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Original poster

Pethidine injections for pain relief

26 replies

bubbles519 · 13/08/2020 16:54

Has anyone had a Pethidine injection for pain relief and did it help? I hear so much about epidurals and gas and air but no one ever mentions this. In fact I never heard of it until I just saw it on the NHS website

OP posts:
moostermum · 13/08/2020 17:02

Yes it's brilliant. Makes you feel a bit off your face for a bit! Doesn't take the pain away but it's more manageable.

LayTheTableMabel · 13/08/2020 17:02

I was given pethidine with my last birth. My son was born not breathing. When nnicu staff rushed in to resuscitate him they tutted over my notes about how much I had been given. I won't be touching it in Nov when we have our next baby. Some other people may have had better experiences tho...

AstridAv · 13/08/2020 17:04

I had it with my first. Was bloody awful. Felt completely out of it.. never again for me.

moostermum · 13/08/2020 17:04

Also I don't think they use it anymore. I was given diamorphine with my second.

MrsBlobby43 · 13/08/2020 17:06

I had it with my 1st. Baby was born shortly after and was very sleepy and didn't feed. It wasn't until I had a debrief with my midwife she noted he should have been given an antidote. I was robbed of my chance to breasy feed as he was so sleepy for a few days.

Csari · 13/08/2020 17:32

I had it with ny DS, made me feel so much worse and really dizzy. I'd never have it again.

Lollol86 · 13/08/2020 21:17

@bubbles519 I had it with my first didn't feeL it done anything also I came out in a rash on my leg from it.

Sanch1 · 13/08/2020 22:38

Had it with both mine and loved it. Laboured over night with both mine and it allowed me to have a little snooze between contractions but never felt out of it. I didn't have it close to delivery though as that can make baby drowsy, so pushed with no pain relief.

Wowcherarestalkingme · 13/08/2020 22:44

I had it with my first but didn’t feel much different as I was in very late stages and DS arrived minutes later. I then had it while passing a miscarriage. I’ve never been in pain like it and within two minutes I felt a million times better. Can’t comment if it makes you sick or dizzy as I was feeling those before I had it.

DerbyshireGirly · 13/08/2020 22:50

For my very long labour, I loved it. It did make me feel out of it but at that point mentally I needed to be away with the fairies. As soon as baby was ready to come out I came back to earth straight away. She was very calm when she was born but I don't know if that was the pethidine - she's very chilled in general so who knows. Certainly hasn't done her any harm. I tried morphine but it didn't touch the sides.

That said, if I was to have a quicker and less painful labour next time (no malpresentation) I would prefer not to have that kind of pain relief. I definitely wouldn't have had an epidural.

MizMoonshine · 13/08/2020 22:51

Didn't take away the pain for me. Just made me off my tits and unable to speak about how much pain I was in. Then I chundered.

Not for me.

foggyfuzz · 13/08/2020 22:59

I had it with my first, was off my face and threw up, couldn't stop pushing when she asked me to, really couldn't care less tbh, tore and needed stitches, didn't have it with my second and felt so much more in control, did as I was told, no stitches, no chucking up and remember the whole thing (good and bad) - yes it was painful but no more than my first, It really was so much better.

Floatingstar · 13/08/2020 23:01

Had it just few months ago but it didn’t do anything for me at all

Lalanbaba · 13/08/2020 23:12

Got pethidine with mine as I was induced with a drip (pessaries did nothing to me) and I asked for it coz I wanted to be as mobile as possible.
Well it sent me to sleep till the moment I was crowning when I woke up screaming "it's coming".

FluffyKittensinabasket · 13/08/2020 23:38

2020 and women are still expected to labour with ineffective pain relief. Sad

FH27 · 14/08/2020 10:23

I wasn't a fan, made me feel completely out of it and also my labour slowed down after having it. My baby was very sleepy for the first 24 hours but she might have been that way regardless. However, this is just my experience, could be totally different for you.

Feralkidsatthecampsite · 14/08/2020 10:26

I had it with pfb . Kept me in a week as she was so drowsy...
Gas and air only with the rest.

AllTheWhoresOfMalta · 14/08/2020 10:27

I had it when in labour with DD1. I needn’t have bothered; if did precisely nothing!

randomsabreuse · 14/08/2020 10:29

Had it in early labour with my second, let me sleep/made me pass out for about 2 minutes between contractions, didn't actually help with the contraction pain. Not used in official labour (I was induced with the gel).

Jamhandprints · 14/08/2020 10:34

I had it with my first, it was awful. It made me fall asleep between contractions which were 2 mins apart, they were still painful. Then hours afterwards it made me have panic attacks as it wore off.
With my 2nd and 3rd babies I had just gas and air and yoga positions and breathing and this was much MUCH more effective for pain relief.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 14/08/2020 10:36

I had it. Not sure what it did for the pain but it did make me vomit spectacularly.

MichelleOR84 · 16/08/2020 14:44

I had it in early labour. It made me fall asleep in between contractions 🙌!! It also makes you soooo loopy and out of it . I don’t know if it took away any pain though , maybe a bit . I was initially against it and wanted a natural labour but after a very long early labour and 2 nights of no sleep, I needed something to help me sleep . It was also exactly what I needed to get me through active labour without an epidural which was my ultimate goal . I felt rested and ready for it .

I’ve heard of a lot of bad experiences with it too though. It really depends on the person I think .

notasillysausage · 16/08/2020 15:25

I had it with my first labour, never again. I felt out of control and can’t remember big chunks of what happened. I was too sleepy to move around and push effectively. Ended up with a forceps delivery after 3 hours of trying to push my little boy out.
Second labour I had gas and air (wasn’t an option with the first as I was on the induction ward and none available). Felt completely in control throughout and had a water birth which also helped with the pain.

gonewiththerain · 16/08/2020 15:32

I had it during my first labour and it made me both sleep and feel really out of it. I swore I’d never have it again. First labour ended in emcs. I booked a c section for my second but started early and went with it.
Second labour was progressing much quicker and I was tired so had some pethedine. It did help and I slept between contractions up to about 7 cm. Didn’t make me feel out of it this time. I would have had more but things were progressing too quickly and there wasn’t time.
The tens machine was very good as well, as was the gas and air.

PrincessHB · 19/08/2020 11:26

I had pethedine with my first very long labour after induction drip and I found the same as many of the experiences shared. I felt totally out of it, even after birth and dont really remember afterwards either. I still felt pain throughout, couldnt sleep and threw up (but could have also been the gas and air too). I was exhausted, out of it and then struggled to push properly. It looked like forceps were about to be tried but thankfully pushed him out and then tore badly. It was awful and I really regret not having an epidural. He was very sleepy for days, didn't feed well and we couldn't establish breast feeding well. I joke that I still blame it for making him nocturnal to this day!! Hes going to be 9 soon!
With birth 2 I didnt have time for any pain relief and had a quick water birth. Hoping the same for birth 3 when it happens!!