I was told by my midwife that Pethadine is extremely old fashioned and that particular hospie doesn't even offer it any more...I didn't care anyway as I had a painkiller free labour and birth.

I did have gas+air when my episiotomy was being stitched up (I had a PPH with episiotomy so he jabbed me with the local so fast before stiching that it hadn't kicked in when he started stitching) and omg, never again. Major trippiness. Have said it on BB before, but I literally saw the pattern on the room curtains jump off and dance away.