What is Pethidine like?

[Jodie1982]

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

Made me feel high, but didn't stop it hurting. Personally I'd recommend an epidural for full pain relief and no after effects.

Gas&air is a drug too - nitrous oxide. It's not used in most countries. I don't know what the health effects are, but don't assume there aren't any.

I thought it was fucking marvellous!

Horrible. The worse trip ever. I hallucinated horrible things and couldnt speak, and baby stopped breathing, which may or maynot be connected. Horrible!

Pethidine was ace!

I remember thinking to myself that I could still feel the pain, but I can't remember much of those hours on Pethidine now, it's all sort of blurred away.

I had it at about 6cm, and it wore off about 5 hours later when I then had the urge to push. The pushing bit is very clear in my memory!

I also remember, through the fog, hearing DH and the MW talking, and I kept thinking of all these things I could contribute but my words wouldn't get from my brain to my mouth in time. It was quite trippy I guess. I'm never going to get high any other way, so it was fun for me!

It was a mistake for me. Made me vomit copiously which meant that I couldn't then tolerate the gas and air.

So ended up having a spinal (was trial of scar anyway) and this to a forceps delivery with me still chucking up every five minutes.

Sorry, you did ask

I think it's a love or hate drug.

Me, I loved it. I throw up repeatedly throughout the first stage of labour so the period in my labour with DC1 when I was on pethidine (which is injected along with an anti-emetic) was the only time I wasn't being violently sick, and it was nice to have a break from that. Things still hurt, but I was all floaty and didn't care so much that they hurt, and time seemed to go faster.

My only vague regret about having quick and easy births second and third time round was that I didn't get any pethidine (on balance the quick and easy is definitely better, but still... mmm, nice floaty drugs). I wouldn't have it close to actual delivery, though.

I was offered pain relief in general once I got to 3cm dilated and the pethidine once I'd been on gas and air for a while, wasn't really progressing and was getting very tired.

I was sick as a dog after.But,this is the important bit I insisted on it close to delivery and did not feel a thing in my bits pushing out my 7ib odd boy in two pushes,and I nearly had 3rd degree tear!.I don t think baby was effected either as he fed within a minute of delivery.

Pethidine didn't work for me pain-wise at all. I didn't have it for childbirth but following a gynae procedure.

When I did get pregnant I had it written into my birth plan that I didn't want it and my midwife at the time said that wouldn't be a problem. Ended up having an emergency section though, so that never got put into practice.

Morphine made my face horrendously itchy.

I hated it. It didn't reduce the pain just made me feel really sick and ill and unable to stand. I wouldn't recommend it.

Pethidine made me vomit. And feel quite out of it.

With my second labour I was 'too far gone' for it apparently, so if you want to try it, ask nice and early.

Oh yes, that was the only labour where I threw up a lot too, and I suspect that was linked to the pethidine.

I really liked it I just felt a dull ache when I got a contraction and dozed while on it (they gave it me so I would relax enough to sleep) just felt really relaxed and lost sense of time a bit so it went quickly.
my sister had the opposite, made her too spaced out and unable to control herself she lost sense of time but said for the worse made her feel like each contraction went on for ages rather than minutes

Hmmm I'm not sure what to do lol. I'll see how I feel once it's happening I suppose, and I shall make sure to ask for it early if I want it. To be honest I probably won't get it in time seeing as this will be my 5th baby!

Loved it. Felt like I had been submerged in a warm bath, quite trippy. Made me very relaxed. It was like downing a bottle of wine in one go, and after a little sleep I lent on the midwifes desk like an old bar lush, talking shite with a big smile on my face.
Sometimes I wish I could have a shot of it when I've had a particularly bad day...