pain relief

[DoulaRelle]

I had the whole hog with my first baby, gas, pethidine and an epidural. I was fine with the gas and the pethidine but I did not like the epidural. I ended up with a forceps delivery and by the time my son was born (7 hours later) the epidural was not working below my waist and I felt the forcep delivery. The epidural also slowed my labour down (I had actually gone into labour naturally) and by the time I needed to push I was exhausted.

This is purely personal opinion though, my sil had a birth very similar and she raves about the epidural as she felt nothing at all. She had nothing for No 2 as well and wishes she had the epidural!

When I questioned my Ob about the epidural, he said in some cases the epidural is not completey effective and that I was one of them. I am an absolute wos with pain, but I was able to go through my second labour (which was induced) with just the gas, and felt like I was able to be much more active during that birth. (I was restricted to the bed once the epidural had been administered).

Every birth is different though and I say if you need the drugs - take them!!!!!

[hannanat]

I had everything with my first as well. First the pethidine which put me to sleep. That was probably a good thing because I was terrified. After that wore off I had the gas but was too frantic to be able to use it properly. Then the epi which was fantasic. With my 2nd labour I wasnt as scared and coped with the gas. The important thing is to learn how to use it before you REALLY need it. You have to start sucking before the contraction starts as the gas takes a few second to work. With my first I was sucking on the mouthpiece at the peak of the contraction so was feeling th benefit of the gas in between contractions. Not good.The gas is great because it really helps you to concentate on your breathing. I LOVE THE GAS!!!!!