wat is the best pain relief in labour?

Question

am 27 weeks pregnant and am trying to write my birth plan but am stuck on what pain relief i should take.

Answer 1

It depends on what kind of birth you want to have.

Do you want to try to have a natural birth? If so, say you want gas and air, and maybe pethidine if you can't cope with the pain.

If you're not bothered about a natural birth, and just want it not to hurt, then go for an epidural. But be aware that there are risks involved with this. Because the epidural reduces your urge to push, you are much more likely to end up with a forceps delivery or even caesarian.

But you won't know until you go into labour how you're going to feel and how you're going to cope with the pain.

Some women have first babies with no pain relief at all. Others, even ones who wanted very much to do things naturally, just can't take the pain and have to have an epidural.

You can put down your ideal situation in your birth plan,and then change your mind when you're in labour. No problem with that.

Answer 2

definitely an epidural - you won't feel a thing!!
Personally I wouldn't bother with the birth plan as once you are in the throws of labour you will just want the baby out as quickly and painlessly as possible!!
Good luck and don't worry about it!

PS you do not suffer constant back pain for the rest of your life after an epidural! Some people might but the majority are fine. It is like anything else, there are risks and side effects but the people that get them are in the minority

Answer 3

The most common form of pain relief is an epidural. I found a web site for you to look at the information on epidurals. This is a great site for you too see everything about an epidural. I would even watch the TLC program call called A Baby Story because you can usually see a women getting one and how well they work.

Epidural anesthesia is considered to be the most effective pain medication for childbirth. Doctors may use it to fully or partially numb the lower body. In the case of a partial, or light epidural, you may be able to walk or stand and actively push during contractions. A full epidural can be used during a c-section to fully numb the lower body but keep you awake and aware.


http://www.pregnancyweekly.com/pregnancy_information/epidural.htm

Answer 4

You have 3 choices: a)natural, which is FINE if you're like my sister, who gave girth to all 3 of her kids (nearly pain free) in less than an hour!...or...

b) An epidural. ( they take fluid from your spine and substitute it w/anesthetic). Sure you won't feel anything but your ability to PUSH (isn't that annoying, like on TV shows??!) could be severely diminished, since you can't FEEL much! The labor could last longer! * THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA FOR ANYONE PRONE TO ANXIETY OR PANIC! The lack of ability to breath fully can trigger panic/anxiety.

c) PO ( by mouth) anesthesia (Darvocet, and so on). It will make you more tired but you will STILL be able to feel what's happening, and thus, PUSH, which is crucial, esp. if the baby has something wrong, like the cord around its neck!

d) Caesarian Section (C-Section): This should ONLY be used if the mother's and/or babys' life is in immediate danger Too many OB's use it to boost profits AND because it's easier AND they like playing "surgeon"! (Wanna dispute the facts, docs? Bring it on!).

DO NOT AGREE TO THIS if a) you feel you can proceed naturallly and b) they are NOT telling you your baby is in "imminent danger"!

If you are so early in the pregnancy, look into pain-relief techniques that YOU control, like hypnosis! I t may sound nuts to you, but here's the thing, MANY C-sections in Russia have been done UNDER HYPNOSIs (no other pain relief med!).

At the very least, you should find pain relief methods (drug or non-drug) that work for YOU. DOn't let people tell you what to do!

Here are some links to sites about reducing pain during delivery:

Answer 5

Chuck the birth plan in the bin....unless you've had a child before it is ulmost impossible to know how you want the birth to go. I had a natural birth....probably due to my mother refusing to allow me to have a epedural due to its associated after-effect which last for years- constant back pain.

I had the gas/air combo which made me derilious and was put in the birthing pool. by that time, you are so out of it because of the pain that they could put you on a rocket to the moon and you'd be non the wiser!

just go with the flow...try natural at first and i entirely recommend the pool, if you cannot bear the pain, and i really mean CANNOT BEAR THE PAIN then the epidural is an option.

Now brace yourself....for unknown reasons, nobody ever talks about this....or was it just my experience!
Whilst on the hospital bed in pain, the midwife came in to check how things were going. She proceeded to do an internal examination, now at this point i think i was about 4 centimetres dilated and was grateful for having her in the room. without no warning she ripped what i think she said was the 'membrane' out of me and then said, that should move things along. The PAIN was intense and i looked to my mother for help.....she on the other hand was nodding in agreement with the midwife and affirmed that she had done the right thing. Aparently telling me whould have paniced me but i wish i had been told so that i could brace myself....this might be something for you to ask your nurse/gp about.

good luck.

i hope i haven't scared you.....trust me when you have your baby in your hands it makes it all worth it.....and that "you will forget the pain" malarky is crap....YOU NEVER FORGET THE PAIN. You just learn to accept it and put it down to experience.

Answer 6

Dr's will only use general if you are having a c-section but still they would rather you not, having an epidural is the best in my opinion, the others, breathing does not work, warm tubs is great but if your water has broken that will not be possible, but you will have to wait till your contractions are established before they will start that but it is so worth it. I had my first 5 natural and my last 2 with epidurals and what a wonderful blessing. Why go through all that pain??? I highly recommend it

Answer 7

If you mean the most effective then an epidural.
But if you can it would be better to try to just have gas and air, you get more out of it that way, you can move around during labour, have a water birth maybe, and you will feel proud of having a natural birth.
Also it will be easier to bond with your baby afterwards if you don't have the epidural to recover from.
You could also try a tens machine that helps some women and moving around helps a lot with pain

Answer 8

Ive done it twice and there is pros and cons to it all. First time I had EVERYTHING on offer epidural is FAB, I had pethidine, gas and air the works. when my son was born I was singing and didn't feel a thing but I did feel very sluggish after. The second time my daughter came too quick so I didn't have chance to have anything but the pain goes instantly and you feel fab after! hope all goes well for you and make the right choice x

Answer 9

Plan not to have any pain relief. I asked for Tens during my second labour - it was great. Of course its gonna hurt, but I felt it was manageable pain. Go natural I say if at all possible and no I'm not one of those earth mother types. I'm the first to reach for the paracetamol when I get a headache.

Answer 10

I had an epidural, and I can honestly say I didn't feel the slightest bit of pain, i even had 2 be told when to push as i felt no contractions