I’m revamping...

The pregnancy section, and I need your help! At the moment I'm working on the Pain Relief During Labour section, and I'd love to be able to include some quotes from people who have used the various methods of pain relief on how they worked for them.
So what did you use and how did it work for you?

I had no 'chemical' pain relief as such, although once I was in the birthing pool and felt the pushing sensation start the midwife said I had to slow down (breathing etc)... so I took a couple of puffs of the gas (entonox) as it is also a broncho-dilator (opens your airways) and helped me keep breathing steadily through the contractions until it was *actually* time to push.

Edited to add: The main thing for me was keeping active / mobile, and then hopping in the pool later (where Erin was born), that was the best !! Made things a lot easier to cope with as the water was lovely and warm, and supported my muscles a bit. I also used acupuncture treatment the morning I went into labour, but before my contractions became established. Last but not least, my friend and support person (besides DH) is a masseuse and specialises in pregnancy etc and was wonderful for massaging all the right points - I am SO glad she was there.

Edited by ErinsMama

I also used water. For the beginning stages I had cold cloths put on my back and on my face and they were great except they didn't stay cold for long.

C section and then a morphine pump....LOL!

With Hannah, I had active labour then epidural and c/s, so with Briona (VBAC) I went for epidural cause it was so great!! But... I found epidural great for c/s when you don't have to do anything, and hopeless for VB quick second stage - I couldn't feel any pushing sensation at all and was quite frustrated with it. So with Krystiana I was offered fentanyl, it's not very strong but it took the edge off the contraction pain and I was able to top up with gas in the contractions. It worked really well for me and I'm planning on that again next time. I was able to feel and use the pushing sensation and really felt heaps more confident and in control than with my second birth (first V birth). I did try just gas at first but when the contractions got long, the amount of gas I was taking made me feel sick and dizzy.

I just got straight into the shower when I got to the birthing unit and found that great was in their for about a hour got out and had to start pushing straight away.

Gas with both kids, I also found cold face cloths on my head an around my neck quite relaxing and distracting from the pain.

i had an epidural with jade - not for pain but to lower my blood pressure. i hated everything about it- they took several attempts to do it OWCHY!!! had some major twitches happen, hated being numb and had difficulty getting into pushing too. but i had been against any pain relief the whole pregnancy, had wanted nothing.

emma and kaylas births other than being induced both times, i used no form of pain relief as such. i used some techinques that i had learnt and remembered from the pink kit with jades pregnancy, a bit of rocking and plenty of walking... also LOVED the bath once in decent labour, helped with relaxing and i believe sped things up too. WATER IS AWESOME!

I had some gas a couple of times during my labour with Kiya - once during some contractions to try it out, and then when the midwife broke my waters. I hated it, it made me feel dizzy and out of control of my body. I haven't had any since... my prefered method of pain relief during birth is a warm bath! All of my children were born in the bath.

I had a shot of pethidine which was great for about an hour then I was begging for more (which the damn midwife wouldn't give me until the recommended time, damn her! )

I used the gas too... that was just more something to focus on to get me through contractions so worked in that respect. Seemed to do nothing for the pain tho!

I felt really tired afterwards, not sure whether that was just the effect of giving birth or something to do with the pethidine. I suspect a bit of both.

Edited by nikkiwhyte