Epidural v's pethadine opinions and experiences would be great

Hi ladies,

hope your all well, withe my 1st LO i had an epidural and loved the face no pain- the epidural wore off just as i was due to start pushing so i could feel the contractions, the only thing i hated is that after i couldnt feel my bottom half for a good few hours and hated that feeling,

labour is around 10 weeks away for me (hyopefully) and i was thinking of other pain releif options available in the hospital as they dont do mobile epidurals and wondered about pethadine, does it do the same job or jsut lower the amount of pain you have?

whilst i am wanting to try and do this 2nd Lo without pain relief i want a back up plan (just in case)

all good and bad stories welcome and any other suggestions

thanks in advance ladies

x

Not personal experience, but my best friend (was with her through labour), she had pethedine when she was admitted in the midwife led unit at 3cm, she said she could still feel everything but it made everything fuzzy and she tranced in and out quite a bit relaxing

I had pethedine, and then an epidural. I loved the epidural, but thought the pethedine was rubbish! It just zonked me out, so I fell asleep in between contractions (which were coming about every 2-3 minutes) but every time a contraction hit, I woke up in a panic, not knowing what that pain was! My H said it was like being in a room with a goldfish, I kept sitting up saying "ow ow ow, what's that? oh yes, it's a baby..." and then zoning out and going through it all over again. For 4 hours! Although peth was the only thing that stopped me throwing up in labour, so I suppose I should be grateful for that at least...

I had pethidine in my first labour, about an hour before my son was born. I didn't feel any pain at all, either contractions or crowning, not a bit, but I could still feel my legs and feel him being born. I didn't like that it did make me feel very drunk and out of it, very distant, and the first hour of my son's life was/is a bit hazy. I also thought at the time it passed to my baby and made him sleepy for the first 24 hours, but my second baby was the same and I didn't have pethidine that time.

I haven't had an epidural, so can't compare, although I was leaning towards having one with my second so I would be more conscious and aware of his birth - turns out I didn't have time for any pain relief never mind an epidural!

Thanks Ladies, you never know it may be that my 2nd is so quick i dont have time for any but having know what happens in labour 2nd time round i am hoping i can be a little bit more prepared (probably not tho as all labours are different)

x

I had pethadine with my first and an epidural with my second.

Dont think the pethidine offered much pain relief - just made me sleepy and hallucinate that take that were singing to me from the bathroom ( not a bad thing!).  I didn't feel like I had the energy to push as was so knackered and sleepy.  Also vomitted a lot.Baby was fine when born, although very sleepy- not sure how sleepy is normal iyswim.

2nd time I opted for an epidural and it was fab. Had a few failed attempts at getting it in but pretty much instant relief! Felt in control and very much aware of what was happening.

HTH

I had pethidine, although only one shot of it. For me it did nothing for the pain, made me a bit drowsy but not enough to get any rest which was what I was hoping. I haven't had an epidural, but had a spinal which completely numbed me from the chest down and entirely took away the pain as I couldn't feel anything.

I had pethadine then an epidural.  The pethadine did absolutely nothing for me at all - was a total waste of time.  Epidural was fab.

Trouble is everyone's experiences are different - it's all very individual!

I had pethadine with both mine and it didn't do anything either time.   I didn't have time for a epidural but to be honest, I don't think I would want one. I loved being able to get and walk about straight after the birth and have a hot shower, it made me feel more human.

Pethadine took the edge off the pain and actually allowed me to sleep for a little while. Later had epidural which was lovely

Had pethidine in early labour with #1 and it did the job; took the edge of things and let me sleep.  Had it in second labour at about 7cm and it did bugger all to my recollection.  There again epidural in #1 labour didn't work either

Thanks Ladies, i'll bear all your comments in mind and have a think before i write any birth plan notes and discuss ut wuth hubby

x