Gas and air?

Hi all

Just a little opinion poll really...

When I had Jessie, I only had gas and air, but apart from the very last bit
of delivery, I wasn't really in that much pain. I wanted the gas and air
purely to help me to remember to breathe - my problem being that I kept
seeming to forget, and having a breathing thing in my hand and mouth seemed
to help!

Next time, I'd really like to be as gas free as possible.TBH, I found it
most useful for calming during the stitching (which I hated every minute
of!). I just wondered if any of you have managed to labour and deliver
without anything? Between me & DH now, I think we've got the breathing etc
sorted. Obviously, I'd like it there for back up, but if I can do without
then that would be great. Just wondered how you got through it. I'm not
planning a water birth or anything like that as pain relief, Last time, I
spent the weeks before trying to imagine my body, and where the baby would
be going and how it would happen, and I think that helped a lot - did anyone
do this kinda thing?

Thanks

Lucy x

Lucy-lu wrote:
snip

Just wondered how you got through it.

By going into hospital really really late and never having the option of
pain relief.
I don't even know if we have the gas+air option in germany, I'll have to
ask my midwife about that when I see her next. I know she's not going to
be having any conventional pain relief medication for the homebirth
since she's not a doctor and as far as I know only doctors are allowed
to "prescribe" pain meds in germany. (some you can get over the counter
at pharmacies, but I think in hospital a doctor has to approve any
medication

But for this one I'm planning on not being anywhere near pain meds,
because I _will_ be asking for them at some point I'm sure, but I really
do not want them. Besides, I'm sensitive to aspirin, paracetamol and
ibuprofen and I don't know what else I can't have without some strange
side effects (All three don't help with pain at all. Aspirin gives me a
horrible belly ache, Ibuprofen gives me a bad taste in my mouth that
lasts for days and in higher doses makes me hallucinate and I can't
remember what paracetamol did because I haven't even tried that in over
10 years). The only thing I do take when I'm not pregnant and have a
headache that's bad wnough is Aleve (Naproxen Natrium?) and that's not
recommended during pregnancy and I'm pretty sure it's not strong enough
during labour ;-)

But yeah, I'm pretty much trying to not be in a situation where I can
ask for pain medication and receive it. But I'll also have written
instructions that state that I do not want pain medication. Maybe I will
get a special word or something with my midwife, in case we have to
transfer to hospital and I really really can not take the pain anymore,
but I honestly don't think it's going to be necessary. I just have to
focus on the fact that once the baby's out the pain is over anyway.

cu
nicole

On 11 May, 09:43, "Lucy-lu" wrote:
Hi all

Just a little opinion poll really...

When I had Jessie, I only had gas and air, but apart from the very last bit
of delivery, I wasn't really in that much pain. I wanted the gas and air
purely to help me to remember to breathe - my problem being that I kept
seeming to forget, and having a breathing thing in my hand and mouth seemed
to help!

Next time, I'd really like to be as gas free as possible.TBH, I found it
most useful for calming during the stitching (which I hated every minute
of!). I just wondered if any of you have managed to labour and deliver
without anything?

I did it all without anything except a TENS machine. Trust me I wanted
the gas and air but it made me sick. TBH I was so busy concentrating
on the labour that it didn't even occur to me to ask for anything
else. I have no idea whether they would have given me pethadine or an
epdiural. I think because my labour was so long I had time to build up
to the pain, so perhaps it wasn't so bad that I needed anything? I
found pressing my button on my tens machine helped me stay in control
and gave me a focus, although by the end it got in the way. If there
is a next time I'll try and make df aware when to get rid of it - or
at least disconnect it so I just have the button. Also the fact that
it took an hour to get my iv in my arm for the antibiotics lost that
hour on concentration - but I don't recommend it .

Between me & DH now, I think we've got the breathing etc
sorted. Obviously, I'd like it there for back up, but if I can do without
then that would be great. Just wondered how you got through it. I'm not
planning a water birth or anything like that as pain relief, Last time, I
spent the weeks before trying to imagine my body, and where the baby would
be going and how it would happen, and I think that helped a lot - did anyone
do this kinda thing?

Back massage from df really helped - even better when we got to
hospital and the mw showed him a more effective way of doing it. He
ain't moving from my side next time either!. I wish I had done some
breathing and relaxation sutff. I found it all a bit airy fairy the
first time but actually now I have learnt more about my body and
conception I think it might be helpful.

Jeni

"Lucy-lu" wrote in message
Next time, I'd really like to be as gas free as possible.TBH, I found it
most useful for calming during the stitching (which I hated every minute
of!). I just wondered if any of you have managed to labour and deliver
without anything?

Uh yeah, most people on this board are very anti-anything during labor, so
yes you are going to get lots of responses of nothing for the pain during
labor and delivery.

My first baby, I had an epidural that only took on one side. Other than the
epidural, there was no other intervention, baby came out after 19 hours. I
used my Lamaze techniques and breathing (which personally I found helpful
for me and still do today with intestinal problems).

Second baby, no interventions, no medications, nothing for pain. Labor
lasted about 4 hours all told, but I labored at home as long as I could, for
comfort reasons (not because I don't want anything for pain). Basically I
just tried to relax my breathing

Third baby, no interventions and no pain medications. Again, stayed home
until the last minute, relaxed my breathing, focused on the birth at hand
and out she came in about 3-4 hours worth of labor.

I think subsequent deliveries CAN be easier, I know they were for me and
they were not as long in duration. I know I was more relaxed during the
subsequent births because I knew what to expect (that can be a good or bad
thing, I'm not sure, lol).

Sue

"Sue" wrote in message
news:BvidnfMb3rTwzNnbnZ2dnUVZ_tCtnZ2d@wideopenwest .com...
"Lucy-lu" wrote in message
Next time, I'd really like to be as gas free as possible.TBH, I found it
most useful for calming during the stitching (which I hated every minute
of!). I just wondered if any of you have managed to labour and deliver
without anything?

Uh yeah, most people on this board are very anti-anything during labor, so
yes you are going to get lots of responses of nothing for the pain during
labor and delivery.

My first baby, I had an epidural that only took on one side. Other than
the epidural, there was no other intervention, baby came out after 19
hours. I used my Lamaze techniques and breathing (which personally I found
helpful for me and still do today with intestinal problems).

Second baby, no interventions, no medications, nothing for pain. Labor
lasted about 4 hours all told, but I labored at home as long as I could,
for comfort reasons (not because I don't want anything for pain).
Basically I just tried to relax my breathing

Third baby, no interventions and no pain medications. Again, stayed home
until the last minute, relaxed my breathing, focused on the birth at hand
and out she came in about 3-4 hours worth of labor.

I think subsequent deliveries CAN be easier, I know they were for me and
they were not as long in duration. I know I was more relaxed during the
subsequent births because I knew what to expect (that can be a good or bad
thing, I'm not sure, lol).
I think Sue says it all here. My 2nd birth was much much easier (and less
medicated and no stitches either) all round. I'm hoping the third is even
easier.
Debbie

"Sue" wrote in message
news:BvidnfMb3rTwzNnbnZ2dnUVZ_tCtnZ2d@wideopenwest .com...
"Lucy-lu" wrote in message
Next time, I'd really like to be as gas free as possible.TBH, I found it
most useful for calming during the stitching (which I hated every minute
of!). I just wondered if any of you have managed to labour and deliver
without anything?

Uh yeah, most people on this board are very anti-anything during labor, so
yes you are going to get lots of responses of nothing for the pain during
labor and delivery.

My first baby, I had an epidural that only took on one side. Other than
the epidural, there was no other intervention, baby came out after 19
hours. I used my Lamaze techniques and breathing (which personally I found
helpful for me and still do today with intestinal problems).

Second baby, no interventions, no medications, nothing for pain. Labor
lasted about 4 hours all told, but I labored at home as long as I could,
for comfort reasons (not because I don't want anything for pain).
Basically I just tried to relax my breathing

Third baby, no interventions and no pain medications. Again, stayed home
until the last minute, relaxed my breathing, focused on the birth at hand
and out she came in about 3-4 hours worth of labor.

I think subsequent deliveries CAN be easier, I know they were for me and
they were not as long in duration. I know I was more relaxed during the
subsequent births because I knew what to expect (that can be a good or bad
thing, I'm not sure, lol).

Sue

Thanks for the replies - keep them coming! Realising that homebirth women
don't have epidural was what made me determined I could get through without!

I'm hoping to tear less next time - I dismissed perineal (sp??) massage last
time, but I'll most definitely be doing it this time! Likewise with the
breathing - I was focused on the physical process and assumed I'd know how
to breathe!

BTW an epidural on just one side must be freaky! I can't imagine that!

Lucy x

I just want to clarify that I'm not staying home only because of the
pain medication. Sam popped out in 5 hours counting from the first
contraction that woke me up.
There are a lot of reasons for me to stay home, e.g. not having to worry
about how I'm going to get to hospital (I don't have a car), not having
to worry about Sam (he can either go outside and play or go to my
brother or visit neighbours or stay with me), not having to worry much
about whether or not I'll get along with the hospital staff, or how well
I'll be able to voice my needs in a strange-to-me environment. But most
of all I just really really don't think I'll have the time/power to
juggle finding someone to take care of Sam and finding someone to take
me to hospital and potentially stay there with me all at the same point
in time. All I need to worry about is calling my midwife and my brother
and they can handle it from there.
With Sam I had _contractions_ from the word GO. There was no slow start
to the labour, they were 5 minutes apart from the first one I had. I
don't know how long they lasted, but it felt like they were right on top
of the other without breaks. I felt like a train hit me, I didn't
remember anything from the birthing class, I hyperventilated (which
probably caused the eventual transfer to hospital due to Sams heart rate
not being the way it should have been), it was not a nice, calm birth.
The fact that my midwife (my least favourite of the team, but the one on
call that night) decided to let me labour alone for the first 3 hours
didn't exactly help either (first birth, noone expected that kid to be
in that much of a hurry, I was at 7cm when she arrived!).

Anyway, I think (ok, hope!) I'll be able to deal with the birth of Nr2
much better than with Sams birth, simply because now I know better what
I want (e.g. my midwife to come over right away) and I know better what
I'm getting myself into (probably not a slow start and long labour).


cu
nicole - 3 hours of sleep. I don't have to make sense today.

"Lucy-lu" wrote in message
...

"Sue" wrote in message
news:BvidnfMb3rTwzNnbnZ2dnUVZ_tCtnZ2d@wideopenwest .com...
"Lucy-lu" wrote in message
Next time, I'd really like to be as gas free as possible.TBH, I found it
most useful for calming during the stitching (which I hated every minute
of!). I just wondered if any of you have managed to labour and deliver
without anything?

Uh yeah, most people on this board are very anti-anything during labor,
so yes you are going to get lots of responses of nothing for the pain
during labor and delivery.

My first baby, I had an epidural that only took on one side. Other than
the epidural, there was no other intervention, baby came out after 19
hours. I used my Lamaze techniques and breathing (which personally I
found helpful for me and still do today with intestinal problems).

Second baby, no interventions, no medications, nothing for pain. Labor
lasted about 4 hours all told, but I labored at home as long as I could,
for comfort reasons (not because I don't want anything for pain).
Basically I just tried to relax my breathing

Third baby, no interventions and no pain medications. Again, stayed home
until the last minute, relaxed my breathing, focused on the birth at hand
and out she came in about 3-4 hours worth of labor.

I think subsequent deliveries CAN be easier, I know they were for me and
they were not as long in duration. I know I was more relaxed during the
subsequent births because I knew what to expect (that can be a good or
bad thing, I'm not sure, lol).

Sue

Thanks for the replies - keep them coming! Realising that homebirth women
don't have epidural was what made me determined I could get through
without!

I'm hoping to tear less next time - I dismissed perineal (sp??) massage
last time, but I'll most definitely be doing it this time! Likewise with
the breathing - I was focused on the physical process and assumed I'd know
how to breathe!

I had an episiotomy the first time. No stitches at all the second. Didn't do
the massage either time. Just already stretched I guess!
Debbie

BTW an epidural on just one side must be freaky! I can't imagine that!

Lucy x

Lucy-lu wrote:

I just wondered if any of you have managed to labour and deliver
without anything?

Yes X 3.

Between me & DH now, I think we've got the breathing etc
sorted. Obviously, I'd like it there for back up, but if I can do without
then that would be great. Just wondered how you got through it.

For me, what helped was being in my own space, being
able to do things my way, feeling safe and in control, and
having fabulous support. There wasn't any particular technique.
It was more just being in tune with myself and being free to
do what I needed to do, rather than dealing with other people's
expectations and rules and such.

Best wishes,
Ericka

Lucy-lu wrote:

I'm hoping to tear less next time - I dismissed perineal (sp??) massage last
time, but I'll most definitely be doing it this time!

Studies don't seem to show strong support for perineal
massage, but what knows? I didn't require any stitches with
any of my labors. I think that a big help with that is not
pushing the baby out too quickly (if you can help it) and having
lots of perineal support from your caregivers. Warm compresses
felt really good to me.

Best wishes,
Ericka