Sterile Water Injections

**millamummy** · 18-04-2010 17:53

Hi

Just wanted to find out if anyone has used SWI, and if it was helpful/relieving?

Also does anyone know if they offer it as a form of pain relief at Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick (Sydney)?

Thank you.

**DoneAndDusted** · 19-04-2010 09:25

Hi, Sorry not much help but I just wanted to say I am interested in this also. I was offerered them whilst in labour with DS2 last year, but I had not ever heard of them so was not sure what to do... the midwife told me they were REALLY REALLY effective but REALLY REALLY painful/stingy for about a minute... that was enough to turn me off... in hindsight I wish I had of tried them though because I opted for pethadine which made me feel horrible and was painful and very stingy for a minute also.

All the best

I really hope you get your VBAC too. The labour above I was talking about my VBAC

**cee** · 19-04-2010 20:53

Hi

I had them during a really long 1st labour with anterior lip - I'm sorry to say that they did absolutely nothing for me. and yes they are definately the most painful injections ever!

Cee

**Roopee** · 19-04-2010 21:57

A mum I've been with (Im a doula)has had them and she wishes she didn't bother.

They were agonising going in and then we couldn't rub her back because you're not allowed to touch near the injection site or you'll 'disperse' the water and render it ineffective.

But they may work for you-we're all different

**RedPanda** · 19-04-2010 22:11

My sister had them. Apparently they're meant for posterior births and are ineffective when the baby is in the right position.

**europa** · 19-04-2010 23:35

Originally Posted by millamummy

Hi

Just wanted to find out if anyone has used SWI, and if it was helpful/relieving?

Also does anyone know if they offer it as a form of pain relief at Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick (Sydney)?

Thank you.

Oh yes, I had one and it was great! It relieved my terrible lower back pain almost immediately and it lasted about 3 hours.

If you want to get it, ask the midwives to do all four at once. In my case, two midwives each held two needles and they injected me at the same time, at the peak of my contraction so I barely felt a thing since the pain was subdued by the contraction pain

I have to thank my midwife for this though as I didn't have to ask for how it should be done. She knew and she told me that she was going to call for her colleague so I'd have all injections at once and she also said she'd do it at the peak of my contraction so I wouldn't feel too much pain.

**Amara** · 20-04-2010 08:45

I know two women who had them and both said they got no pain relief from them. They also said they were incredibly painful and getting the epidural put in was far less traumatic for them.

**millamummy** · 20-04-2010 11:53

Originally Posted by happymumwith2boys

Hi, Sorry not much help but I just wanted to say I am interested in this also. I was offerered them whilst in labour with DS2 last year, but I had not ever heard of them so was not sure what to do... the midwife told me they were REALLY REALLY effective but REALLY REALLY painful/stingy for about a minute... that was enough to turn me off... in hindsight I wish I had of tried them though because I opted for pethadine which made me feel horrible and was painful and very stingy for a minute also.

All the best

I really hope you get your VBAC too. The labour above I was talking about my VBAC

Thank you Happymumwith2boys! I hope it all goes to plan.

So I'm gathering that its a bit like with most painrelief, it either works for you, or not really at all

I think I'll see how I go, I'm trying to do calmbirthing, so hopefully won't need anything, but will probably try the SWI's first as they are not a drug, and then go from there.

Thank you for all your help

**orange6** · 22-04-2010 18:51

I can't comment on SWI - but if you're after something non-invasive I really rated my TENS machine. I did think at one point it wasn't working but then I accidentally switched it off - oh my did I turn it back on as quick as I could! I will qualify though that I had a quick labour & no time for an epidural or anything like that!

**mum2alex1** · 23-04-2010 16:18

I had them in my labour twice! They are complete agony (and i had gas and air as they were going in!) and they helped for all of 30 mins then had to have them done again. My midwife was like they usually last the whole labour we have never had to give them twice! I would not recomend them they are so sore it is unbelievable. But that is just my opinion.