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 had the pethidine, gas and air and 2 epidural (the first one wore off). Then after the birth the second epidural wore off and they had to give me another pain killer before stitching, then that one made me vomit so another injection to stop the vomiting. So whatever pain killers you need you will get! The thought of labour can be so daunting but it's so worth it for the bundle of joy that's about to arrive.

Codeine - made me throw up

Pethidine- did not take away pain at all but made me so drowsy I fell asleep between contractions. I didn't really want that one for that reason but sort of just went along with what was suggested.
Gas and air- ok. Works quite quickly. I used it for many hours before being told not to use it too much because it makes you tired.

Epidural- great pain relief. The only thing that really worked and the only effective thing you can really have as the baby is delivered as far as I know. A midwife kept moving my bed without warning me though. I told her not to because it would make the epidural come out. It started leaking. They said they couldn't re-site it so gave me a massive top up. Couldn't move one of my legs after that. Then I had the biggest downside to epidural, I couldn't push out the baby, was exhausted from the pain relief and being up all night and ended up with ventouse delivery.

If I was to do vaginal birth again ( I won't), I would try for a water birth. I know most people can't do that for monitoring reasons. I was induced and there was only one pool on the higher risk ward. I didn't ask but wasn't offered it, probably wasn't available.

During labour with my first I had pethidine to help me sleep (didn't work and I was still in pain... and gas and air towards the end, both made me very sick and drowsy. With my second labour I had no pain relief at all as I was worried I would be sick again. I managed fine. You just have to keep thinking the pain isn't permenant and you have a break between contractions!

I had an epidural and it was great!

I was induced and had your no. 2 scenario - no pain relief, not through choice! I did it though! Have faith in yourself.

First 6 hours of labour I just about managed just breathing through it.

The next 6 I used gas and air. I don't felt it did anything but to give you something to focus on with your breathing. It made me feel spaced out/dizzy and did naff all for the pain.

While I was using gas and air mw got essential oils and got DH to massage my lower back. That just really pissed me off having people touching me. Lol

Then I had an epidural which even though only half worked was amazing. I asked for it and got it within half an hour. It only numbed one side of my bump but it meant I could chill out for a bit/snooze. But it did give me an absolute stonker of a headache.

Then I had a general anaesthetic 🤣 and well you don't get much better for pain management

Had an epidural for firat but decided against it for other as I had been told it could slow everything up. Had the gas thing you suck on and was great as it meant you could bite down on it and concentrate everything into breathing ( I'd say a mask would have driven me crazy!) I just kept reminding myself tj a t other people were going through it and that the end meant a little baby. Hugs OP, you'll be great

I was induced at 40+11 with DD1. I found the TENS machine really helpful in the early stages (probably up to about 3cm). It felt like thousands of ants stamping really hard all over my back - but in a nice way! Then had gas and air, which really took the pain away (or possibly just made me stop caring, I can't really remember. It did make me feel and behave like I was quite drunk). It was nice that between contractions I stopped breathing it and felt absolutely normal. At 5cm contractions slowed so midwives suggested that I have the syntocinon drip - I requested an epidural with the drip, so waited for the anaesthetist (probably about 45-60 mins before drip and epidural came together). The epidural took away all feeling from the waist down, so labour was then totally pain free, if still rather tiring. As DD1 was presenting awkwardly I ended up going for EMCS, so it was convenient that the epidural was already sited.

In short: TENS, gas and air, and epidural all worked really well for me, I recommend all of them.

Paracetamol - like sticking an elastoplast on a severed arm.
Gas and air - couldn't feel my face, didn't touch the contractions.
Morphine - my favourite thing ever.
General anaesthetic (crash section) - worked like a charm.

I went hardcore on the pain relief and it was magnificent.

I had two with nothing much but some gas and air. It doesn't have to be horrendous. I even quite enjoyed the pushing stage! Just to reassure you a bit. See how you get on. Make sure your partner knows to step in if you can't, to get more help (or to get them to back off). Good luck!

I am an absolute wuss. Was induced so asked for epidural which I was given, it didn't work so I used gas and air instead which was brilliant - I was surprised how helpful it was. It still technically hurt but it made me not care (but not in a weird spacey way- timed right I was only spacey the moment the contraction hit)

I had just G&A both times. The first time I didn't realise how far along I was until I told them I needed to push and they examined me, realising I was 10cm dilated!

The best thing you can do is approach it with a positive frame of mind. Yes, it's a pretty bonkers experience but it's one your body was made for. You WILL cope and there are plenty of pain relief options available if you want them. You don't have to make any decisions until it's actually happening.

I realised as I approached the end of my pregnancy that I hadn't actually thought about the reality that I had to give birth to my child! As soon as I started to think about it, I too was petrified!
At 39+5 I was induced using a hormone drip. I never wanted an epidural due to fear of the process so I started gas and air about half an hour into starting the drip and that was the only pain relief I used throughout labour. For me, it meant that long periods of time seemed to pass me by and I have very little recollection of a huge chunk of labour (which I am a little grateful for - I remember the key parts which I'm happy with!)
I suffered a 2nd degree tear and ended up having an epidural for the surgery to fix it (just my luck!) This healed within 8-10 weeks and I managed that pain with rest, paracetamol and ibuprofen.

DS - TENS machine at home, didn’t think it was helping much except as a distraction while I fiddled with the settings until I took it off to go in the water - it was definitely helping! Water - amazingly relaxing went from 6cm to birth in 45 mins once I got in. Gas and air for the last half hour, helped me care less! That vaguely woozy numb feeling you get when drunk. Hypnobirthing techniques kept me calm, relaxed and in control.
DD was too quick for any actual pain relief, my waters went at 6.30, DH left at 7.30 to take DS to nursery, got home around 8.30, we headed to hospital and she was born 6 minutes after arrival at 9.30! I was so glad of the hypnobirthing techniques while labour was ramping up and I was home alone. I honestly think I’d have been in total panic otherwise, as it was I called the hospital between contractions, had a shower, got ready to leave and decided at what point I’d stay home and call 999 rather than try to get to hospital if DH was delayed! So pain clearly not unbearable!

Main things are that pain increases gradually and it comes in waves, it’s not constant. These two things are what made it bareable for me.

Before I had DS I refused to let myself think of anything negative regarding the birth as I was terrified of getting myself worked up and ending up in a panic. People say they enjoyed their labour and birth so it can't be that bad right?

Ended up getting induced and I think it all happened a lot quicker than anyone was expecting. I won't lie, it was bloody painful, felt like constant contractions and I started worrying that I wasn't dealing with the pain and was panicking that I still had so long to go in the induction process. When the midwife came in she gave me an examination and told me I was fully dilated; I've never felt such relief! They gave me some gas and air there and then before they took me to the delivery suite, I really liked it and it gave me something to focus on rather than the pain. I was lucky that I was able to get in the pool too and o was amazed at how much that eased the pain, I would highly recommend if you are able to.

I did get a second degree and a graze which they stitched up with a bit of gas and air.

Mentally I didn't feel ok afterwards, I was in a bit of a shock as it hadn't gone as I expected. I felt really sad that my birth didn't go to plan and felt jealous of everyone who enjoyed their birth experience.

Anyway; 4 months down the line and I'm loving being a mum, I no longer feel sad about the birth and everything healed up just fine. Try to think positive, accept that plans might have to change and remember there's no awards for doing it with no pain relief! Good luck and enjoy it as much as you can x

Nothing, twice and bring stitched up.

I ditched the TENS when my waters broke because I was scared of being electrocuted 🤣. I probably needed a psychiatrist more than a midwife.

Pain is different for everyone. And it’s not just because some people are wusses or have lower pain thresholds. Some people do actually have more pain than others. My friend gave birth on only gas and air. Whereas I was immobilised with severe pain, gas and air had no effect and even morphine barely took the edge off, I had to have an epidural.

Main things are that pain increases gradually and it comes in waves, it’s not constant

This was not the case for me. After my waters broke the pain suddenly became severe and constant with no waves and no gaps in between. I was immobilised by the pain and just lay on the floor screaming. The midwives had to carry me to the bed and I had to have an emergency epidural.

I paced myself. The whole time I could manage without pain relief, I did. That way I felt like there was something that could be done if the pain got worse. I went in with the attitude of "nothing is off limits and we'll see how it goes". Both of mine were born premature, so certain options weren't available (they wouldn't allow me to have pethidine). As it happened, I managed with gas and air. Which, even to this day I'm not sure if I loved or hated!

I used a TENS machine at home and on the way to hospital.
Arrived and was 2cm but they kept me in as my waters had gone and there was meconium in them. Was offered Gas and Air but it didn't cut it so they gave me diamorphine. Was blissfully unaware from 4-8cm. I know I was asked to get up and go for a wee and I had G&A nearer the end when it was wearing off, so they offered me an epidural, I declined and asked for more diamorphine. Got me to 10cm and pushed for a bit but in the end had to have a spinal for episiotomy and forceps delivery.

Good luck and don't be afraid to ask for anything, but also, you're prolly much stronger than you think you are!

Dc1 - water
Dc2 - gas and air
Dc3 - tens machine (didn't like that) and a bit of gas and air near the end
Dc4 - spinal (elective c-section)
Dc5 - a bit of gas and air about 3 hours after they started the induction drip and then a spinal for the emcs

4dc, first labor I had tens machine, gas and air then eventually pethidine. Tens machine helped a bit, gas and air helped when I was further on, hated the pethidine, made me fall asleep then wake up in shock at contractions wondering why I was in pain!

Next two labour's I had epidurals, both fine except I had a numb leg and window of pain with the third labor.

Fourth labor I had nothing, it was my best labour, it was four hours and I was at home until half an hour before he was born, fully dilated by the time I went to hospital. I guess I had been through so many labors all close together, I had just lost any fear and as a result, my fourth Labour was a lot less painful.

I had a mega quick labour after having the pessary to induce me. Contractions for 3 hours then pushing 20 minutes. I had a tens, about 5 puffs of gas and air before they took it off me as I was fully dilated, and then a local anaesthetic injection to stitch my episiotomy. Honestly in the moment you do what you can do and I was well up for an epidural at the start but there was never any question of me getting one!

Moving around including using a fit ball this helped early on
Massage really hard pressure this also helped early on
Hot water via a shower with the head pointed at the most sore bit. At hospital they had two shower heads so I had one on constantly and then turned the second on at the start of a contraction.
Water pool. Was bloody great as it helped me move around more.
Gas and air it’s great too.

This time I’ve done hypnobirthing so planning on using relaxation, shower and gas and air if needed