Please can someone tell me about the pain relief they had during childbirth?

[PicassoWouldBeProud]

I'm days away from my due date with my first and to be frank I'm extremely anxious. Everyone else I know will say things like "oh I bet you can't wait for labour to start now!" And even though I'm excited to meet my baby and not be pregnant any more I'm scared of labour - so so terrified.

My main fears are:

1. Not being able to cope with the pain
2. Asking for an epidural and not getting one for ages/ at all
3. Having a panic attack
4. Sustaining long lasting birth injuries

I would love to hear real experiences from people who have given birth using pethadine/ gas and air/ epidural and what it was actually like. Thank you.

I know it's hard, but try not to stress. When you are in the moment you will be able to gage for yourself if you can cope with the pain or not and the midwife will be there to offer you pain relief, or you can ask for it while you are going through it.

I'm pregnant with my 5th and oy ever had gas & air. I was induced with all labours. The only reason I didn't have an epidural is because I'm terrified of needles.

I think they offer an epidural around 40minutes before you start feeling the need to push. So plenty of time for it to take affect xx

Everybody's experience of pain is different, and we all have different pain threshholds so it's difficult to generalise. One woman's easy-peasy labour might be another woman's idea of hell!

It's very easy to say, but do try not to dwell on it. Being tense and anxious in itself is likely to have an adverse effect. Have you been to any ante-natal classes to learn any breathing/relaxation techniques?

And remember - it's just one day - if that. You will get through it because we all do.

I had gas and air towards the end of the first stage but I had very very easy labours and could honestly have managed without any pain relief if it wasn't available. But it was, so why not? The thing about gas and air is that it does make you a bit woozy (well, it did me!) so the contractions just felt less intense.

Go into labour with an open mind and just take it stage by stage. And flag up at an early stage that you might want an epidural.

My first labour was induced with the drip so my contractions were very close together and intense. I had gas and air and a drug called remifentanil (spelling?) It was a drip thing in your hand that you clicked when you had a contraction. It made me feel very drunk and spaced out... the pain was dulled slightly but it was more that you were spaced out and didn’t care. The drug wore off in between each contraction so I was lucid again. I didn’t really like it as a method of pain relief- however I did like that I was lucid inbetween.
Gas and air is great - it’s like a really fuzzy feeling and it defo dulls the pain and makes you feel drunk. It also wears off when you breathe normal air.

My second labour was more natural and I only needed the gas! I found I was more compus mentus only having had the gas rather than the drugs.

From my experience if you are considering an epidural make them aware as early as you can as there is often a queue or the doctor is in theatre. I did ask during my first labour (very late in the process) but there wasn’t a doctor available.
Labour can be so overwhelming and scary but if you listen to your body you will be absolutely fine. Good luck

I had everything

TENs machine at home, pethidine, gas and air and epidural.

My baby was back to back though and it was a long labour.

Try not to worry. There are lots of different options. If you do decide you can’t cope, request your epidural nice and early.

It’s highly likely you will have stitches but in most cases they will heal fine and there will be no lasting damage.

Congratulations and good luck!

Try not to worry OP, you will be so focused on the labour that you won’t have time to think about panic attacks or lasting damage. I was induced on the Monday, waters broke 2am wed morning at which point I had diamorphene as I laboured in my back, by the time I went to delivery (about 10am) I advised I wanted an epidural which took about two hours waiting, I had gas and air in this time. DD was born at 5.10pm. Try not to panic and good luck...it will all be worth it x

I had syntocinon with my first Labour and was fine with gas and air. But, I do think I have a high pain threshold. That said, with my second labour I made it very clear to the midwife that if I needed syntocinon again that I wanted an epidural. It wasn't so much to do with pain, it was because my first Labour was so long and I was exhausted after my dd was born. The epidural would have allowed me to rest had I ended up with a long labour again.

Agree pp, if you want an epidural make it clear on the birth plan and inform your midwife ASAP. There's a point where it isn't worth having it.

It may be a bit late now but there are a lot of free hynobirthing/relaxation videos on YouTube which may be worth you listening to.

DC1 Gas and air and birthing pool. The water was a very effective pain relief so I’d recommend that if you can.
DC2 I was induced. Gas and air then right st the end when I felt I couldn’t cope anymore I had an injection of meptid. That didn’t actually take effect until after the baby was born, and then I was sick!

In my experience gas and air was great, it doesn’t take the pain away but you feel far removed from it and quite floaty. You have to remember to start breathing it in right at the start of each contraction before it peaks, as it takes a few deep breaths to really get the full hit.

The other thing to remember is it’s not a constant pain. Contractions are intense but they build up gradually and come and go in waves, which gives you a chance to have a breather in between. I am a total wuss when it comes to pain but I managed! You’ll be fine.

I had an epidural, I hated the feeling of not being able to move also my daughters heart rate kept dropping and I had to move into different positions to help it but I felt like I couldn't move fast enough and was so afraid of anything bad happening and felt like it be my fault because I wasn't able to move fast enough to try and get it to go up, also i felt my body felt really heavy and useless x

Just to add- I absolutely loved my epidural. I was so relaxed and pushing her out was amazing! Plus I had loads of energy afterwards. I’m definitely more of a ‘medical birth’ person which is fine.

Although I know loads of people who coped well with a water birth/ gas and air.

I think it depends a lot on your length of labour, getting through contractions when you are tired is difficult.

I gave birth using a TENS machine. Tried gas and air and didn't like it. TENS was great, but they don't work for everyone, but something that is worth trying IMO. I had a quick intense labour, due to being on the induction drip, if I'd had a very long labour then I think I'd probably have wanted additional pain relief, but hard to say.

Everyone has a different pain threshold, and there is nothing wrong with taking everything available if that's what you feel you need to do.

If you are worried about being denied an epidural then put in your birth plan that you want access to all pain relief options if you feel the need, so it's there in writing up front.

Good luck OP.

Dc1 diamorphine then epidural as trial of labour due to small pelvis. Loved the epidural.
Dc2 epidural for ELCS
Dc3 epidural (because of VBAC) and gas and air and pethidine. Favourite birth didn't feel a thing
Dc4 epidural (because of VBAC)
Dc5 gas and air only. New consultant didn't insist on epidural thought I'd have one at some point though never happened and birth was fine although still prefer pain free births.

I started off with Paracetamol and a bath at home in early labour.

I went into the hospital, who sent me home as I was only 2cm. They gave me Dihydrocodeine and told me I could have more paracetamol once the first dose wore out.

I returned to the bath for 2 hours and then went back in. I was still only 3cm and the midwife said that ordinarily they’d send me home again but I was exhausted (had been up 24h) and struggling with the contractions so they gave me pethidene.

That dulled the pain (didn’t take it away though) but allowed me to sleep. I was sick shortly after having it, but then I was fine.

My hind waters broke about 2 hours later but baby had pooped in them so I was taken to the delivery suite.

My contractions were only 5 minutes apart but very strong, so they examined me and found my waters were bulging and I was 9cm. At this point, I couldn’t use the pool due to the poo and I was too late for an epidural.

I got through the rest of the labour on gas & air.

I won’t lie to you - it hurt. I have never felt pain like it. BUT you get through it. I don’t know how, but your body copes with the pain.

Good luck xx

DD: gas and air which they took off me as I was high as a kite!! So no pain relief during pushing, they broke my waters at the last minute and she was born shortly after. It was fine, easily manageable
DS: I was induced and had my waters broken to start labour. I had gas and air which didn't touch the pain, I had pethidine which just spaced me out. I asked for an epidural but I was too far gone, which in hindsight I'm glad about.
What I mean is that no two births are the same. I wouldn't plan for anything, just go with the flow, listen to your body. You will cope with the pain because you have to and then you'll have a beautiful little baby who'll make you forget about it all because you'll be too exhausted to remember lol

Thank you everyone for the reassurance. I don't know why I have so little faith in myself to do this, I'm just terrified. Is it normal to feel this scared?

@PicassoWouldBeProud I think it’s absolutely normal to have some worries, but it sounds like this is really frightening you. What kind of support have you got for the birth?

And just to say - you’ve done really well to break down your fears and consider exactly what’s worrying you. I wonder if you can spend a bit of time trying to think through each worry, whilst doing some relaxation breathing. Some logical thoughts that might help are:

1. Not being able to cope with the pain - the pain doesn’t come all at once, it’s a gradual increase. You will be supported with lots of ways to manage the pain - like gas and air, breathing, moving around. If you feel you can’t cope, the midwives will help you to decide what the best next step is.
2. Asking for an epidural and not getting one for ages/ at all - the midwives will generally have plenty of warning if you’re feeling like you might need an epidural. You are entitled to have one as soon as you ask for one, even if this is early in labour. The anaesthetists are usually there pretty promptly, and if not the midwives will help you to manage until they arrive.
3. Having a panic attack - try to think about what might cause the panic attack? Google hypnobirthing - there are some great free resources (and apps) that you might find helpful to relax and feel in control.
4. Sustaining long lasting birth injuries - this is extremely rare, and there are lots of things you can do to minimise your chance of tearing, such as staying upright, moving around lots, and listening to your body when it comes to pushing.

I had gas and air as the broke my waters and the early stages of the drip. I didn’t enjoy it or find it helped so I had diamorphine which I felt still made it painful but I didn’t care about the pain anymore. My labour was back to back and the drip was being turned up quickly... the consultant came in to examine me and said ‘if you were my wife I would suggest an epidural’. So I had the epidural and ended the whole experience with a spinal injection for emcs.

It is SO normal to be scared but honestly- they are there to help you, you get your baby at the end and you can do it. Honest. Don’t be afraid to say to the midwives if you are in too much pain. No one gets an award for managing with no pain relief.

I had gas and air and then oramorph which was brilliant but I was away with the fairies and when it came time to push I was too spaced out and drowsy to be much use. Ended up having an episiotomy as the crowning was too much for me to deal with, but I was OK with that!

@MrsMuffins thank you - it does help to approach this with logic. I'm usually a logical person and not overly emotional or dramatic. I do have a very supportive DH who is lovely but absolutely clueless. I have read a lot about childbirth and we both went to NCT which helped but I still know he doesn't have a clue really- just yesterday he was stunned when I spoke about giving birth to the placenta (even though he was told about all this at NCT, it's in one ear and out the other with him.) I think I'll be relying much more on the midwives than him during the process.

My mum and MIL are very supportive too but my mum is at the other end of the country and MIL will be great after the birth but not there during it.

I think I have a deep seated fear of childbirth which probably stems from my mum having two horrendous births with me and my sister, and throughout my childhood whenever it came up those stories would be told where she nearly died etc. Then my close friends have all had traumatic first labours (except one who had a positive story.)

I’m days away from my third. I haven’t had pain relief so far- because my first two deliveries were quick. I’m up for anything this time though!

It’s not much fun, but I am so sick of being pregnant, and I just want to meet this baby.

You can do it. What helps me is remembering that literally billions of women have done it before, and most of them have been fine.

P.s. I’m a complete wuss and love science. I never would have predicted i’d be a no pain relief, natural birth kind of person. You honestly don’t know until you’re there.

I was induced and could only have codeine or pethidine whilst on the antenatal suite. I had codeine but didn’t fancy pethidine as some people said they just felt like they was unable to take control of their body. Once they had room for me (3 days later) on the delivery suite, I was begging for an epidural - had to wait 10 minutes but I was so happy to have it.

I started on gas & air but I wasn't getting individual contractions, it was just one massive constant contraction, not on my bump, in my back, thighs & my bladder felt like I had the worst uti ever. I asked for diamorphine but got refused & told my only option was an epidural, I had to wait nearly 3 hours for an anaesthetist to come & put it in, I was climbing the walls but my mum said the second the epidural went in my face changed from looking like a crazed wild animal to smiling & relaxed, I had a button that I could top up with & was on it for 20 hours including an EMCS as it turned out my DS was back to back.

Two things from the hypnobirthing stuff I read which might help you:

1. Try to remember that this is a useful sort of pain, it’s your muscles stretching and opening to push and allow the baby out. It’s not like other pain which usually you are injured.

2. If you can relax your body as much as possible, it genuinely hurts less. Weird but true. If you keep your mouth open that will help the rest of you stay relaxed.

Although, nothing wrong with going for an epidural either especially if you’re in one of the more painful categories like induced or back to back

Get yourself a positive birth company digital pack and watch it ASAP! I wish I’d had it before my first birth.

I’m days away from number 2 and feeling so much better about this upcoming birth.