Gas in labour: what was your experience?

[Fleur]

I used it with all four of my labours and found it helpful each time, especially as something to focus on - I think that was as important as the pain relief.

With DD2 I was stuck on the bed for my whole labour, I got through it almost all the way without it and used gas for the last three or four contractions before she finally engaged. I didn't find it great then for pain relief but it was distracting.
What I really wanted to do was move around, I think if I had been able to move around I would have done without the gas (in that instance).

[kiwimummy]

I LOVED it! I used it first time up until I got an epidural. Second time it was all I used. I found it really helpful, gave me something to focus on while breathing, took the edge of the contractions nicely.

[lyra stardust]

LOVED it too! I think it saved me. I had natural labour with 2 paracetamol first, then got the gas just after transition I think. Then I was squatting at end of the bed with gas in hand and tens, and stayed there until i delivered. It was amazing, good pain relief and I still knew what was going on but wasn't freaked out about it any more. But I also used it for stitches after and had a very bad experience- she started stitching before the local had started working and I was sucking SO hard on that thing and had a wierd out of body experience and it felt like it was just me and the pain in the world. Was very scary. So I'd use it again for labour in a heartbeat, but for stitches I want some hard core drugs next time!

[Mad Scientist]

I was in the middle of a posterior labour and my midwife handed me the gas for me to try. I had one suck and hated it. It tasted awful and felt like I was breathing in powdered air. Ergh. Didn't even go near it with DD2.

[grub17]

yeah I'm a gas fan too

We had already decided before the labour that gas was as strong as I was getting regarding drugs (for various reasons but mainly i don't react well to heavier drugs, anasethtic etc and didn't want the bub affected regarding peth etc).

So after exhausting stressballs, walking, humming, breathing and the tens machine. We used the gas. We dialled it down very low to begin with cos i wanted something in reserve iykwim.

It took me a few sucks to get the hang of it... a few big sucks in as contraction starts and then remove it and deep breaths worked really well.

I got dizzy and yuky once when DH dialled it up a bit too much.

It and a warm shower got me to full dliation and the beautiful birth of my DS.

I plan on using it again this time round, if needs be.

I think the key to gas is using it correctly and only using the bare min for your pain level. I know if i had of jumped in at the level the nurse had set, I would have been off my face.

[loulabelle]

I used it my first labour and it made me throw up. Not a fan, although I quite liked biting on on it.


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[OceanPrincess]

I got onto it with my first labour, had just the TENS at home and headed into hospital then got onto the gas. It took me a while to get the hang of it though - for a while I I was pacing the room sucking the gas and then vomiting. But once the MW and DH coached me on how to use it, I found it invaluable.

Like some others - I found it just as useful for focus.

A key for me was to stop using it once the contraction had peaked and just take deep breaths of normal air. That helped clear my head in between ctxs.

I even took it into the shower - they had no gas point in there (major design flaw if you ask me!) and the hose wasn't long enough to reach, so DH decided to make an extension for me. He did a bit of a Macguyver - knocked it together so it reached the shower. Bless him!

Second time round, didn't need it!

[RhiChiChi]

I had gas but it wasn't turned up much - it actually distracted me away from the pain of the contractions b/c of the rattling sound when you breathe. My experience was good - no side effects

[Patooties]

I used gas for all three of my births, and all three were inductions - so I was hooked up to a monitor. Dh could read the machine and knew when strong contractions were coming, and told me when to breathe.
With my first I also had pethidine, so was quite out of it. With my 2nd and 3rd (no peth) Dh kept turning the gas down, as I know he wanted me to be in control.
I agree with some of the other ladies, it was great for biting down on

[~Lashes~]

i used it with my first 2. yes it worked, i dont care what you tell me!!

my first the only problem i had was when they uped the mix, from 30/70 to 70/30 the gas was weak one minute, then BAM strong as all the next, it gave me a headspin and made my face tingle for a few mins after they upped it. my seccond, i didnt realy need it untill the last 2 hours when they upped the drip i was on to move things alone, not sure what that was but it hurt like a ****!
i would have loved the gas on my 3rd, but we dont have any lying arround the house i tell you what gas is much better and more effective then those green "disco sticks" the ambos give you for pain taste like nail polish remover.
i didnt have time to think let-alone ask for gas with my fourth.

[~Minny~]

Only had it was DS after about 48hrs of labour and it was great in the beginning but once contractions were ontop of each other it just made me space out (in a good way) but then i just wanted to pass out as i think i was sucking to much back :P

[JennaJayen]

I used gas in both labours and it made feel like I was floating on air (I think I may become addicted to it if I ever have more kids in future lol it was a great feeling for me) the pain faded into the background (it was still there but wasn't as "in my face" as it had been and I was able to drift and relax a bit).
They said it distracted me when I was pushing my DD out, but honestly I think it helped prevent me from tearing as every contraction while pushing I would suck on the gas and push at the same time and as the contraction ebbed away I would stop pushing and DD would slip back up a bit. If I hadn't have used the gas while pushing DD would have been born after less than 10 minutes of pushing and I most likely would have needed stitches.
I did feel queasy at first both times I used it, with DS they gave me the maxalon injection which made me throw up (I now know I'm allergic to it and it makes me throw up every time), but I refused the injection with DD and after a minute the nausea went away.
I was also sucking on it so much and so hard during labours that I passed out lol hubby would try to take it away from me while I was passed out and I'd tighten my grip, it was like a lifeline for me, keeping me centered.
With DD I had a pethideine injection just after starting the gas when I was 5cm dilated, and was fully dilated and had to push 20 minutes later, so it must have worked for me

[Heaven]

I used it in my first birth. I didn't find it did much for the pain but it did help in getting me to focus on my breathing more. Second birth I had the breathing down pat and never felt I needed any pain relief.

[Samcougar]

I found it didn't help me at all, it just made me vomit!

[~me~]

I hated it, couldn't even get the mask near to my face as I found the 'bitter smell' about it terrible. So I never actually used it, only attempted.