pain relief/management during childbirth?

Savvy_Sue

I went into hospital in labour with DS1 and started vomiting. And couldn't stop. It was late, I was shattered, having not slept the previous night with non-productive contractions. Midwife offered me an epidural and I said yes, although I'd said I wouldn't. But it did stop me vomiting.

So I dozed the rest of the night, even let DH go home, but insisted he came back when midwife wanted to speed up contractions. What I WANTED her to do was call him back and discuss it, but he walked in and she upped the drip! Grrrr.

Anway, DS2 and DS3 born at home, with TENS machine for DS3 at least, can't remember about DS2 ... No gas and air, no pethidine, no hot baths, didn't need them! Just lovely midwives.

rio

I think its best to keep an open mind, my cousin is a midwife and she says she dreads women who have written out their birthing plan with military precision - mother nature can be fickle. The truth is no one knows how or what labour is going to be like for them. When my contractions started they were only 3 minutes apart - hardly textbook. I went through the first stage of labour with TENS and the second stage with nothing, as I felt I could cope. I kept active and walking around certainly helped. Also once they hook you up to a monitor it will tell you when a contraction is coming just before you start to feel it -so you can start your breathing around that. In the end it turned out that my baby was a shoulder presentation, meaning the head won't come down straight, so I ended up having an emergency caesarian. All I can say really is just listen to the medical staff - trust that they know what they're doing. Do the research yourself and don't let any women get superior with you, it's your birth and the important thing is getting to the end with a healthy baby and a healthy mother, whatever route you take to get there is up to you!

Addiscomber

CCStar wrote:

I didn't have time for pain relief. Once you know what the pain is, you can work with it.

Labour pain came in waves, so took it easy during the non painful bit

I think this is the best way. It is a natural process and your body knows what it needs to do. I think that because we don't know what it is going to be like, we tend to tense up and fight it, instead of letting it take the course that it wants to. I am convinced that if you can let each contraction kind of "wash over" you they are more effective and the process takes less time. I have had 2, both bigger than average, and I don't remember any "after pains".

pavlovs_dog

:kisses3: cheers you guys - you're all fab :A

well by coincidence i ended up watching a programme today about student midwives which featured a water birth. is this a facility that many hospitals offer, and promote to its patients?

i know now that if complications arise then the water birth has to be aborted, but are there any dangers to mother/baby involved in water births other than this?

clairec79

If you go in the water too early (said to be before 5cm) then it can slow things down (however we tell women to go have a bath instead so I'm not sold on that idea)

No real risk to waterbirths, when the baby is born mum MUST keep herself under the water (waist down) if baby is partially out of water then could breathe in the water. Aside from that, you're fine

pavlovs_dog

so do they 'know' not to breathe in until they are brought out of the water? i suppose it would be no different to being in the amniotic fluid :think: but what is it that stimulates them to take that first breath?

MegS

I wanted a water birth but that was blown out of the window because DS was so big and they were worried about his shoulders getting stuck (which they didn't), started in the bath - very relaxing - had TENS which had no effect whatsoever, got to hospital had gas and air, was most put out because OH was getting high on it and it had no effect on me. Was good as something to hold onto and breathe into though. Eventually had pethidine because they gave me something to make dilation work (syntex or something). Pethidine was fantastic, I fell asleep, OH said it was weird seeing the contractions roll across my stomach and on the monitors while I snored my way through it all (apparently it has that effect on all my family). Was not happy to be woken up two hours later to go push. DS was born two hours after that and it had no effect on him whatsoever, he was as alert as birds in the morning. Would recommend having very very strong painkillers for any stitching that needs doing, personally I found that more traumatic than labour and giving birth.

Mumstheword

Haven't read the whole thread (will save that for another time - bet there are afew good stories, lol!! )

I loved the epidural for my first two, but for my final child, found something even better - a general anaesthetic. Can't beat it! Wake up and - wahay- the baby was born whilst you were asleep! AND the cut for the c-section might hurt as it heals, but not as much as - ahem- other stiches you incur when baby appears through the normal route.

tammyfshr

my son is 14 months and when i had him nothing stoped the pain.i had to have the epidural topped up 3 times.there is a fine art to it which they dont tell you.if they dont do it exactly right you can had up with parts not numb.eventually he came out but i had to be cut open and not the nice way.now that does hurt when its healing and can be very embarrasing when you are in public and you need to scratch.im now 2 months pregnant and will be seeing the consultant when 5 months to request a cersarium.

Crispy_Ambulance

pavlovs_dog wrote:

so do they 'know' not to breathe in until they are brought out of the water? i suppose it would be no different to being in the amniotic fluid :think: but what is it that stimulates them to take that first breath?

There are a variety of stimuli - the feeling of cold air on their skin, being touched, the bright lights etc - the reaction is to cry and as they do, their lungs fill with air and they start to breathe.

Waterbirth is great because it allows women to move around easily, and helps relaxation. Women also often feel safe and can concentrate on the labour. It is also a much gentler introduction to the world for the baby. I wouldn't have a baby on dry land now!