Hi Girls hope everyone is ok just thought i'd post this as it might give people helping hand when doing their birth plan 
Nitrous oxide (gas and air)
Pros
Provides some pain relief for some women.
can be self administered.
No short term effects on mother or baby.
Cons
Nausea and/or vomiting ( i had this for 5 mins)
Feelings of confussion, drowsiness or disorientation.
not a reliable form of pain relief.
Pethididne.
Pros
Provides some pain relief for some women.
Aids relaxation ( i slept between contractions lol)
Provides sedation.
May help cervix dilate more quickly.
Cons
Feelings of dizziness, drowsiness and disorientation.
Nausea and vomiting.
Not effective for all women.
Can cause baby to have breathing difficulties at birth if given less than 3 hours before birth.
Increased risk of jaundice for baby.
baby can have sucking difficulties.
Epidural.
Pros
Most effective form ao pain relief.
Helps control high blood pressure.
Effective pain relief if forceps or vacuum birth is required.
Preferred anaesthesia for caesarean birth.
Cons
Confined to bed with most epidurals.
Increases length of labour.
Increases chances of forceps or vacuum birth approx 50% of first time mothers need this assistance.
Around 1 in 100 women will experience a severe headache after the birth.
Around 1 in 550 women will experience persistent numb patches on theit legs after the birth(these usually resolve in 3 months)
Around 1 in 4000 women will experience a life threatening emergency with epidural administration (paralysis ie rare).
A catheter may be required to pass urine.
Some women have extremely itchy skin.
Sometimes an epidural doesn't work effectively.
Womens temperature may rise during labour - resulting in the baby needing antibiotics after birth.
Hopes this helps
Manda x
Nitrous oxide (gas and air)
Pros
Provides some pain relief for some women.
can be self administered.
No short term effects on mother or baby.
Cons
Nausea and/or vomiting ( i had this for 5 mins)
Feelings of confussion, drowsiness or disorientation.
not a reliable form of pain relief.
Pethididne.
Pros
Provides some pain relief for some women.
Aids relaxation ( i slept between contractions lol)
Provides sedation.
May help cervix dilate more quickly.
Cons
Feelings of dizziness, drowsiness and disorientation.
Nausea and vomiting.
Not effective for all women.
Can cause baby to have breathing difficulties at birth if given less than 3 hours before birth.
Increased risk of jaundice for baby.
baby can have sucking difficulties.
Epidural.
Pros
Most effective form ao pain relief.
Helps control high blood pressure.
Effective pain relief if forceps or vacuum birth is required.
Preferred anaesthesia for caesarean birth.
Cons
Confined to bed with most epidurals.
Increases length of labour.
Increases chances of forceps or vacuum birth approx 50% of first time mothers need this assistance.
Around 1 in 100 women will experience a severe headache after the birth.
Around 1 in 550 women will experience persistent numb patches on theit legs after the birth(these usually resolve in 3 months)
Around 1 in 4000 women will experience a life threatening emergency with epidural administration (paralysis ie rare).
A catheter may be required to pass urine.
Some women have extremely itchy skin.
Sometimes an epidural doesn't work effectively.
Womens temperature may rise during labour - resulting in the baby needing antibiotics after birth.
Hopes this helps
Manda x
