Pethidine

[ChildByGrace]

Who here has had pethidine (link here for it as not sure if it's called the same thing over with you guys http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/labourandbirth/painrelief/pethidine/ )

during your labour?


Can you tell me you experience of it?

I'm trying to work out what pain relief figures in my birth plan. I was going to go with gas and air and pethidine but after talking to someone in our home-group last night it seems that i am getting know more people who have had bad experiences of it. The most comman side effect seems to be slowing or stopping the contractions right down.

Any comments

 

[Naomi4Christ]

I have used pethidine, and it was fine. Definitely took my mind of the pain, and made me relax. Relaxation is very good for a swift birth.

 

[RoseofLima]

-ine drugs would be in the same category as morphine, and codeine. So if you have ever had a bad experioence with those types of drugs, then it's probably best to stear clear. For some people it makes them very sleepy and 'out of it'. All pain medicines cross the placenta and can also slow labor.

Medication can be an awesome. awesome relief and help for labors....but it also has side effects. The thing is to really weigh in the moment the benefit of the medication in your particular circumstances- with the risks and much higher liklihood theose medications bring of other interventions. Sometimes the benefits outweigh the risks- sometimes not.

 

[Athene]

I had pethidine with my first and second. It does take the edge off the pain but with my first I've got a gap in my memory for about 3 hours, after I had the injection I felt really tired and I thought I went to sleep but according to my mum and my ex who were with me I was awake and talking.

It made me and the babies very sleepy, I breastfed and it was a struggle to get them to latch on because they were sleepy and I was so tired and couldn't be bothered.

Does your hospital have a birthing pool? I didn't but I did spend most of my labour in the bath and the warm water really took the edge off the pain. Might be worth looking in too.

 

[ChildByGrace]

I had pethidine with my first and second. It does take the edge off the pain but with my first I've got a gap in my memory for about 3 hours, after I had the injection I felt really tired and I thought I went to sleep but according to my mum and my ex who were with me I was awake and talking.

It made me and the babies very sleepy, I breastfed and it was a struggle to get them to latch on because they were sleepy and I was so tired and couldn't be bothered.

Does your hospital have a birthing pool? I didn't but I did spend most of my labour in the bath and the warm water really took the edge off the pain. Might be worth looking in too.

Thanks

Yes my hospital has two birthing pools. As long as there is no-one else using them then i will be going in one of them. I really like the idea of using this, especially as i'm not choosing to have an epi and i have now decided i don't want pethidine - except for right at the start of the 1st stage if i've not had any sleep for like 3 nights.