course I used hot water in all births, because I was induced I was in hospital in early stages of labour and could use all the hot water I wanted, although just in a clinical hospital ward shower but hot water is hot water even if you're surrounded by mustard coloured tiles :-)

I had my first 3 babies with no pain relief beyond movement and massage, when I could stand it. I just had an urge to keep moving, can't say why, but it worked for me. Last baby was my only induction, and I got very high on gas & air, so much so that I didn't even realise I was pushing until they handed her to me.

I had a very elaborate plan for the first one, none of which was relevant in the end, so didn't bother with the others. It did help that I was weirdly calm during all my labours though,more so than I expected to be

I had an epidural for DC1 (induced birth). The anaesthesist did a great job, I didn't feel any pain but was able to push very efficiently.

There was no time for any pain relief for DC2. It was painful, but I much preferred the second birth to the first. Only then did I realise that I felt "cheated" about my first birth. It is as if the medical team had given birth to DC1, not I.

I refused all pain relief for DC3. I knew what to expect. It was my favourite birth by far.

Another vote for TENS- rent one in the last week or two and spend some time practising fitting it on and setting the it- very good pain relief.
Don't underestimate the power of positive thinking, having a really supportive birth partner who knows ypu well and having a good rapour with your M/W.
I also had gas and air but that was it and I'm really pleased as it meant we the could all leave the hospital after 1 night. Any interventions and drugs can mean more chance forceps/C-sections, but of course its up to you.
Good luck

G&A did absolutely nothing for me (apart from making me throw up), the epidural was a blessed relief.

To be honest the pain itself would have been manageable, if it had been "just" the pain. What pushed me over the edge was the tiredness, having not had a wink of sleep after 40 hours of painful contractions made everything SO MUCH WORSE. I think I could have managed it without the epidural, if only it had been a short labour.

Um, probably an unpopular statement but I actually found screaming loudly helped. If I'd tried to be decorous I'd have had a harder job. Managed an induction with that useless drip with gas and air, which didn't help but made me feel like I couldn't cope without it, and screaming and managed a spontaneous labour with just the screaming. Actually I just really advocate being prepared for a damn good shout!

i have had three births. all induced at term or beyond.
DD1 was born at 40w+11, back to back. It took 4 days to get labour started. We tried everything and in the end it took a drip of pitocin and my waters being broken to get her started. As soon as they mentioned the drip i asked for and got an epidural. It was brilliant. I had a mobile one, so could move about the bed and could feel the contractions but not the pain. Absolutely brilliant.

DD2, i only had gas and air. I had found it absolutely useless with DD1 but the midwife talked me into trying it again with DD2 and it did help. By the time it stopped helping DD2 was about to crown and it was too late for the epidural (really short labour with dd2 - 4 hours in total). I asked for and got a shot of pethadine right before we realised that it was show time so DD2's birthis a bit of an warm and fuzzy opiate haze for me.

with Ds1 i didnt get any pain relief and i am frankly still a bit pissed off about it. Because it was an induction i was kept in antenatal as the labour ward was busy. There isn o pain releif available on the antenatal ward except paracetemol. They gave me the pessary at about 4pm and i had to stay in the open antenatal ward in labour which totally impressed all the other women on the ward. The last thing they wanted to see was me moaning and groaning. I progressed really quickly and i told them that would happen but i still didn't get into the labour ward until 9 minutes before my son literally burst forth 3 hours after the induction began. I told them he was coming and that i really wanted to push but they didn't believe me. The midwife got sick of my mooing and did an internal and i low and behold i was ready to roll and got rushed down the hall to the labour ward. So i only got gas and air for the last 9 minutes of my labour. not that i am bitter. much.

So, in summery. Epidurals rock. Gas and air can be helpful but not always. Pethidine makes you nice and warm and fuzzy but not so good for remembering special events. I did try a tens machine and found it awful. Dont understand how anyone could use one for pain relief but each to their own.

I didn't have any pain relief. Not necessarily because I was flat out against it, I just found I could cope easily. I did have a water birth, and moving about in the water as you need it probably helps a lot.

I had gas and air and diamorphine ! I Found it great ... Until it wore off before the pushing stage ( which only lasted 10min with ds) before this I was having a great chat with the midwife ... Probably talking absolute nonsense

Same as MelanieWiggles here. TENS was brilliant - in my case for managing fucking awful prostin pains during my induced labour, but after waters went it went from 1-100 straight away. Couldn't even feel the TENS after that, and was screaming my head off in agony. Got an epidural quickly. They gave me gas & air until epidural took effect and to help keep me calm while anaesthetist sited it, but I didn't like it, made me feel woozy and horrible out of control drunk.

Difficult to push with epidural, yes, but I was happy to take that over the awful awful non-stop pain of a very speedy dilation. May have been different had I had more time to get used to the pain.

TENS is ace though, would really recommend it for early labour. Some people get all the way through with just that! Think if you don't have a fast intense labour like I did, it is very good in particular. Am hiring a TENS machine again for the upcoming birth of DC2 so surely that is a clear vote a confidence that it works!