Pain relief
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Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12280
Printed Date: 17 August 2025 at 12:10pm
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Topic: Pain relief
Posted By: sally belly
Subject: Pain relief
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 10:04am
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I apologise in advance as this post is most likely to turn into a collection of random ramblings...
We had the "pain relief" session at antenatal class last night & it's really got me thinking. I realise there are numerous non-drug treatments such as massage, hot showers etc & I'll definitely be using some of these for as long as possible. But when it comes down to it there just doesn't seem to be that many drug options available should the need arise?? I'm not really keen on using pethidine (but that may well change don't get me wrong) and the other only option seems to be epidural. Which doesn’t seem to be a “bad” option, it's more that I’m just not that keen on the fact that I’ll be restricted to bed, may not be able to push properly & won’t be able to feel baby coming out and all that. How realistic is it to only use gas for the entire labour & birth? (I would like to try for a water birth but this may not happen if all the pools are busy at the hospital). Has anyone used a TENS machine? Any comments on its effectiveness? Sorry I realise this is a completely random post but I tried to talk to DH about it but at the end of the day he won't be the one going through it  His advice was to “see how it goes on the day”. Maybe he’s got a valid point & I shouldn’t over-think it & just go with the flow 
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Replies:
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 10:09am
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Ooo Im going to *lurk* because I dont want to use pethadine or have an epidural, so Im curious about whether gas will be enough for the entire period (that and my DHs new massage techniques lol) ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 10:16am
| I had just gas with taine, but had gas and pethidine with jake - pethidine was fine - jake latched on with breastfeeding and had no issues at all. in my birth plan we wrote an "order" as in gas first - if I need something else, pethidine, if that isn't good, epi. We told our midwife to recommend at the time what she thought best. She did that and we trusted her instinct. with my second birth my midwife slept through the call - after being awake through 72 hours so we had a stand by whom I did not like and who wasn't anywhere near as helpful, but hey, my labour was short and got through it okay. just gas is definitely doable, but at the end of the day, no one has a clue what their labour is going to be like, so i wouldn't rule anything out. |
Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 10:17am
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Apparently there's another drug like Pethadine but which has less impact on the baby - Fentanyl.
Don't know much about it at all - not even if I spelled it correctly but maybe some others can give you more advice on that. Also with the Epi you don't have to have a 'full block' so you may not have to lose the ability to walk about. But anyway as I say I don't know very much about any of these at this stage so I'll leave now and let someone more experienced shed light on all this  -------------  
 
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Posted By: Kicker
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 10:23am
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I had a TENS machine - but as i had a quick labour, i didn't have enough time for it to work. I have heard good things about it though for early labour.
As for gas and air, it is possible to only use this, also to use no pain relied but it is entirely individual. I had a couple of puffs of the gas and found it didn't do anything so went pain relief free, but my labour was only 3.5hrs from start to finish so i could cope. Before i had Madison i just went into it knowing my options and trusting my midwife to suggest the best thing as events happen. In my opinion it is better to read up on the options but be open to things changing on the day. -------------  
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Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 10:24am
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I found the epidural great with my first birth as Ella was posterior and I had a looong, back labour. The epidural gave me a break and relief from the intensity.
I could still feel the contractions and pressure, so I knew when to push but they weren't painful. It was a bit harder to push though but that might also have been to do with her being round the wrong way! I could still feel her come out and it was awesome! My second birth I had no pain relief and it was fine. The only bit I was really wishing for pain relief in was the 'ring of fire' when he was crowning, YEOUCH! Luckily that doesn't last very long! I think it is realistic to only plan to use gas. Water is awesome for pain relief and if you can't use the pools the showers are also really good. ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: mummy_dee
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 10:26am
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I used gas for most of my labour, but my cervix wouldn't dilate the last 1 - 1.5 cm and I was getting stressed and trying to push too early. I tried to use the bath which helped for a while, but got to a point where I just had to get out. I also couldn't stand anyone rubbing my back. I ended up getting half a jab of pethidine which relaxed me enough to fully dilate. Ollie was perfectly fine, APGARs of 9 & 10 and latched on to the boob great.
Definitely discuss with your midwife what you would prefer, but be ready for that plan to go out the window!  ------------- Daphne Married Stuart: 19/03/05 Oliver: 9/06/06 Lilia due: 19/03/08 http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: sally belly
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 10:28am
Has your DH been practising lilfatty? I've already been treated to 2 massages & have been promised another one tonight. DH has *really* surprised me with how he has taken the info on board  -------------
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lilfatty wrote:Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 10:30am
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Yep he has been great since the massage course ... I get one almost nightly (massage that is!) ... the only time I dont is when Im too pooped to take off my pjs! He said the best thing he learnt though was how its his job to be the buffer and keep out all the excess noise and babble, I think the course really helped him to come to terms with "how important" his role is ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: mum2emj
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 11:12am
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i didnt want any pain relief. with my first birth i ended up having to have an epi to lower my blood pressure and i HATED IT! eek! they had several attempts at putting the needle in my back (owch!) i had a weeweird leg spasm felt like a twit! i still felt dialation and it was allowed to wear off before pushing but still had to be told when to puosh. i personally hate being numb with a passion so didnt want it and would nave another by choice!
the next two births were drug free and great :) i wanted to use a warm bath as any relief and it was great. sped things up i "think" and while i still found it tricky to get comfortable at times especially nearing transition the bath was sooo nice. my sister sucked on gas with hers and it made her feel sick. |
Posted By: Brenna
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 11:18am
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I had a drug free labour and birth (water birth). I was wanting to use the gas but didn't need it.
I think it comes down to being flexible with your birth plan. Have in mind how you would 'want' it to be, but also be aware that things may not go to plan or you may find it more/less painful than you expected so your pain relief could change. I found the water fantastic for being relaxed and comfortable. If I can, I'll have another waterbirth one day -------------  My beautiful 2 girls...nearly 4 and 13 months
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Posted By: Nic01
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 11:25am
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I didn't want pethidine at all & wasn't that keen on an epidural, so had that in my birth plan as a last resort. I used a bit of massage, the labour pools at the hospital & found that being on my feet & kind of moving was much easier than labouring on a bed. I also used gas. So yep, it's definitely possible to only use gas for the labour & birth.
------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: tashzmum
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 11:58am
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i was in the bath until i started to push then i just wanted to get out, and i didnt fully dilate..i only got to 9.5cms.
i used gas though... and i loved it. it worked really really well on me. although i was as high as a kite i was happy and still able to feel what was going on and sort of make sense when i talked.... i had the gas right up until i started to push and then they pryed it out of my fingers and even when i was pushing it took ages for the gas to wear off and i still felt what was happening but it didnt hurt as much......
i was really really sick before i had the gas, and really sick after they took it off me. so having a totally empty stomach might have helped the gas work really well. i birthed at a birthing unit and my only other option was pethidine and i did ask for it as one stage as i was feeling rather tired(my waters broke at 330am new years day, adn we had been out the night before, i had about 2 hours sleep) but my mw just told me i didnt need it. and i didnt. ------------- Natasha Jayde, 1-01-05(7lb3oz) Caroline Elisabeth, 9-04-08 (4lb15oz) Izabella Kate, 9-04-08(6lb7oz) Lexi Brenna, 23-01--2011(6lb6oz) |
Posted By: MissCandice
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 12:00pm
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Ok i have two stories, mine and a friend. Mine, i used gas its not the contractions you need pain relief for its the pushing..oooowwwwccchhh.. so i found all i was doing was chewig on the mouth piece, then they took it off me and i chewed my thumbs.. had bruises the next day!
A friend of mine got induced and had epi.. now this is worse case senario.. 4 hours after she had him they told her to stand up, she could feel her leg and they said it would come back in a few hours, the next day she still had no feeling from the knee down.. he is now 4 and a half months old and she still has no feeling and walks with a limp.. They said it will most likely be permanent. Again, that very rarely happens.. ------------- ~ Mummy to a beautiful girl ~ |
Posted By: Bubbaloo
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 12:10pm
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Kebakat use something similar to pethidine can't remember what it was called think it started with an f it doesn't have the side effects that pethidine does I'll see if I can find the thread for you and bump it up or you could pm her. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  Was danni-chick Mum to James My Angel 28/07/08 |
Posted By: Mikaela
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 12:33pm
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Sally, I used a TENS machine in early labour and it was great. I'm honestly not sure if it was that the vibrations helped or if it was just a distraction to be fiddling with the buttons, but either way it was good to have.
When my labour didn't progress I was hooked up to a syntocinin drip and the midwife and OB very stronglysuggested that i have an epidural, as when you're induced you go straight into fully blown contractions which doesn't give your body a chance to 'work up' to it - your endorphins don't build up along the way. So I had the epidural and it was GREAT (no really, I would have proposed to the anaesthetist if I wasn't already married!) until it wore off after a few hours and the top-up didn't work. Apparently that's rare but it does happen. So I was effectively drug-free through transition, pushing and delivery and it hurt like hell, but obviously it was surviveable 
No after-effects from the epi at all, although it was a bit annoying having to lie on my side on a bed for a few hours. Not too long after delivery I was up and walking around, I showered unassisted after an hour and so on. On the other hand, my neighbour had her 9lb boy with nothing more than a TENS machine and five panadol. I guess just be flexible with your expectations and go with whatever you feel the need for at the time. ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com"> 
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Posted By: Bel
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 12:47pm
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I didn't want to use pethidine, in fact was quite strongly against it - but after a hard few hours, a job of pethidine was given - and now I think it is a wonder drug! I couldn't get the gas to work for me, was glad the pethidine worked well!
I had it in enough advance time, that Luke wasn't affected and he breastfed 15minutes after delivery ------------- Mum to two beautiful kids
Luke (09.11.2007) Amy (01.04.2009) |
Posted By: CuriousG
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 12:53pm
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I had an epidural and loved it and while I was restricted to bed I still actually felt her come out but without the pain.
It pays to know what each type of drug does and I believe that you need to do into your labour with an open mind. You might be against having an Epi now but in the heat of it all, you might want to change your mind. Just keep your options open  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: daikini
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 1:04pm
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I've had 3 drug free waterbirths so far, and hoping for another. I am not against medical pain relief, I just haven't needed it so far. I did have some gas while the midwives broke my waters with Kiya and Xavier, personally the only thing I like about it is that it is out of your system really quickly. Gas makes me feel nauseous, dizzy and like I'm outside of my own body but that's just me.
I think research the options (your midwife should be able to help you with that) and plan with an open mind. My birth plans have all said something along the lines of "water birth, gas if necessary, peth. as second choice if necessary, epi as last resort if necessary - discuss options at time" and I've made sure my midwife and my support person knows exactly what I want. ------------- Becca, mum of 2 girls & 3 boys |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 1:42pm
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You can ask them not to top up your epi for the pushing part, you will feel ALL of it then!!! The epi helps lower blood pressure and you may even be able to rest for a bit, in preperationfor the big push.
My advice is to not totally rule anything out, as you have no idea what it feels like or how you will cope till the time! ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 1:47pm
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I had hoped to use the pool with Gina but because my waters broke at home, a few hours before labour started, I was told it was out of the question because of the risk of infection (I think).
Anyways, I managed on Panadol and gas alone but it's different for everyone. In fact I could not stand DH touching me and giving me a massage. I do feel it's good to keep your options open and go with the flow on the day - with this next one I hope to only have gas too but we'll see. sally belly, don't worry too much about it if you can. I was a bit worried beforehand, but found that on the day all I really cared for was to get my baby out and well into the World ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 2:02pm
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I couldn't stand DH touching me, either!!
What I see alot of, in my BF support group, is ladies who get so hung up on their birth plans and anti this and that etc get a huge shock when they realise there is alot of stuiff that goes beyond their control in a birth, especially when something, like blood pressure etc goes wrong and you can't actually do alot to fix it. Theyu sometimes need medical intervention or want pain relief they hadn't previously wanted and beat themselves up black and blue, cos they didn't get the birth they "wanted". Sometimes, this leads down the PND road. I think it is super super awesome to have a birth plan in place, so you have some idea of what outcomes you would like, but I wouldn't set anything in concrete just in case.. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: CuriousG
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 2:07pm
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Agreed - you need to have some idea of what you would like to happen but don't get upset if it doesn't go that way. I didn't have a plan but I knew that I wanted to feel little pain (I am such a wimp). I just knew that I trusted my specialist to help me give birth and to deal with anything that arose along the way. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: sally belly
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 4:53pm
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Thanks ladies, you've all given such great advice (as usual ).
I'm going to stop "worrying" about it - as pointed out I have no idea what the pain will actually be like & if it's bad enough I'm sure I'll be asking for whatever drug is available . I definitelty don't want to feel liked I've failed if my birth doesn't go how I imagined it.
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Posted By: bookwyrm
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 4:56pm
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I think as long as your baby comes out of you (whether you used pain relief, went natural or had a c-sect) it is a successful birth.
I will be bringing up pain relief with my midwife next week. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: sally belly
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 5:04pm
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That is so true LL. I'm doing my brith plan with my MW next week so that's why I've been doing a bit of research about the diff options. -------------
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Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 5:41pm
| Someone may have mentioned this cos I havent read all the posts but I dont think the epi is as strong as it used to be. I know with Kobe I couldnt move my legs and was confinded to the bed and didnt feel anything (thank god cos he ended up ventous delivery) but with Addison i had one and was still able to move my legs, didnt get up but didnt want to anyway! and i could definately feel the pain at the end!!! |
Posted By: meow
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 5:48pm
Haha, this was me too, and I wouldn't let it go when it was time to push.. The part from when I started to push, and up until she was born is just a blur.. I know that it was extremely painful.. but the gas did help with contractions. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Mikaela
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 5:51pm
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I could definitely feel my legs all the way through. The icecube test is weird though, where they run an icecube along your leg and you can feel it there but you can't sense any cold!
You'll be fine Sally, just go in there with an open mind and see what happens. You might be one of those women who has a 20 minute labour and unplanned home birth and all this is moot anyway ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com">
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Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 5:56pm
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From my very recent experience.....just go with the flow on the day!!
GAS is wonderful and worked an absolute treat for me!! My biggest fear leading up to the birth was a c section which I unfortunately ended up with through no fault of my own after a very long hard labour and 3 hours of pushing. By the time the obstetrician said looks like your up for a c section, I said bring it on man cause I am so over this!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 6:12pm
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I hated the gas when I had Andrew I threw the mask so that it broke so I wasn't made to use it again. So I didn't want to try it with Josh after the bad experience. I had a shot of Pethidene with Andrew a few hours before I went into labour to relax me (as I had an induction) and by the time I gave birth I had a drug free birth. With Josh after my contractions started (an induction again) I couldn't stand the pain and needed something. I had a small amount of pethidene and it was great to let me go into my own world. With Josh I tried to use water as well and it did help me dilate properly. I had always said that I would not have an epi as I didn't know how I would react with it. I told my MW and OB that if I had to have a CS then I was having a general. My MW and OB understood and if needed I would be allowed it. I took an open mind into Andrew's birth which I think helped me do the job. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: james
Date Posted: 16 November 2007 at 5:55pm
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i had the works exect pethidine as i hate neddles (i know wried ) i had a bath then gas as the pain got stronger and then a epi as i was dilting sooo solwly and i was induced aswell i never had a brith plan just had a talk with my midwiffe and trsuted her jugdement good luck hun i,m sure your do fine ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 16 November 2007 at 9:39pm
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You had an epi but wouldn't have pethidine?! Isn't the needle like so much bigger (they use a 14-gauge which is the same size as my piercings!)
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Posted By: james
Date Posted: 17 November 2007 at 7:59am
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who me yeah but i did say it was wried hehe as for the epi by the time they told me i needed one i was in to much pain to care relly ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: meow
Date Posted: 17 November 2007 at 8:35am
I didn't have a mask, just a tube to suck on. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Tastic
Date Posted: 17 November 2007 at 3:02pm
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I had the gas with both boys - it was a tube to suck on not a mask, and with Bailey I got to keep it till the very end but with Aidan it got taken off me and I was told 'you cant push and suck at the same time' afterwards I said to my midwife you wanna bet I bloody did it with Bailey
She shut up and didn't say anything else about it! with Bailey I had him standing up over the end of the bed with my head buried into a beanbag - I couldnt have anything or anyone touching me! With Aidan I was made to have him on the bed - because he was prem, I had all the straps around my belly and then ended up in stirrups - I had asked for pethadine but she didn't want to risk it, she came back with the guy for an epi (I was supposed to have a c section) but was fully dialiated before he could explain it to me! |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 17 November 2007 at 7:30pm
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They tried both with me and broke both of them the mask first and then the tube, I managed to crack the tube. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Tastic
Date Posted: 17 November 2007 at 9:18pm
| LOL I cracked the first tube with Bailey as I threw it and it hit the floor, turns out she hadn't turned the bloody thing on, once it was replaced and turned on it was great LOL didn't take the pain away just the 'edge' but enough for me not to say anything LOL |
Posted By: Jay_R
Date Posted: 18 November 2007 at 1:49pm
LOL, I was exactly the same!! I was hoping for a drug free natural birth, but after a full labour and pushing on nothing but two panadol, the epidural was AMAZING!!! I think you are right, just go with the flow, and whatever happens just take it in your stride The most important thing is getting your baby here safely, and no-one will judge your for the choices you make whilst in labour.
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