Sterile water pain relief??

I saw my gorgeous OB yesterday and she is so supportive of my wishes for a drug and intervention free birth. But she was telling me about a new pain relief the mater mothers is doing now. It made my skin crawl lol

she said they are using sterile water to ease the pain. How you ask...well they inject the water into your back! She said they get 2 midwives to do it at the same time as the pain is unbearable and the woman tends to scream out in pain :( but once it is in by the time the next contraction comes the pain is very much less than what it was before. She said it is best used as pain relief if you are labouring in your back.

I was blown away by this! Yes it doesn't contain a drug and its just water but wouldn't getting in the bath be better or having a shower? She said you can be mobile which is great.

Has anyone had it? Was it as excruciating as she has described? Not that I want it but if its a drug free alternative and i am screaming for drugs i would prefer this?

I can't remember where, but I was just doing some reading on this. I think the idea is that the intense pain of the injection causes your body to release more endorphins - the body's natural pain relief hormones, which makes the contractions easier to bear. From what I read, I gathered that the exact science of how it works hasn't really been figured out yet.
I don't know what your labour is like, but from the sounds of it, I think I'd pass. By the time the contractions get to the really really hard "give me drugs RIGHT NOW and GET THIS BABY OUT!!!" stage, you're almost done, so why bother adding to the pain? But, hey, everyone's circumstance is different, right?
Curious to hear from some who've tried it.

It actually goes just under the skin which is why it is VERY painful and feel like a wasp sting is what many woman describe it as.

It works by interupting the pain messengers to the brain and really only works well for posterior positioned babies who give mums that terrible back pain where they feel there spine is going to snap. It does nothing for the contraction pain in tummy.

I have used it on a many woman and the results are amazing!!!! The can be acopic screaming and thrashing around to suddenly calm relaxed and in control. It can last varying amounts of time for woman and can be done as many times as you like as not a drug. 2 midwifes administer at same time and then repeat slightly further down and in towards centre of back.

I was told about this when I was pregnant with DD1 by a friend who had the injections when she was in labour with her son. She said it was the most excruciating pain (this said when she had a 50 hour drug free birth) and that unfortunatly for her it did not take effect. This was enough to scare me :lol: I will never even consider it.

I have heard of others saying that it is very painful but the relief is amazing, I never asked if they would do it again though, silly me!

We talked about this just recently at our antenatal class. Its only a very small amount of sterile water (1ml I think) done as Feeb explained. It was also talked about in context for posterior births.

Apparently the pain only lasts for approx 90 seconds which is about the same as a contraction when you are far enough in?

At out last Antenatal class DH said that I should have them done I just about fell off my chair and said "in a pigs eye, they can cut the baby out of me before I would even entertain such an idea" I think I would turn around and thump the poor MW I hate being touched when I am in pain.

I think in theory they are a great idea but I doubt I will be screaming for that!!

Nae x

Cookiemonster had them during her labour with her DS. Hopefully she drops in here

Thanks girls!

I just want to be as informed as possible going into this labour so thankyou all! :hug: xx

ETA thanks Rhyb :hug: x

My friend had it done, She said the pain was excruciating & it didn't give her any relief from the contractions.

My bub was posterior (we don't know until when, because I had a water birth), but it was definitely something I was going to consider. Can't be any more uncomfortable than when they tried to get me to lie on my back during a contraction so they could try see how far dilated I was - ouch.

I think it's definitely worth considering if you have a posterior labour.

ETA: Maybe send CM a PM to ask her to pop in here? She might miss this otherwise.

Hey!! just saw this!! ThANKS RHYB too, that was me! =D

They hurt like hell. This I promise you, but the wasp stings they are make the labour pain disappear. The problem is you have to be in 'enough' pain for them to be any good. And they really should only be used for back pain labours.

I didn't have any tummy pain, and i was in agony. When I started getting ansty and wanting an epidural the midwife overlooking my labour suggested these. I had mine in a square on my lower back. for the next 40 minutes or so, i was blissed out. ok, labour still hurt but i felt so much more in control.

I think the thing is, they are something you want to be aware of - but you cant go into labour saying you want them - they really do not work unless you are at a certain level of pain, if it's bath/shower helps then you don't want them because they sting!! My birth story has more info otherwise you can msn/fb me for more info!

BTW - These were undoubtedly the most PAINFUL part of my labour. They also have to do it during a contraction. But I would have them over and over for the control I got back after them.

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Not that I want it but if its a drug free alternative and i am screaming for drugs i would prefer this?

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If you have a back labour, and if you are screaming for an epidural I would try it... but they will always work differently on everyone because of pain thresholds of individuals. Good luck!

Thanks hun! Just the info i was after! xxx