Pain relief??

Hi all,

 

Not posted in a while as have just moved house and been without the internet! Hope you are all well and getting excited about our new arrivals!

Just wondering what everyone is planning for pain relief during labour?! I am totally clueless so any advice on pros and cons or past experiences woudl be welcomed!

 x

I'm not sure what everyone else is doing but my plan is the same as with my first child. I refused any type of drug that will make me unaware of the birth of my child. I will get the epi as soon as they let me but that's it. I've watched a lot of friends and family do all the drugs while in labour like the gas, morphine etc and they have no memory of their first moment with their child or their labour. Just bits & pieces. I really want to remember that first moment and everything that went on. I struggled with contractions for over 20 hours before I had my epi and wouldn't have it any other way.

Jumping in from due in September, I think it really depends on how labour goes for you. Each labour is unique and each person's pain threshold is unique. Both my labours were very quick and I just had gas and air - no time for anything else. I found it a very positive experience as it took the edge off the pain and as soon as you stop taking it your fine. I agree with Shyann, I wouldn't want to be disorientated having my baby, it's too special an experience not to have any awareness of what is going on. I also found the pain strangely rewarding, it was like battling through the pain and getting rewarded by this beautiful little creature.

I have had a natural birth with all four of mine and am planning to do so again with this one. Have done a lot of walking, showering, and spending time in the birth tub.

If you'd like to read them, my birth stories are the first four stories on this page: http://www.naturalbirthandbabycare.com/birth-stories.html

Thanks to everyone for their replies- I think I am going to remain with an open mind (it is hard to say how I will feel as this is my first baby so I dont know what to expect). I will deffo start with gas and air and from there see how I go. I am hoping to try a water birth although I can only achieve this is my pregnancy remains low risk and at the moment there are concerns over my fluid levels (a scan on monday shoudl determine whether or not I will remain low risk and if so I will deffo give the pool a go). I wouldnt rule out epidural although am increasingly goign off the idea of pethadine as I have heard it can make you and baby drowsy and has resulted in some babies struggling to breast feed which I really dont want to happen!

With my first son, they wrongly gave me morphine very late in the day. Basically, I was induced and they were telling me I had about seven hours to go and the pain was really intense and I had a strong urge to push. The midwife just kind of ignored me and gave me a morphine jag without checking me first. Of course, then little DS1 was born very quickly after and he was purple. He was breathing and stuff but it was scary. The morphine did bugger all of course, because the pain stopped anyway when he was born but it was very upsetting and he was a bit out of it for the first little bit. The same thing also happened to my friend who was given morphine and baby was blue. I'd avoid the pethadine if you can as I think it is similar. The gas and air is amazing! It makes you feel really kind of spacy and just takes the edge of the pain but I was walking about all loopy while my DP kept asking if I was ok cos I looked so out of it. I remember turning to him and going, 'oh my god, this is amazing'. LOL!

Interesting reading about the pethadine, I had it with 2 out if 3 of my labours, I didn't feel out of it just more relaxed, a little sleepy in-between contractions but when it came to pushing and the end I was completely with it. My labour with nothing was best but my experience with pethadine wasn't bad. I hated gas, made me feel like I would pass out or vomit! It's a very individual thing, everyone reactsdiffeently to different drugs... Goodluck

I'm a c-sect momma but I just wanted to wish you luck.