What are your views on pain relief?

[Sherlock]

I'm 37 and this is my first. I've done a great deal of reading, discussing and researched all the possibilities. I'm happy with my choices.

For me its not so much about the debate of having pain relief or lack of it. Yes gas/air will be nice, but I hope to not need anything else. I don't see why I can't make it through provided the birth is uncomplicated by anything serious.

It's more to do with the concerns I have that once having had an epidural then

a) other medical intervention is also likely during the birth and it becomes a medical procedure over a natural one. Once doctors get involved then I feel I will personally be more tense and concerned for any other action they may wish to take, but it speeding me up with drugs, using forceps, ventouse and so on. Those are things that, so long as the birth is progressing fine and neither myself or baby are in distress, I don't feel I want to have intervention on, even if labour is slow by the hospital time frame. Yes I may be wishing for LO to be out, but I don't see why speeding me up is going to help any other than get the baby here by the time the MW or Doctor ends their shift. I may be tired and pushing might be hard work, but adrenaline can kick in and willpower is a wonderful thing.

b) I will probably have to remain on the bed as my legs won't be working properly. How long this lasts after the birth is variable. I don't wish to be incapacitated in any form unless its a dire emergency.

c) I am a mind over matter type person and wholeheartedly feel that if I am mentally happy with the situation, then I shall be much better able to cope with pain as it occurs. I can move freely, walk, crouch, do whatever it takes to ease contraction pain for myself. For me its about rationalising the pain. If I know what is causing me the pain, that I know that while it hurts like hell, it will pass, I can cope and break it down as it happens. Its not an unknown pain so to speak. Its labour and therefore I expect it to hurt like hell.

I think its every womans choice what they opt for. I have to admit to being concerned at elective C sections increasing, simply because its actually a major blooming operation and one I don't feel should be taken lightly without good cause. As for pain relief, every woman can choose. I'd at least like to try without something like an epi, not opt for one beforehand regardless. But I will never say never and won't rule it out should it be required. But it is my hope that, providing birth progresses ok, I won't have anything like it.

Having said all that, I've opted for a homebirth so an epi is off the cards anyway. And chances are by the time I get to hospital if I am transferred, it'll be too late for one anyways. But I am accepting and ok with this.

 

[kalia]

I'm keeping open minded too - I haven't tried this labour thing yet and theories are lovely but I have no idea what it will be like at the time I'm pro choice on this.

My view at the moment is similar to yours, though with a different conclusion. I am naturally not wanting to be in lots of pain. So I would prefer if I can to not have an epidural or cesearian as that would be added pain after the birth (bear in mind I haven't experienced labour yet). My main concerns about labour are episiotomy, cesearian and epidurals. I don't want any of them because of the after effects. I'm not talking about major problems with the epidural, simply that it must feel sore and bruised on your back for at least a few days, maybe longer. Labour will be hell. But I won't remember what the pain felt like. If you remember something sad, you feel a bit sad. If you remember something frustrating, you feel a bit frustrated. If you remember pain all you remember is that it happened, you don't experience anything in the memory.

If my labour is long I will go with an epidural so that I can rest/cope. I think the people who choose in advance to have an epidural or who elect for cesearian are the brave ones.

My views to painkillers are odd to be honest. I am in a lot of pain and despite the doctor and midwife telling me to take paracetemol so far I have only taken one, and that was so I could try to sleep properly last night. I could take lots of paracetemol and not be in pain. But then I might do to much and end up ultimately in more pain.

I think people just like to critisise others. The size of your bump, using cloth nappies, your choice of pain relief, what you buy in advance, the names you choose..... Ignore the lot of them. If they can't be bothered showing positive, supportive interest they'd be better off showing no interest.

 

[KJL]

Does anyone actually know if it's possible to fall asleep when you have pethidine? I remember being sick on the floor beside the bed just after having it and not caring cos I was too off my head to worry about reaching for the sick bowl. Then my next memory is snapping awake at 9cm dilated (about 4 hours later) calling out in pain on all fours thinking how I must look and sound like an animal, and the midwife saying she could see the babys head! I have no idea if I was asleep during all that time cos I was on my own

Pethadine is not offered as an option at my hospital anymore but I have have it before for other post surgery pain relief and it's the oddest painkiller! I was so high on it, and after having all my wisdom teeth out I couldn't stop talking and laughing and ended up having to be rushed back into hosp as I busted some stiches and was bleeding all over the place! When it started wearing off I was abnormally tired and low...very bizarre! Better than morphine though as that made me puke for hours

 

[Bee]

I want to try with only gas and air - I'm not a huge fan of anything else tbh.

I don't want to be induced either

 

[muppetmummy]

My midwife said they don't use pethidine here anymore either, apparantly they use a morphine injection now.

After waking up from the pethidine I was given gas and air but wasn't able to breathe it in (didn't have the strength to suck!). I've read that the pethidine can affect your breathing so maybe thats why

 

[DebbieM]

I think you should have an open mind when giving birth and if you feel you need more pain relief than you originally anticipated that you would that you should go for it and not feel like a failure.

Right now, I am hoping for just gas and air but if it is too much when I get there and am in the full throws of labour, I will seriously think about other forms of pain relief such as an epidural etc (although right now that's not what I want).

 

[annem]

i went open minded but hoping to go as natural as possible. I had gas and air and had it taken off me for the last half an hour

i was never offered anything else but if i had been in a lot of pain i would of asked for something else. Being in the bath till 10cm helped a lot!!

 

[Princess_Puddles]

I managed on Tens machine (But my labour was only 1hr 35 mins ) during my contractions and had some gas and air when I was waiting to push cause my Mum and OH weren't there yet LOL
I ended up having an epidural type thing after though cause the placenta cord snapped and I had to have it removed manually in theater

All I will say is pethidine has the worst feedback out of all the pain relieves that are on offer, it's more likely to make you sick, it doesn't wear off straight away unlike G&A which does the same stuff but if it makes you feel ill you only have to stop it & also Pethidine can make your baby very sleepy and dopey for a few hours/days.

 

[Kylie1007]

Before I had the baby, I wanted every type of pain relief going (I'm a big wimp!) but things didn't go to plan and I ended up with barely any pain relief! I was very glad that I hadn't had anything as I was up and about straight after the birth! I think next time I'd like to try it pain relief free again.

 

[trixipaws]

i just had a lil bit of gas&air halfway through but they took it off me coz i was sucking on it in between contractions (well, it was fun! bloody killjoys lol!) but tbh when i got to 10cm and was in extreme pain, i regretted opting for a home birth and wished i was at hosp under general anaesthetic havin a c section!
but of course now its over im so glad i did it that way and i gotta admit when people seemed impressed by it afterwards i did feel proud of myself like im 10 men or somet lol.
if i hav another ill try not even having the G&A, i like a challenge hehe!

 

[happy-chick]

I wud say go in with an open mind as you just never know what your labour will be like, I said I didnt want an epidural but there was no way i cud have given birth without it to be honest! I had everything in the end cos my labour was long, im not ashamed of that & take offence to anyone that says having pain relief is wimpy... everyones labour & pain tolerance is different so I dont see how people can judge.

Tens Machine - OK but not all that brill, kinda takes ur mind of things a bit.

Gas & Air - Amazing at first but after using it for about 14hrs it didnt work aswell as before! It gave me the giggles and defo kept me going for a good while.

Pethadine - Made me feel really sick, groggy & also made baby drowsy when born. Did chill me out and allowed me to get some rest in early stages though.

Epidural - Amazing, I didnt feel any pain at all from 6cm to 10cm, I even went to sleep! I did feel when I wanted to push and didnt have to push for long although i know epi can slow things down for some people.

 

[Tillytots]

Im hopefully having baby at home so it will be gas and air for me, and a birthing pool.

I really, REALLY dont want an epi because...

a) I bloody hate needles and the thought of someone sodding about with one in my spine doesnt sit right with me It also takes more than just a prick...I read its like 20mins

b) I want to remain mobile in labour. I have panic attacks and just the thought of me being stuck in a bed knowing I couldnt walk anywhere makes me start to panic. I'd hate the feeling of being totally dependant on someone else to move

c) I want to feel when Im pushing, less likely to tear

d) I dont want a catheter

e) I'd rather reduce the risk of having interventions such as forceps and ventouse

f) my Mum had a bad experience with an epi and I dont want that happening to me

Things like pethidine I'll consider but I'd rather not have a dopey baby or him having breathing probs. SIL had an epi and pethidine yesterday and her baby is really wheezey and she isnt feeding at the mo which is probably down to the pain relief.

I'll just see what happens on the day though

 

[Princess_Puddles]

im not ashamed of that & take offence to anyone that says having pain relief is wimpy... everyones labour & pain tolerance is different so I dont see how people can judge.

I don't know anyone who says pain relief is wimpy, and if they did then
The majority of us here have been through it and we know it hurts, its all about how people can stand pain and how long your labour is but having pain relief isn't wimpy, bringing a child into the world is an amazing thing how ever its done!

 

[Squiglet]

keep an open mind.... I knew this girl and she liked to make people feel bad about having help while in labour.... saying only decent mums want to experience and feel their children coming into this world... and when she finally went into labour she had an epi because it got too much for her... ...

it is possible to do labour without anything...but I'd have given anything for some pain relief during the final parts of my labour. I had a drug at the beginning thats supposed to relax you and it helps the cervix dilate, it didn't touch the pain... but it all went pear shaped and after the mw put the oxytocin drip up.... it all went too fast and there was no time for pain relief although I can now say I had no pain relief at the end I can't say that it was a good thing. I had an epi with Tia and my labour was calm for the most part and when things went wrong at the end I was able to clearly concentrate on pushing her out... but with Serena I felt completely lost and was so shattered afterwards.

 

[Misslarue]

keep an open mind.... I knew this girl and she liked to make people feel bad about having help while in labour.... saying only decent mums want to experience and feel their children coming into this world... and when she finally went into labour she had an epi because it got too much for her... ...

you live and learn! I remember thinking for the first 4 hours, wow I can do this on gas and air alone!! I don't think it helped that my MW kept going on about her mum who had 10 children under a tree in africa!

For me............its worse now that I have had Dan. Before I could kid myself that childbirth wouldn't be that bad. Now that I have experienced it I'm under no delusion about how excruciatingly painful it is. I will def be more scared about the brith second time around and will welcome any pain relief!!

 

[debecca]

I am just going to see how I feel.

However, I hate needles and surgical gubbins so if I can avoid an epidural I will and pethidine I'm sure is injected!

Gas and air all the way for me - which probably means I'll whinge about 2 contractions in and beg for everything they can offer.

Like the others, fairly open minded but would prefer to go for the minimal pain relief route.

 

[Emma58]

I want to keep an open mind too.

I'm really not keen on having an epidural and want to be as mobile as i can.

When i had George i only had gas and air but that wasn't through choice i do remember when the pain got bad i wanted anything to block it out but it was too late for anything stronger.
Luckily I delivered him fairly quickly (1hour 43 mins my midwife said my notes said)

I'm terrified of having to have a C - section but I am just going to see what happens at the time.

 

[nathanmum]

with nathan i didnt want anything but as soon as i transfered to hospital i started on the gas and air.
i wanted to avoid the pethidine cos it effects the baby and i didnt want and epidural cos of the increase in intervention.
i think that it depends on your birth if i had been in labour for 30 hours i might have felt differently and had more. i am an absolute whimp by the way and found gas and air ace.
i do remember feeling really proud that i delivered my big boy on only gas and air but there arent any medals at the end of it so??
with this one im having the gas and air even if i dont need it cos it was bloody marvelous stuff
as for the whole elective c section thing i dont agree with it its is not the safest way for a baby to be born if you have had a normal pregnancy. i do think its a little selfish especially when these celebrities book themselves in to fit around their schedules or avoid the last few weeks of stretch marks

 

[Redshoes]

Just MY opinion but not wanting any drugs with Isaac wasn't about winning medals or being 'hard', I understand how the body works in labour and believe it can be a much more positive and beautiful experience without intervention. Obviously you are going to feel labour!! But choosing to or not to have drugs is NOT about 'wimps' in any way, shape or form, its a PERSONAL choice, and no-one should be judged for choosing to or not

As it went I was fine until I was intervened with, unfortunately I felt out of control with my labour as it was so long and I ended up in hospital, numb, and on my back, not very beautiful or positive in my eyes. Very best wishes with your choices ladies, after your LO is here it becomes much less on topic does pain relief, but the memory of how labour played out is still there, so choose what YOU WANT

 

[flowergirl]

I thought that I had it all sorted in my head what sort of pain relief I wanted - , TENS, G&A, Pethidine in that order. However I am totally put off pethidine now as I hate that out of control feeling being drunk gives you and it sounds as if this is one definite side effect for a lot of women! I want to have my wits about me as much as possible so that I can concentrate on pushing when my body tells me to and feel able to move around freely throughout the process if that's what I want. That's why at the moment I am very anti epidural and the fact that you have to have that needle in your back! However, I am keeping a sort of open mind as I have never experienced labour and have no idea what my pain threshold is really like. We'll find out at some point in the next 2 months I guess!