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

Original poster

What is Pethidine like?

39 replies

Jodie1982 · 20/11/2014 11:55

I usually just get by with Gas and Air, this time I'd like to try Pethidine as I think it might be a bit more helpful in resting between contractions? I did get the shot in my 2nd birth, but she literally came out 10mins later so I really didn't feel a thing.

Thanks for any replies

Jo 27+5

OP posts:
MrsCrankypants · 20/11/2014 11:58

Personally I didn't like Pethedine, it made me violently sick and didn't help me much with the pain. It also let me feeling like I had a block of concrete in my bum cheek for weeks afterwards! Maybe I just had a bad reaction though......

Schoolaroundthecorner · 20/11/2014 12:01

Made me sick too and i felt very out of it, could still feel the pain but didn't feel connected to it (that's not a great explanation but its difficult to describe). It did work, in that I no longer cared about the pain, but I didn't enjoy the dizzy feeling or getting sick. I think the reaction to it can vary a lot though from person to person.

Original poster
Jodie1982 · 20/11/2014 12:19

Thanks ladies. Do you know how far Dilated you have to be before requesting it?

OP posts:
AnythingNotEverything · 20/11/2014 12:24

It made me sick and think it made the baby sleepy. It did give me a break to size during a long labour. It was a bit hallucinogenic and I didn't feel in control. I wouldn't have it again if I could manage without.

MrsCurrent · 20/11/2014 12:26

It sent me la la. I locked myself in the loo and refused to come out (obviously they then came in).

Mummywithlove · 20/11/2014 12:33

well i loved it and will have it again! it just made me sleep and when i had a contraction i woke up, i said i wanted some pain relief but not that i couldnt feel anything and this worked a treat i was also 7cm dilated when i had it, took about 10 to 15mins to start working xxGrin

Wednesbury · 20/11/2014 12:37

I have had one labour with pethidine and one without. The one where I had it was my first labour and the baby was back to back, so there was no let up in pain between contractions and the pain was immense and I was really agitated. (I was also on my back being monitored so couldn't move around to help with the baby's position.) I am told that it calmed me down between contractions but I remember feeling totally out of it and hallucinating that I was somewhere else talking to someone else. The midwives found it hard to get me to respond. I later had an epidural.

With the second labour, the baby was not back to back so there was relief between contractions and I used breathing and later gas and air (using the same breathing techniques). I listened to hypnobirthing CDs while pregnant to try and practice and develop breathing and calming down techniques. I found this much better. I think if you cannot manage the pain on gas and air and if labour is prolonged (it was with my first) it is better to go for an epidural as you remain mentally in control.

TywysogesGymraeg · 20/11/2014 12:40

Pethadine made me sick too. I hated it.

It didn't mask any of the labour pains, but it did make me feel woozy. I think the baby came out a bit sleepy becuase of it.

I went without the second time wasn't time for it in the end anyway. DD2 was fast!

whatsagoodusername · 20/11/2014 13:01

I used it in two births. I liked it.

I didn't get on with gas & air at all the first time and was pretty out of it with exhaustion anyway (insomnia night before going into labour, walking miles then labour all night and day) so I don't know how much the pethidine contributed to that.

Second birth, I had it overnight and it helped me relax/doze off between contractions.

I think you can ask for it as early as you like. It lasts a few hours, and they won't give it to you late on in labour in case the baby is affected after it's born.

Some people say it makes the baby sleepy, hard to wake up, feed. I never noticed any problems with my DC.

doobeedee · 20/11/2014 13:02

Made me sick and was given too late so baby was extra sleepy for the first 24 hours and wouldn't feed. I'll try to avoid it if I do it again.

NaiceNickname · 20/11/2014 20:02

I was given it not long before I was ready to push, didn't notice it have an effect although I did throw up everywhere in the shower after labour Hmm and DD was really sleep for a day after birth, wouldn't feed properly. Will be trying to avoid it this time around, gas and air will have to do!

sianilovesbeingamummy · 20/11/2014 20:06

I ended up having every pain relief going, my plan was just Gas and Air but when it came to labour i just wanted anything to help me sleep, had been a long 72hour labour which ended in emergeny section anyway so opted for elective with second and undecided with this pregnancy. would like to try natural but scared incase results in an emergency again

sianilovesbeingamummy · 20/11/2014 20:06

p.s. i was sick with every form of pain relief, adrenaline i think lol

MuscatBouschet · 20/11/2014 20:08

It helped me doze during a 2 day back to back labour. If you've already had a child or two you probably won't need a break to sleep because it'll be fairly fast.

BikeRunSki · 20/11/2014 20:14

I loved Pethidine! Felt completely dissociated from my body, in a rather trippy way. G&A Did nothing for me at all.

TiredNow · 20/11/2014 20:16

I loved it! G&A made me sick and feel a bit out-of-control drunk but pethidine just took the edge of in a lovely blurry way that meant I slept between contractions and woke up in time for the pushing bit with plenty of energy
I had it with both DSs (DS2 a homebirth) at about 4-5cm, wouldn't have a third without it!

Bondy83 · 20/11/2014 21:01

I had diamorphine it was fab highly recommend it

StrawberryMojito · 20/11/2014 21:04

It made me talk utter nonsense about people in trees and didn't do anything for the pain.

ThursdayLast · 20/11/2014 21:06

I liked it. I was sick almost immediately, but I was feeling sick with the pain anyway, so I don't count that against it!

ThursdayLast · 20/11/2014 21:07

It definitely took a large edge off my pain. I was able to even doze off a bit in the early hours.

CaptainAnkles · 20/11/2014 21:16

I didn't like it, it made me feel like I was drunk, with the associated 'out of control' feeling. I was talking rubbish and couldn't remember what I had said, I wasn't answering questions that the hospital staff were asking because I wasn't concentrating properly. In a situation where you already feel a bit helpless, I didn't think it did me much good.

However, it seems to work well for a lot of people or they wouldn't have it available.

ColgateSmile · 20/11/2014 21:17

I hated it. I slept for a little while, then felt really spaced out when I woke up. I don't feel like it took the edge off of the pain, my baby was born a few hours after I'd had the injection, he had to be given oxygen and wouldn't breastfeed for the first few hours either. Can't say for certain that was to do with the pethidine but I do think it had something to do with it Sad

Boomtownsurprise · 20/11/2014 21:19

Fucking hideous.

Like being drunk (not squiffy, drunk) but without any of the happiness.

Made me and baby lethargic. Helped bf start off difficult. I have no good memories of it.

Boomtownsurprise · 20/11/2014 21:23

No I don't think it does work for people. I think there's a lot of us that trust the doctors that get fucked over in their 'advice' at an extremely sensitive time. Equally, fairly, you don't know what it's like til you had it to know if it might work. Or be ok. Just because it can be used in labour doesn't mean it should be. Forgive me but those making the decisions around birth are often men. There's a thread running about contraception being a feminist issue.

Not half as much as giving birth imo.

SleepyMcgee · 20/11/2014 21:37

I had pethadine when I was only 2 cm as I'd been in labour for over 24 hours and wasn't coping. I really liked how it made me feel and managed to get a tiny bit of shut eye. I then dialated very quickly and felt quite out of control but don't know if that was just the labour progressing, exhaustion, the pethadine or a combination. I probably would have it again if I was struggling and baby was fine when born 11 hours after the jab

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