What is the best pain relief

[teenmum]

Hi, it's me again!

If you don't know me, I am seventeen, my baby is due next year in April.
I am, excuse the french, **** scared of the birth.
I have a really low pain thresh hold, please help!

In you opinion what are the best forms of pain relief?

Thanks

teenmum :)

[angcaltam]

Hi there,
I'm also due in April next year. This will be my 3rd child. I have a very low pain thresh hold as well but found that I handled the labours fine. I love the gas, I had this with my first and used it on the second day of labout with my second. I'm hoping to go drug free this time round.
Good luck and keep us posted on how you are going.
You will be fine!!!

[jamb]

For me the gas was horrible and made me feel nauseous. The pethidine did not take away any pain but put me to sleep between contractions, for a whole 3 minutes each time!

The epidural was heaven, so much so that next time I will have it a lot earlier. But everyone is different and you may find that you just pop em out with not much drama, wait and see and keep an open mind- good luck!

[Ryensmum]

hi there, I like you have a very low pain threshold (I get woozy at the sight of my own blood!) and was worried about how I would cope with the birth of my daughter. I opted for gas only with the option of an epidural if it all got too much. Basically, for the last few months of my pregnancy I told myself over and over "it's going to be the worst pain i've ever experienced but it won't last forever and at the end of it i'll see my baby" I won't say it wasn't painful because to be honest, it was, but because you have that break between contractions and I had kind of conditioned myself to expect the pain I got through it only needing the gas. My beautiful daughter was 9 pound 8 oz after 8 hours of active labour. You will be surprised by what your body can take. This worked for me but there are other options which your midwife/doctor can go through with you. Remember, focus on the end result - it's all worth it.

[aardvark]

If you've never had pethidine, be very cautious of saying yes if it is offered.

I had pethidine when I had #1, and I had what could only be described as an extremely bad trip. I was convinced I was laying on something only 6 inches wide, and I can remember begging my husband hysterically for about 20 minutes not to let me fall off the bed. I remember very little else about it.

I had it written on my chart when I was in labour with #2 that under no circumstances was I to be given pethidine, and I used just the gas, and it was so much better.

[3cherubs]

hello,

For my first, i tried gas but it made be feel really sick and i did not have pethididne i went straight to the Epidural. I was in heaven.
But, my second baby i had no pain relief, i have a really low pain threshold too.
Labour was painful, but somehow i got through it and my recovery was 100% faster and better than my first.

Do whatever feel right at the time.

sandra

arwen 2/2/04
rosie 12/6/05

[BJelly]

Congrats on your pregnancy!

I have a low pain threshold - I take panadol at the drop of a hat! But I managed to go drug free.

Everyone's experience of labour is different, but there are definitely things you can do besides drugs to decrease the pain, I found being in the shower very helpful - the warm water is very soothing for labour pains.

Also labour is very much influenced by our hormones. One of the best things you can do to help decrease your pain and length of labour is to be surrounded by people you trust (preferably also someone who has been through labour before), I had my husband and a close female friend who had had 3 children with me at the hospital. This made me feel safer, helped me focus on the job of giving birth - these all helped me get through the labour.

Saying things like "my body was made for this", "women have been doing this for thousands of years, I can do it too", "each contraction is bringing my baby closer to me" These sorts of thoughts can help give you the confidence you need.

Going drug free for me was great because I was on a natural high for several days after - the body makes lots of natural endorphins. Like someone else said, the pain isn't constant - you get breaks, and also the pain gradually increases, so your body gets time to get used to it.

But it is good to know that if you need them, the drugs are there - however I don't think you can get them (apart from the gas) if the baby is already in the birth canal (in the second stage of labour) - so let them know early if you want them.

[TwoBlue]

Dont be scared of birth... i know its cliche but our bodies are designed to do it...you will be amazed at how well you handle the situation.

I used gas and peth. The Peth did nothing for me at all, the gas was ok and mainly used at a low dose and the deep breathing helped me to focus.

I found the best for me was hot showers and walking around in circles !! :D

Just go with what feels right for you at the time and before you know it you will be holding your little bub in your arms and will have forgotten all about the pain of labour.....

Good luck

[Supermum]

Hi there

I was also to quote your term ... 'sh1t scared' of the pain! The thought of it used to invade my head in the middle of the night.

My promise to myself was this - I will go 100% natural until I absolutely, positively couldn't cope any more. I had an awesome midwife with no. 1 who gave me heatpacks ... which I think is grossly underestimated as a form of pain relief. It helped me alot. I had heat packs also with number 2 ... and sucked on the gas for focus.

Put it this way, if it was that bad - I wouldn't have gone back for number 2.

Besides which, babies are the reason we have boobs and bits ... that's what they're there for!

Good luck - you'll do great.

[nemosmum]

Your bound to get all kinds of advice, tips, ideas and stories but to tell you honestly every labour experience is 100% unique....

No matter how much you know about labour and all that you can never be prepared for what happens....it never turns out the way you plan, hope or pray it will :rolleyes:

with that said GO FOR THE DRUGS, THE MORE THE BETTER THATS WHAT I DID!!!!

GOOD LUCK

p.s whatever happens be proud of yourself your doing something really amazing

[JanetF]

Support! Support! Support! Hugs are better than drugs :D Try these links and congratulations on having a birth to look forward to!

Dealing with labour – pain.
comfort measures in labour

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here are few links to great info on dealing with pain in labour. Don't forget that studies into pain relief show clearly that women with lots of emotional support, particularly from other women and known caregivers deal with labour pain very happily. Labour is hard work but it need not be awful. It can be beautiful and fun and inspiring!


Natural pain relief in labour

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/refcap/546717.html



Pain relief and home birth (useful in any situation though)

http://www.homebirth.org.uk/pain.htm



Comfort measures for labour – the most complete list I’ve ever seen, a must read!

http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/comfort.html



Water birth stories

http://www.homebirth.org.uk/water.htm#birthstories



“The importance of relaxing by Grantley ****-Read MD

http://www.naturalchildbirth.org/ma...id=263&Itemid=3

http://radmid.demon.co.uk
From MIDWIFERY MATTERS, Summer 2000, Issue No. 85
Pain in Labour - Is it Insufferable?
By Margaret Jowitt

"Ecstatic Birth - nature's hormonal blueprint for labour" Dr Sarah Buckley
http://www.womenofspirit.asn.au/docs/ecstaticbirth.doc

"Help - it hurts! ... get me the complementary therapies!" Andrea Robertson
http://www.acegraphics.com.au/articles/andrea21.html

"The Pain of Labour: A Feminist Issue" Andrea Robertson
http://www.acegraphics.com.au/articles/painlabour.html

"No gain without pain" Nicky Leap
http://www.acegraphics.com.au/articles/leap02.html


http://gentlebirth.org/Midwife/birthjoy.html

http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/...ssure/index.php

[MyL&S]

hello teen mum,

I used the gas first both my labours,but i found the best pain rlief was ahving the support and getting them to remind you to breathe..
you could go to antenatle classes if you wanted to, to prepare yourself..

[BugBias]

Have an eppi, it doesn't hurt to get put in, it just feels like someone is pshing on your spine.... trust me it it hurt I would have screamed blue murder...
As for gas you're better off biting your partner, you get a whole lot more satifaction from it and it probably helps the pain just as much! LOL :p

[Kamaikia]

the gas was wonderful - i could still feel the pain, but not quite as hard but I was so high on the stuff (it was at the lowest level) that I couldn't stop laughing and telling jokes. I'm sure the midwife thought I was crazy. She kept asking if I was having contractions and did they hurt - and I was just laughing, at the same time saying they were terrible.

[Milly]

Congrats on your pregnancy!

I have a low pain threshold - I take panadol at the drop of a hat! But I managed to go drug free.

Everyone's experience of labour is different, but there are definitely things you can do besides drugs to decrease the pain, I found being in the shower very helpful - the warm water is very soothing for labour pains.

Also labour is very much influenced by our hormones. One of the best things you can do to help decrease your pain and length of labour is to be surrounded by people you trust (preferably also someone who has been through labour before), I had my husband and a close female friend who had had 3 children with me at the hospital. This made me feel safer, helped me focus on the job of giving birth - these all helped me get through the labour.

Saying things like "my body was made for this", "women have been doing this for thousands of years, I can do it too", "each contraction is bringing my baby closer to me" These sorts of thoughts can help give you the confidence you need.

Going drug free for me was great because I was on a natural high for several days after - the body makes lots of natural endorphins. Like someone else said, the pain isn't constant - you get breaks, and also the pain gradually increases, so your body gets time to get used to it.

But it is good to know that if you need them, the drugs are there - however I don't think you can get them (apart from the gas) if the baby is already in the birth canal (in the second stage of labour) - so let them know early if you want them.


I just want to say that I agree with what BJelly has said. You will be surprised at what your body can do. I did most of my labour at home (6.5 hours of 8 hours with my and my DH's family around as we were having an Easter BBQ! :D ), and only got the epidural when I went to the hospital and I delivered 1.5 hours later. But at the time it was a good decision and there were other factors in that influenced that decision too (and the timing was right), but now I know what I can do and am aiming to go drug free this time. So, don't underestimate what your body can do and how you will feel. Do not fear it. I actually looked forward to my labour and delivery as I could not wait to meet my new little baby. Keep your eyes on the prize as they say.

But in my experience, I found the gas was good to keep the edge of the contractions (I only had this for a little while. And you can use this to concentrate on the peak of the contraction and when it goes down) when they got stronger and then I got the epidural which was fine. It does restrict movement however, and you can basically only birth lying down with it. Also, make sure not to request an epidural too early as it can slow or stop labour. It is a good idea to request it at about 5cm dilation but be wary not to request it too late if you know that is what you will want. Timing is a big thing, so let the Midwives or Ob know to tell you when your epi window is. Usually around 5cms is good, but at 8cms it is usually too late. Any earlier than 5cms and it may slow labour down. So, have a good chat to your healthcare practioner about the best time to request such pain relief. Also, attend your hospital ante natal classes if they are available to you. Prepare yourself as much as possible and read and talk to people.

I too have heard not so great things about pethadine and everyone I know who has had it said that it made them feel worse. So, this does not tend to be a popular choice. But again, have a chat to your healthcare practioner. It is very good that you want to be informed of what pain relief is available and make sure to get as much info on each that you can and talk to your healthcare team. It is very important to be informed about these things.

But at the end of the day, do not underestimate yourself and your body. You will be amazed at what your body can do. Be positive and remember the wonderful reward at the end. Also, it is only one day in you and your baby's life. A very miniscule time in the scheme of things. :D

[bb]

I know what it is like to be totally freaked out about birth ! I was !!! Seriously frightened. I tried to read a lot about birth, and watched a lot of Foxtel birthing programs, but still felt that my birth would be different, and I felt sure (being the weird negative type that I am) that my birth would be horrific.

My husband and I went into the birth with the plan to have an epidural. I told myself that even something as small as a headache is treated with pain killers, so to do something as major as birth without anything seemed bizarre !

Now to the good bit ... we had our epidural at about 10:30am on the birth day ... and whammo ... that was it for pain ... TOTALLY ! The epidural itself was not pleasant, but it became instantly insignificant as the beautiful wave of a pain free moment took over. It felt great !! From 10:30am onwards, I had a few sleeps, generally rested, watched some television and had some lovely hospital lunch. Hamish was born at 4:10pm ... and I am completely serious and honest when I tell you that I felt NO pain ! There was a sensation (to be blatant ... like needing to do a pooh) that was the contractions ! So it was just a matter of waiting for that feeling to kick in, and then push !!

My husband and I plan to have another child, and I will definitely be having another epidural ! It was brilliant !!

Best of lucj with your decision ... and birth !