Side effects of gas

[~Hestia~]

I'd like to hear of people's experiences/opinions of using gas during labour.
I have been told so many different things in relation to the side effects of gas.
Does it just take the edge off or does it really make you "off your face"?

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

It's unpleasantly like being drunk.

So... if you're quite a "together" drunk then no problem.

I get quite annoyed at other people when I'm drunk and can't stop at three drinks (can stop at one or two though!) so one puff and nope, really didn't want it. A few hours later and I was thinking how stupid the midwives were. OK, they were being stupid but I shouldn't have been thinking about them!

[Jakabella]

I used the gas first before I had my epi and I hated it! It made me vomit and when ppl talked to me I would hear what they said 3 times.. like an eco. Gas was not for me.
Its good for some though!
HTH
Kate

[Salsa]

I suspected it was like smoking dope, and a few people have told me it is, so I wrote on my birth plan not to be offered it, as I dont like the stoned sensation.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I wrote on my birth plan I was not to be offered it, but midwives secretly work for drug companies so push their filth on you all the time. You MUST try the gas. You NEED the gas. You NEED more drugs. Let's ignore your birth plan, lose it if we can, and then ignore you when you say your DH has a genetic condition that the baby may have inherited that means some of the drugs on offer will kill the baby. Ignore the stupid woman and kill the baby! We're midwives!

If you refuse too much, they wait until you're strapped down then shove it in your face... and when you're using it, then they tell you off and take it away.

ETA: as mentioned by Lulu, this is JUST my experience and hopefully not anybody elses'. But I do get a bit upset when I see so many women having faith in a piece of paper because I had faith in my piece of paper and it was "lost" by the hospital. Birth plans are great things but if you have a vital need not to be offered drugs (as I had) don't just say it to the midwives, don't write it on a piece of paper, get it tattooed onto you! Or ensure you know your midwives before birth (didn't have that option in my hospital) or bring in some decent support to back up your birth plan.

[Salsa]

lol rosehip,
they did offer it to me anyway, sounding all caring and like I`d be a fool not too. Fortunate for me DH jumped in and made it clear to them not to offer it again and that I wouldnt be having it.... I did however go on to have peth, which I wish I hadnt. But at least it didnt spin me out like I suspect Gas could have.

[Winter]

Rosehip Fairy - I really dont think thats everyones experience. I wasn't offered gas at all or any drugs and my birth plan was very much respected.

Please stick to the OP question on the effects of gas if you had it.

[Ginger]

i really enjoyed using the gas. i felt that the sucking motion gave me something to concentrate on itms? i have used it in both my labours and found that it really helped me to relax and was very beneficial.

[Lulu]

Winter - it's not everyones experience, but it was RH's.

I think the gas be can ok, but I think you need to be shown how to use it. I couldn't get my head around it, so rejected it too. When my sis had her bub I insisted she be shown how to use it and I think that's the difference. If we timed it right she would breathe in deep just before the peak of the contraction, so the gas would take the edge off at just the right time.

You do have to be careful as it can make you very sleepy and out of it, but at least you can put it down and it wears off quickly.

DD16 had a needle prised out of her foot. They gave her gas to help with the pain and timed properly it DID help. I do think its a viable option but everyone reacts differently.

hth xoxo

[organicem]

I used gas for about a minute the first time round and it made me lose control of my legs and made me feel dizzy.

I tried to not use it second time but did use it at a very low 'gas' setting ie mostly oxygen and found that it helped to numb pain but mainly helped control my breathing as it gave me something else to concentrate on.

Hope you have a great birthing experience...good luck!

[jamakin]

in my experiance i didnt like the gas at all, it made me want to vomit. so no drugs for me..
it does however work really well for some people, so might be worth a try. a friend of mine found it really helpful for her to focus her energy and she could concentrate on her breathing rather than the pain.
i hope that helps. x

[~Flossie~]

I used gas with my 1st birth and found it to be great! with my 2nd birth i just bit into the mouthpiece that the gas comes out of... for me having the gas was enough and no other drugs were needed...i loved the sound of the gas, it was good for me!

[Ginger]

i agree Miss T about the sound of the gas- i can still hear it now! lol
the whirring sound is very relaxing

[Epacris]

I used gas for about an hour really successfully with my first labour. I found it fantastic, it took the painful egde off the contractions for me and it was the only pain relief I needed.

For my second labour I used it for about 1 minute, I breathed waaaay too deeply and too quickly and I totally passed out. That was probably the weirdest feeling of my life, slipping away and then it all rushing back again. DH says I was out for about 30 seconds. I wasn't allowed to have any more gas after that but DD was born about 5 minutes later anyway.

And yes, a really important part of the experience for me was biting on the mouth piece and hearing the whirr of the ball in the chamber thingy. It gave me something to focus on.

[Lisa]

I had it briefly when birthing my first son and vomitted straight after. I looked at it when birthing my daughter and remembered the smell and vomitted again. When I was giving birth to Noah, I was offered the gas and refused as I knew it made me sick. I was offered a maxalon injection (which is an anti nausea drug) and then I was ok with the gas. I still prefer not to have it though.

[Schmickers]

...but midwives secretly work for drug companies so push their filth on you all the time.

Sorry, Ryn, but that's just not the case. Midwives (certainly in the public system, and most likely in the private system as well) don't work for drug companies - it's a gross conflict of interest, and it's not allowed. You should see the hoops I have to jump through just to lecture nursing students as a second job.

Ignore the stupid woman and kill the baby! We're midwives!

You know, I sympathise that you had a terrible birthing experience, and I really feel for you. But my wife is a midwife. I know an awful lot of midwives. I know some of them that believe in a woman's natural ability to birth their baby safely, and I know some who ascribe to the philosophy that every birth is potentially dangerous and should be managed with that in mind. But I do not know a single midwife who really thinks the way you are suggesting.

And on to the topic at hand, I use nitrous for pain relief in children, but have never used it in labour as I'm not a midwife. In my experience, it can make you feel a little giddy, and it should take the edge off the pain, but you shouldn't be "off your face" and you should remain conscious at all times. And yes, it can make you somewhat nauseous.

[teruteru]

personally gas made me sick n really bad headaches. I had really sore back so could only lie on my side but that's a whole diff story.

On a side note, dp took the gas on max n said it was similar to popping pills n was kinda gone for abit but came around real quick .

[SamiH]

Everyone reacts differently to it I suppose

#2 - I had synto drip and used gas as I was flat on my back - well almost and couldnt move around for positions - i have used it at the dentist in the past so knew i could cope with it - and it did help me go on to give birth without further intervention thankfully - very uncomfortable

Sensation - well, I was in control of how much and when, I could suck every 2nd or 3 rd contraction if I wanted to - or not at all - but hearing the little balls as other people said is soothing - but make sure they show you how to use it properly before you are potentially asking for it - so you understand the timing and how to get it to work most effectively

#3 - as natural as the sunshine - i didnt feel the need cos I could move around!!