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

Original poster

Pain relief

10 replies

pumpkinbump · 24/04/2018 13:08

Hi all,

Just wondering what pain relief you're going to be hopefully having when the big day comes or what people have had from previous births?

OP posts:
Nomad86 · 24/04/2018 13:38

With my first, I'd say the worst bits were the medical interventions so for dc2 I wanted as natural as possible. It went brilliantly. Gas and air, water birth, text book birth. My advice is to go in with an open mind, start with gas and air and see how you go. Everyone responds to pain differently but I found being in water was a great pain reliever.

MyKingdomForBrie · 24/04/2018 13:40

Gas and air and a water birth hopefully as all went fairly well the first time, easily the most painful experience of my life still but I was expecting that!

Aw12345 · 24/04/2018 13:42

I'm planning epidural all the way!! Call me a wimp but I don't see the point in suffering! I know other women who are very keen on the natural birth thing but I'm not one of them :-)

Each to their own :-)

Oysterbabe · 24/04/2018 14:34

I just had gas and air both times. My labours were fast and I didn't need anything else. Maybe just see how you go, you don't need to decide in advance.

MyKingdomForBrie · 24/04/2018 14:37

aw would never call you a wimp - frankly I can’t imagine deliberately choosing to be in pain but I have certain (unreasonable and illogical) anxieties and epidural is one of them! Flying long haul is another so you can see how rational I am.. not 😂

I did like the water birth aspect a lot though and currently I don’t think you can have anything but gas and air in the pool.

Dreamingofkfc · 24/04/2018 14:42

I didn't want an epidural as that increases the risk of an instrumental delivery so started off with the pool and that's all I had with my first. Second time I needed the gas as the pressure of my waters bulging was quite intense

Postingfortraffic · 24/04/2018 15:26

With dc 1 I had forceps which I 100% believe was because I had an epidural (got a bad tear too). For dc 2 I had gas and air only and although more painful it was a FAR better experience. I was definitely more in control and recovery was quicker - was home from hospital the same day!

Just to add though I was induced with the first and I think this led to me getting an epidural. IMO the contractions were way more intense with induction and I had no breaks between them even at 1cm

happymummy12345 · 25/04/2018 10:33

I knew I wanted as natural as possible.
I was having contractions for 4 days as the head wasn't fully engaged. I managed these on my own with nothing (I was at home anyway).
I had a sweep on the Friday afternoon at 3pm. I went home and again managed on my own for a few hours. Then I used my tens machine until it was time to leave for the birth centre. I had nothing from leaving home until I was settled in the birth centre at 10pm.
I used my tens machine (not even on the highest settings) from then until 4am, along with a birth ball. I tried a bit of gas and air but it made me feel sick and gave me a headache, so after 3 puffs I said no more. The midwife broke my waters, I then got in the pool for an hour. The water really helped. I would have stayed there for longer but by this point I was exhausted, 4 days of contractions and 3 nights of being awake with the contractions took it out of me. So I was given a pethadine injection so I could rest. It made me relax and get some much needed rest before the actual pushing stage. It didn't make me sick or lightheaded at all. Then I woke up and it was time to push.
I think it was the exhaustion that got me more than the pain. And if I hadn't been so tired I'd of managed much better.
For me an epidural was a definite last resort, if for some reason I really needed it. I just didn't want or see the need for it, certainly not without trying all other options first.
When we have another baby, I'll go tens for as long as possible, birth ball as well. Then pool for as long as possible, maybe even have a water birth. An injection only if I really need it. But no gas and air because I know it'll make me sick, and no epidural. I done it once without so I won't need it or have it. I know I can cope without it.

Lightsong · 25/04/2018 11:31

I had an epidural with my first, no other intervention.

With my second i decided to try and do it without an epidural, ended up having c-section under general anesthetic Confused

FranticallyPeaceful · 25/04/2018 12:39

No pain relief and then gas and air during pushing phase. I could hypnobirth through entire 2/1.5 day labours but once they’re coming out... Jesus Christ! My body shakes from shock over the pain and no bloody mindfulness or breathing can make it easier. I try to readjust my mind but it’s fucking BRUUUUTAAAALLLLL! Lol. So gas and air Smile

The thing is, just go in with an open mind,because a lot of this doesn’t depend on the Mum at all... it depends on what her body is upto and the position of a baby. It’s all well and good saying I endured 2 days of labour and 1 and a half days pain relief free... but if my babies were back to back? I’d be begging for an epidural or to pethedine me up good and proper. What if contractions don’t sneak up? Some women get them hard and fast from the start and so am adjusting period isn’t possible - again, pain relief may be needed. Every labour and birth are so different, I would honestly just not make plans and go with the flow

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