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

Original poster

Pain management in labour?

34 replies

Hannabee123 · 08/08/2017 12:15

Hi everyone Grin

More labour questions coming your way!

What s everyone's experience with pain management during labour? I'm not sure if I fancy the idea of an epidural I'm not squeamish with needles but it sounds pretty scary. Can you be offered anything else?
What generally worked whilst giving birth?

I'm too much of a wimp when I think about all the pain Sad

OP posts:
Callamia · 08/08/2017 12:24

I used (and probably over-used) gas and air both times. It's amazing stuff. I used a pool the first time too, and that was joyous - it took the pain away, but also slowed down contractions in the end (so I was ordered out).

Both of my labours were relatively straightforward though, anterior positions and not excessively long (8 hrs and 3hrs respectively from contractions to end). I can't speak for what decisions I would have made if the situations were different.

arbrighton · 08/08/2017 13:45

I used gas and air, although it made me sick and drowsy. It helped me actually remember to breathe, which was what actually helped.

And some diamorphine just to take edge off with drip.

Induced, big baby, episiotomy

Creatureofthenight · 08/08/2017 14:31

I had intended to use birthing pool and gas and air, and hopefully nothing else - definitely didn't want an epidural.
I wasn't able to use the pool, and had back to back labour which was so painful, so started with gas and air, then had diamorphine (wonderful stuff!) and then had an epidural. So much for my nearly drug free labour! But could not have coped without them.

JudyBlumeForever · 08/08/2017 14:41

I was up for using anything, depending on the pain.

So I started with yoga breathing and yoga positions during early labour, got to the hospital and had gas and air (amazing stuff), then going into the birthing pool helped, then my dc was born... But, I was incredibly lucky to have easy uncomplicated labours.

Some of my friends who wanted all natural births ended up with epidurals and were so relived to finally have the pain relief they needed.

Just remember that you won't get a medal for giving birth without pain relief, you won't have 'failed' if you need extra pain relief. Just ask for what you need.

RuskBaby · 08/08/2017 14:46

I dislike needles and wished for a 'natural' Hypnobirthed labour. What I ended up with was a spinal block in theatre. The epidural was actually ok in my case hurt less than the cannula. Keep your options open and enjoy as best you can.

honeysucklejasmine · 08/08/2017 14:48

Epidural. Honestly, it isn't scary and it's not painful having it put in. I also had a spinal which was easier said than done as I was ready to push and had to sit still!

honeysucklejasmine · 08/08/2017 14:49

It's important to be well informed and open to all options. The last thing you want us to feel you somehow "failed" because you ended up using something you'd assumed you wouldn't.

InDubiousBattle · 08/08/2017 14:55

I had gas and air and diamorphine with both of mine. Ds was a 30 hours labour, back to back and augmented with a synto drip, I needed an epidural but didn't get one. With dd I had a 5 hour labour, had the diamorphine after around 4 hours and gas and air for the last 30 minutes (once I dilated to 10 cm and needed to push so they finally accepted I was in labour!). I had written 'I WANT AN EPIDURAL' in big red letters at the top one my birth plan!

AreWeThereYet000 · 08/08/2017 14:56

First I had gas and air, pethedine and meptid. Birthed on a ward on the bed (4 day labour)

Second I had gas and air only and birthed in the MLU in the pool. (4hr 27 labour)

InDubiousBattle · 08/08/2017 14:58

Should say too, I took the diamorphine because there was nothing else available. With ds I had it 3 hours before ds was born and it made him sleepy and made bf harder to establish. With dd I had it much closer to the end so she was fine but I got really sick about an hour after she was born which they said was a reaction to it. It doesn't kill any pain at all, just makes you feel very woozy and not with it.

FlaviaAlbia · 08/08/2017 15:00

I had a very quick labour and used a tens machine the hospital lent out at home and thought it was fantastic. When I got to the hospital I took it off to get in the birthing pool where I had G&A but I think if I was doing it again, I'd just stay with the tens machine and a birthing ball.

It really worked for me (though I know it doesn't for everyone) but being able to use it from the start of labour at home was great.

midnightflowers · 08/08/2017 15:01

Gas and air, and I second what a pp has said about it reminds you to breath properly.
Added bonus with it was I felt like I'd drank a bottle or two of wine and couldn't stop laughing Grin

MelvinThePenguin · 08/08/2017 15:04

DD1 arrived 21 hours after early labour started. I waited 12 hours and was 4cm
when I got to hospital. Gas and air made me giddy and happy but didn't do much for the pain. I moved on to diamorphine which did nothing for me whatsoever and then had an epidural. It was amazing! I was in full blown labour, eating pasta salad or sleeping. I had no trouble pushing when the time came.

Like a PP, my birth plan with DD2 said 'epidural'. That is in fact, all it said (one word longer than DD1's birth plan!). In the end, she was born within 5 hours of contractions staring and by the time the anaesthetist got to me, he said she'd probably be here before the epidural kicked in. I did it all on gas and air and daydreams of my honeymoon. It was so much easier than with DD1 anyway.

MagicMoneyTree · 08/08/2017 15:06

I was open to all options when I went through pain management with my midwife. What actually happened was I felt the urge to push while still labouring at home and only just made it to hospital. Oops! I used a tens machine at home and that was amazing - got pissed off having to take the fucker off to have a bath. This time I'm aiming to get to hospital with a bit more time to kill, but because I've done it once without drugs I'm hoping for the same again, maybe with a bit of gas and air. Definitely not adverse to something stronger though if I feel like I need it. I think the best approach is an open-minded one, then you don't feel disappointed if things don't pan out the way you expected.

Dustbunny1900 · 08/08/2017 15:11

I wanted to use laughing gas but was told no because of the medication I was on. I was also scared of the epidural but trust me, when those hard contractions start pouring in, a little needle will be child's play.
I had my first with no pain management whatsoever (not by choice) so with my second I got the epidural and it was WONDERFUL. If you have a good anesthetician, I highly recommend it. The difference in my birthing experience was night and day.

ElizabethShaw · 08/08/2017 15:14

I was open to everything except pethidine. Over two births I had paracetamol, water, TENS, G&A, epidural and a spinal block.

TENS for the early labour bit, gas once you get to the hospital and an epidural for the end is my preference.

Orangebird69 · 08/08/2017 15:18

Diamorphine. Awesome stuff. Took the edge right off the first load of contractions. But it also relaxed me so much I then dilated from 2 to 10pm and needing to push in an hour or so. Too quickly for any other pain relief and I couldn't use the g&a because I needed 2 hands free (I have no idea why) when I was pushing so basically had to just get on with it.

Original poster
Hannabee123 · 08/08/2017 15:18

I'm just really squeamish thinking about it going into my back although it's silly really because if im in that much pain surely the epidural won't be half as bad! Grin
I'm just a little scared by the thought of it all! First child so it's quite daunting

OP posts:
Orangebird69 · 08/08/2017 15:18

2 to 10cm, not bloody pm Hmm

MelvinThePenguin · 08/08/2017 15:21

I don't even remember feeling it OP. The only thing I remember is having to keep still while the anaesthetist put it in. She made me practice before she would do it because I looked like a distressed worm.

Dustbunny1900 · 08/08/2017 15:23

It just feels like a rush of coldness. The hardest part is holding still while your contractions come rushing in.

sycamore54321 · 08/08/2017 15:24

I've had two epidurals for two births and loved them. My first I had believed the hypnobirth spiel and was breathing etc as the pain got worse and worse. I never got quite to intolerable but I knew that if the rate of increase of pain continued, I'd be at intolerable pretty soon. So I asked for an epidural, and it was lovely. I could rest and then focus fully on pushing and on seeing my beautiful baby born without beingg blinded by pain. On my next pregnancy, I asked them to put me down for an epidural at my first appointment!

I didn't find it at all scary, what exactly troubles you about it? I have a good friend married to an anaesthetist and he had told me previously that siting an epidural is one of the easier medical procedures. It wasn't at all painful, there was a small momentary sting from the local anasthetic injection they give you first, but no pain from the epidural itself.

I always recommend a blog by an anaesthetist called The Adequate Mother where she describes epidural a v clearly.

Dustbunny1900 · 08/08/2017 15:24

Used the word rush way too much haha. But really, it's not scary op, at least it wasn't to me and I'm a big baby

sycamore54321 · 08/08/2017 15:27

And at the risk of sounding evangelical, epidural is really the only option that will REMOVE your pain. Lots of the others will dull it or make it manageable - which may be enough for you. But to be pain free, none of the other options can even claim to offer this. I loved being relaxed, calm, rested, pain free and fully focused.

Hotpinkangel19 · 08/08/2017 15:35

I had my 3 babies with paracetamol, gas and air. Plus 2 of them were water births. I managed okay like that. BUT, people have higher/lower pain thresholds, babies are in different positions. All labours are different. It's fine to have a birth plan BUT keep an open mind and don't be afraid to change your mind x