Pain relief in labour

[Snoopy28x]

I'm after some advice. I am 38 weeks with baby #3. I'm due to be induced next weekend. With my first baby I had a water birth which was perfect, 2nd It was so fast, no chance for pain relief.

This time I'm scares of the pain.. but also worried about the effects of the different pain killers. I had not feeling in control, gas and air didnt work for me made me feel sick.

I'm just wondering what pain relief you chose and how did it make you feel? Xx

First labour - tens, water, gas and air. Felt constantly spaced out but I think that was due to no sleep and a very long labour. Baby delivered with forceps. He didn’t feed easily at all and we failed to establish breastfeeding.

second labour - tens, gas and air, water, pethidine. I found the gas and air made me feel really sick this time and the pethidine, for me, was awful. I felt completely off my face and it wa a given too late so really kicked in once baby was born and I spent the first hour feeling really spaced out and not like it was all real. It didn’t really help with the pain either (but as I say, it was given too late I think) Baby much better feeder and still breastfeeding at 10months

If I was to have a third I think I would have an epidural unless I progressed very quickly.

I had pethidine when I first got to hospital and it was a godsend as it allowed me to actually get some sleep - I didn’t feel out of it or even drowsy on it, it just eased the pain to allow me to get some rest . I had it very early on though, about 1/ 2cm. Gas and air did nothing for me nor did TENS machine. I had a second dose of pethidine later on which wasn’t as effective as the first. I then had an epidural which again was a godsend. I was nervous to have it initially because I’m scared of needles but it wasn’t as bad as I thought and I felt so relieved once the pain was gone. I think I would do it again if I have more children.

First baby I was adamant on natural this drug free that and spent two days in labour with no analgesia - still waiting for my martyr medal 😉

Second baby despite measuring and scanning 'concerningly small' was 10lb and had an off the charts head size, was back to back and got her huge head stuck so I enjoyed some nice fentanyl via epidural and an incredibly invasive instrument assisted birth. The fentanyl was given after 36 hours of failed home birth labour and a blue light transfer. It cleared the fog of pain and I felt awake, in control and pain free. My DD came out a bit floppy and I suspect the fentanyl may have contributed but she was fine within seconds.

If there is a next time I will be having an epidural. I'm a baby wearing, breastfeeding, child lead weaning stereotype but I'm very pro the pain relief!

It sounds like you did brilliantly in your first two births, so I’m curious about why you’re nervous this time?

I had similar first two births to you, and with my third baby I tried hypnobirthing. It was fantastic. You do a few weeks’ practice before the birth so I would start now and then use the techniques. I had a big baby and I found it perfectly fine.

My baby was on his side/back so ver y painful and I had everything! Gas and air and then pethidine which worked really well as a combination and I was coping but I knew it was going to get more painful so had the epidural and was the most chilled person ever. Loved it! I'd tried hypnobirthing and it just didn't work for me. It was way too painful to focus my brain.