Pain relief during labour

[Visitor6]

Any injection carries risk, from bleeding, including bruising, nerve damage and subsequent infection. I would think a TENS would be useful or other non invasive treatments if you were choosing an alternative to epidural for example.

It would seem the evidence is lacking in sufficient numbers and agreeance that it works.

[Rooey5]

Stretcher Bearer - Agree on the risks of injections, would you say subcut has a risk of nerve damage though? I'm not trying to say you're wrong, just looking for some education in case my thinking isn't 100% correct

[Visitor6]

Stretcher Bearer - Agree on the risks of injections, would you say subcut has a risk of nerve damage though? I'm not trying to say you're wrong, just looking for some education in case my thinking isn't 100% correct

Well I wouldn't think so Rooey,unless you are pretty sacrally slim!! However if you are using acupressure points for example, and y are htting meridians, perhaps you are potentially having an adverse effect instead of actual nerve damage. I suppose with me (and I'm one who's had acupuncture and needle releases susccessfully) I know what it feels like when the acu needle hits a tight spot or a 'gate' that needs unlocking. I don't just feel the result at tte site.

[Smoke Jaguar]

Rooey, I know there's always risk, even when 'well-trained' people are administering...that's why they have indemnity insurance to cover them I concur with SB's last post about alternatives if you're to eliminate risk and are seeking non-drug options while you're at it. The 'evidence' cited isn't really compelling.

[~Hestia~]

Haven't had any experience with it personally - used a TENS machine for my labour.
But my sister had the sterile water injections last year when she birthed her posterior son. She thought it was great because it took away her back pain & she could concentrate on the contractions.

[Dedicated Doula Gillian]

The midwife I trained with in South Africa said she would rather use a TENS machine because you can control the intensity and turn it on and off as you feel you need it... but with injections once you have been given it, if you get sore or it feels odd or uncomfortable you have to wait for it to wear-off. But with injections you can also use birthing pool so --- obviously TENS and birth pool don't mix...

[Rooey5]

Fair enough SB