Pain relief in labour

[Daisysandviolets]

Starting to think about my birth plan, what pain relief did people have in labour? I'm really not keen on an epidural, I know people say they work wonders but I just don't like the idea! What's did everyone have and how was it? X

I didn’t have an epidural, not because I was against one but because the pain was never bad enough that I needed one . I had pethadine in early labour and a bit gas and air . Every labour is so different and until you are in labour you won’t know what you need or want !!!!

By the way , my sister is super against epidurals . With two natural l births she felt pretty smug about it too . With her third child she needed an epidural. She said the pain was at a completely different level compared to her previous labours . It goes to show truly how different labour is for everyone and the need or want for an epidural isn’t a reflection of how strong you are !

2 DC both induced labour, 1 WITH hormone drip and 1 without!

1- A good support team!
2- Great breathing & counting techniques
3- a relaxed environment
4- gas & air used PROPERLY! (Long deep breathes)

And do NOT labour on your back.

My labours were like night and day
First labour induced waters broken no drip was horrendous I was on the bed because my midwife was SHIT, she kept leaving me so had no support. Did not know how to breathe through my contractions, or how to properly take in the gas! Told DH to kill me and ended up with pethidine at the end!

Second labour I had an amazing midwife, learnt how to breathe from youtube and count through each contraction! Laboured the whole time on a ball at the end of the bed with a very relaxed environment and did the whole thing on gas & air, delivered a 9LB 9 "whopper" as the midwife called him and even though my mum said my head looked like it was going to pop I feel like I had an amazing birth 😊

The worst part of labour is the transition stage, thats when you hit the "GET ME A FUCKING EPIDURAL" stage and the "I CANT FUCKING DO THIS SHIT" 😂 I had been saying oh sugar up until that point! You just have to push through because once you start to push you just want that baby out so forget about the epidural x

I only had gas and air which was wayyyy better than I expected it to be. I had an incredibly quick labour though and was planning on working up through all the pain relief. Just see how you feel when you get there. No shame in taking the pain away! The next few weeks are tough enough without feeling like you've been fisted with a blender the entire time too.

Scrap the birth plan - research all the options so you know what you're offered but stay open minded until the day.

A lot of us said we wouldn't have an epidural...until actually in labour 😉

Just remember there are no medals for the amount of pain you suffer, it's about doing whatever helps to get you through! All is safe for baby or they wouldn't offer it.

No matter what it will all be worth it!

Good luck

Fisted with a blender 😂😂😂😂

I had literally everything after a long back to back labour and I totally being quite stubborn about bouncing my way through contractions! By day 3 I really was just happy to take anything to get some rest. Pethidine-marvellous if they give you an antiemetic at the same time. Gas and air has its place and took the edge off but the epidural really was the dogs balls and came in handy later on when needed episiotomy/failed ventouse/forceps. My birth plan for number 2: get me and baby through to the other side alive.

@Username6345789 same plan for DC2 here too!

It deffo does depend on length of time in labour too. Most people who go pain free or with minimum drugs are in and out within 6 hours! Not all of us are that fortunate 😅

Sometimes you just need to sleep!

I love gas and air if they sold it on the streets that's what I would be doing 😂. I didn't have anything else but that's mainly through no choice as quick labours. Keep an open mind.

I had an epidual amazing with my first. Nothing with my second and she was my quickest and most enjoyable labour and home 6 hours later. Then an epidual with my third. I was just eager not to have any pain. But I didnt consider the side effects of the epidual.

I'd say from experience stay clear of the epidual because of the side effects it can have. I ignored it thinking it wouldn't happen to me xx

@SerenityNowwwww

I didn’t have any. I was curious about the gas and air but too lazy to waddle over to where it was on the side of the room.

Trust me - I’m not one of those ‘oh I can’t possibly have any drugs during birth’ - I just didn’t feel I needed it. I rarely take painkillers.

I was similar. I rarely take painkillers and was at home anyway until transition. By the time I arrived at the hospital, all that was on offer was gas and air, and it just annoyed me so I didn't bother.

I found it a totally different type of pain. Overwhelming at the height of a contraction, but not agonising.

I would remain open minded to be honest OP, have in your mind what you are comfortable with, but if it comes to it and you feel like you do want an epidural, then it's no big deal. I got to 10cm on gas and air in the birthing pool, unfortunately needed some interventions, and the injection in my spine (it wasn't an epidural as it needed to act super fast, but not sure what it was?) was bliss. I wish I had it earlier to be honest, I did enjoy the start of labour and felt the pain was managable, but now I don't know what I struggled through, you don't get a medal!

I was terrified of having an epidural but had mine 'installed' early on (induction) and it was excellent- I had a patient-controlled one so stopped hammering the button when it came near to pushing time so I could feel the pressure without the pain. Was glad of it as ended up with episiotomy and forceps (and blood samples being taken from my feet...that's not usual though!) and with the epidural in they could have cut my leg off and I wouldn't have been bothered 😂

I would definitely have a patient controlled one again if I needed it and could get it in early on ready. It's a nuisance you end up nil by mouth and stuck on the bed, though.

Gas and air, one shot of diamorphine (while waiting for epi) and then finally a top up epidural.

Gas and air I didn't really like as it just made me feel hazy and drunk.

Diamorphine did nothing.

Epidural was amazing. It automatically administered a dose once an hour, and I could also top up 20 mins after each dose. I didn't really need to use the top ups, nor the hourly each time, but it was wonderful. It couldnt get rid of the pressure contractions nearer the end but the small amount of sleep it let me have were magic (existing by that point at 48 hours awake).

I was induced due to my blood pressure, so was on the drip. I didn't find the drip that bad, until they amped it up all the way and I had non stop contractions for an hour (at which point I had the epidural). If they hadn't have bumped it up so much I probably would have been fine without.

I only had gas and air for my second and I honestly believe this is down to the hypnobirthing course I did. There's loads out there but would deffo recommend the positive birth company. It's a game changer xx

I was induced and after being in labour for 48 hours was just exhausted. They gave me paracetamol! Then I had an epidural and the next 6 hrs were much better.
Each to their own

I found gas and air a bit pointless really, felt like it made absolutely no difference, and changed the rhythm of my breathing, I managed without anything after that, I had a short labour though. I went in with an open mind prepared to ask for pain relief, but was happy on the birthing unit and didn't want to go down to the labour ward.

Don't rule anything out at this stage. I knew I would need an epidural and I'm glad I had it with Ds 11 years ago - back to back and 10lbs, delivered in theatre with forceps.

Dd a year ago was an emergency section so had the works. Wouldn't change either experience, I remember them with much love and calmness as I wasn't struggling or in pain.

I think that's it, @Seriously79, because I only had the pressure feeling for when to push without the pain at the end I actively enjoyed it (not saying I wouldn't if I'd had another delivery method as well but I've only had the one so can only talk about that!). If you'd told me in antenatal classes that I'd have ended up pro-epidural I'd have laughed you out of the room. Still keen to try a 'natural' birth of we have another one and circumstances allow but I'm not scared of a heavy inteverntion one any more. Whatever you need to do to get a healthy baby and healthy mum at the end of it.

The first time around I was four square against having an epidural. I was glued to the gas and air from about 6cm and I had a pethedine shot at some point, honestly neither of them helped with the pain at all.
I all but begged for an epidural before the end but I was too far along and was refused.

This time around I am all the way up for an epidural. I'll try my best without any pain relief (it didn't kill me to be in that much pain last time and the pain relief I had didn't help at all) but as soon as I can't handle it, STAB ME UP BUTTERCUP.

My advice would be start low and work your way up. You can have gas/air, then pethidine/diamorphine and can step up to an epidural if required. Don't wait until you can't cope for the epidural though because it may take time for the anaesthetist to arrive and end off being too late.

@MizMoonshine I have 5 weeks to go until DC2 due and I'm totally using STAB ME UP BUTTERCUP as soon as I get pain 😂😂😂

Ask your midwife about Sterile water injections. Omg I loved them. Was back to back, big baby and had that and gas and air didnt feel contractions didnt feel any pain.

My birth plan was no pain meds, had a specific position I thought I wanted to be in to give me more control amongst other things. NONE OF THAT HAPPENED! Paracetamol, codine and pethadine (though I got this too late and midwife said it didn't have time to get into my system! 😂)
Was laid on my back which I didn't want, and was constantly on monitors. Your body will make your birth plan for you! I certainly won't be making a birth plan with my next birth! 😆

I wouldn’t make a plan.. I didn’t because as a ftm you’ve got no idea what it’s going to be like.

I started in the pool with gas and air and ended up with epidural because his head was coming out sideways.

The contractions started like period pain then became like absolute hell on earth that took over my whole body.. screaming in agony I begged for that needle in my back😂.