Forum : Pregnancy

Well I haven't personnaly given birth yet, I've got another 7 months to worry about it but I was birthing partner for my friend and after seeing that and the pain she was in I'm gonna have what ever I can have on standby. She only wanted to use gas and air and maybe pethadine but ended up up with an epidural. She had a bit of a bad time. Realy makes me wonder why the hell I'm doing it myself, plain stupid comes to mind. Good luck.x

i had pethidine and it worked a treat,my labour was only 5 hrs long and i slept through it all.althought the downside is u dont realy react to ur baby once its out as ur too wacked up.well thats how i felt,and she did weigh a whopping 9lb 11oz and theyv told me this one will be alot bigger!
xx

I'm only half way through but have already come to the conclusion that it's not something you can decide on upfront. I think I'll just see how bad it is and take whatever I need. I have tried booking a easy, pain free labour but aparently there's a waiting list! lol x

I went through my pregnancy not at all worried about giving birth. My way of thinking was the baby has to come out some way and if women in third world countries can do it without any intervention from drugs then I can to. I had an open mind to drugs but did not want an epidural if I could cope without it. After being in labour for 6 hours I felt I needed one, the community midwife rang the hospital and was told that even if we left my home to go in to hospital I could not have an epidural straight away as there were 3 women waiting to go to theatre who needed epidurals. I managed at home with gas & air until 6am (having been in labour since 8pm the previous night) and arrived at the hospital at 6:30am. My son was born at 7:59am. The gas and air does not take away the pain but just takes the edge off. My advice is have an open mind and don't rule anything out until your labour starts, every one has a different pain threshold!!

dont do it! first son i had epidural and had a bad experience. second baby i just had gas and air and i was in control and labour went fabulously- only 3 hrs. i would never use drugs again

everyone has a different experience, the best thing to do is keep an open mind and do what feels best at the time, nobody can tell you whats good and whats not as its different for everyone. i had a tens machine which was really good and i tried the birthing pool which was great too, but after complications i ended up having an epidural. epidurals are good because it takes away all the pain, you really cant feel any of the contractions at all, it also gives you time to have some much needed sleep! i think you get to enjoy the birth more then as your not in any pain. but like i said you need to whats right for you at the time. you might do fine with just gas and air or even nothing at all, but dont be scared to ask for anything stronger if you need it. its your experience so make it as enjoyable as possible.

With my first labour I used gas and air - when I asked for pethidine I was told that it was too late to have it but my son was born soon after.
Second labour, I did fine with gas and air despite the midwife insisting that she would get her tray of drugs ready. I told her she could put them away again as I really didn't want anything! After my daughter was born I ended up having a spinal block to remove my retained placenta and it's the most horrible sensation ever so I wouldn't actively choose to have one during labour.
This time round I just intend to go with the flow and see how I feel, gas and air is my preferred choice again but I'll see how I feel and also it depends on how long my labour will be. My first was only 2 and a half hours and my second was seven hours.

I SAID NO TO GAS AND AIR BUT GOD IT WAS GOOD FELT REALLY DIZZY AT FIRST BUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES I WAS ON TOP OF THE WORLD

EPIDURAL FAILED TO WORK ON ME AND HAD SO MANY TOP UPS AND SUFFER WITH BACK PAIN NOW SO NEVER AGAIN MY SISTER HAD PETHIDINE AND IT MADE HER SLEEPY AND IT PASSES THROUGH THE PLACENTS AND MAKES BABY SLEEPY SO RISK OF SECTION!!

I RECOMMEND MOVEMENT WARM BATHS GAS AND AIR AND MASSAGE HONESTLY !!!

Hi!with my first i had an epidural - never ever again!!!! this time im having a tens machine and gas and air. I didnt go into hospital till my waters had broken and i was 5cm dilated with my first so i know i can cope with the pain at home without the need for pain relief till i go to hospital. I wasnt in control with an epidural and it completely stuffed me up - a really bad experience. Up to you and how your labour develops. Take care - hope all your labours a short and not too painful!Nik

Keep your options open. You never know what you need until youre there and doing it.

However i had a tens machine and gas and air. God I love that stuff! You get a real sense of humour boost just when you need it. Its ace!! Also think about a birthing pool. it shortened my labour and reallt took the pressure off my hips aat a time when it really made a difference. By the time i thought about pethadine it was too late and i was able to focus into pushing.

It sounds corny but listen to your body and above all believe in yourself and you'l kick varous forms of bum!

Luck!