Labour drugs..

[denbyellie]

What was your experience out of interest?

As someone who had ALL the drugs (I had a very long labour) I found the epidural AMAZING. Gas and air was good at first, and if I timed it properly for the contraction, I couldn't use it later on in labour as I had magnesium sulfate due to my blood pressure (preeclampsia) which meant I wasn't allowed any water so gas and air made my mouth too dry. I enjoyed penthadine but it made me feel a bit sick even with the anti sickness medication.
What I will say is I escalated my pain meds accordingly. It had always been in my birth plan to do this. I started with paracetamol, then gas and air, Pethadine then an epidural. My labour was very long and drawn out so I had more than enough time to administer the epidural, however if you know for sure you want it, ask early so there's enough time to administer it.

I didn't want an epidural at all following bad experiences with spinal taps. By the time I got in there, I had had no medication, kept this up until 7th hour then did as pp said, went through the medication as everything got worse.
By the 10th hour, I changed my mind and had an epidural. I honestly don't know how I would have finished without it and will have one earlier the next time round. Baby was born an hour later.

Epidural really helped me relax in the end, had a long labour and had been up since the early hours of the morning so I was begging them to let me sleep!
I didn't like gas and air personally as it made me feel drunk and out of control, although I did keep snatching it back lol

I had G&A and pethidine with #1 and felt out of control as was given too late and she had pooped as well so was taken off for observation for an hour.

Number #2 just had gas and air and was all fine with just that.

My midwife told me to write a labour plan.... then rip it up.
You don't know how you will feel, how you will progress and how much pain you'll feel.
I wanted to be one of those yoga mums who breathe through labour with an oooo and ahhhhh, but quickly realised baby was the wrong way round and ended up with all the drugs and an epidural and c- section. All of that massively helped and was clearly exactly what was needed.
I was so worried about having an epidural as I'd read far too many stores, but it's there to help you deliver and to help baby arrive safely-
Don't feel pressured into having a drug free birth!

I had an epidural and it was bloody marvellous.

Gas and air was marvellous. Made me feel very light headed, but got me through the early drip induced contractions. I had a death grip on it for active labour.

At around 3cm gas and air was no longer enough, so I asked for diamorphine (escalating pain relief like PPs). I may have made a mistake in requesting the full dose. Either that or I'm sensitive to it. Either way, I was as high as a kite. When I wasn't sound asleep between contractions, I was generally incoherent, which sucked when I needed to consent for bloods, a FSE (Foetal Scalp Electrode) to monitor baby and dilation checks.

They only had a brief period as well, as I'd only wake up as a contraction was heading towards its peak. However, I was more intent on sucking on the gas and air to help me get past the peak, and then to drift back into unconsciousness sleep. I have piecemeal recollections of these brief periods.

Fortunately the diamorphine was wearing off when I hit 10cm. They took away the gas and air (meanies) so I would stay lucid enough to push. What was left of the morphine was enough on its own to keep me relatively pain free for pushing.

Knowing what I know now, if I could do it all again, I'd request a smaller dose, but otherwise I wouldn't change a thing.

You have to remember everyone is different. I can take a lot of pain meds (apparently this is a red head thing). I had gas and air, 3 doses of diamorphine, 2 epidurals and a spinal block. My epidural was wearing off 15 mins before each top up and I was in agony for those minutes before I could get it back up again. I will say the diamorphine was lovely as was the gas and air

I had all the drugs due to back to back baby, 4 day labour ending in a c section and various other complications. Firstly it's worth saying that these are my experiences in these circumstances and yours may well be different.

Paracetamol - did fuck all
Codine - did fuck all
Pethadine - bloody marvelous stuff and only way I got any sleep but be aware you can only have two doses so save it until you need it
Oramorph - dick fuck all
Gas and air - did something for a short period of time but benefit didn't last long
Epidural - excellent and was so well done I could even walk with it in to use the bathroom etc

Should add, the pethedine made me vomit spectacularly but was well worth it (and I say this as someone that absolutely hates being sick) and after the initial vomiting I didn't have any nausea.