Birthing with just entonox - unrealistic?

KarrierBag · Feb 23rd, 2010, 14:36 PM

1st baby so no idea what happens really but have been thinking about pain relief during labour and looking at my options.

I 100% don't want pethidine and am not keen on an epidural so from what I've been reading, the only thing left is gas and air..

How realistic am I being thinking I can do it with just entonox? And are there any other types of pain relief that's available?

Also, personal experiences of the different pain relief available would be great!

Thanks

xx

MandaAnda · Feb 23rd, 2010, 14:45 PM

I'm hoping to use relaxation, water (my bath), aromatherapy, TENS and maybe Entonox. I don't want Pethidine for a number of reasons, and I can't have an epidural at home (wouldn't want one anyway for my own reasons).

waltzy · Feb 23rd, 2010, 14:51 PM

Meptid is an alternative to Pethadine (but you need to get the tablets in advance from your GP).

There is also Hypnobirthing. Google the Youtube videos of it - those women don't use anything but self-hypnosis. I'm going to give it a try.

I haven't had a baby before, but I just keep trying to think positively that most women around the world give birth without any medical intervention or drugs. If women absolutely needed medication to get through childbirth then the human race would have died out long ago.

poppy666 · Feb 23rd, 2010, 14:51 PM

I was induced with my 1st and just used gas n air, must admit i wouldnt put it down once i had it

but everyone's pain threshold is different and you dont know what you will want till your there x

Celesse · Feb 23rd, 2010, 14:53 PM

I plan to use aromatherapy, relaxation, movement and water. I won't be allowed pethidine or epidural at home. Pethidine is a not allowed in my area at home, but is in other area it is, however I wouldn't want it anyway in case it made baby sleepy.

I think the effectiveness of anything other than an epidural is going to depend on your coping mechanisms and attitudes towards pain.

country_girl8 · Feb 23rd, 2010, 14:58 PM

no its not unrealistic at all i had both mine with just entonox

reversal · Feb 23rd, 2010, 15:06 PM

My first labour I had epidural (it was great but seemed to slow things down) second labour I only had the gas and air as I was to late getting to the hospital to have anything else and I managed just fine and labour was alot quicker,, good luck

Mummy~L · Feb 23rd, 2010, 15:08 PM

I had planned a hospital waterbirth with gas &air but if the pain got to much to get out and have an epidural.

I actually had a homebirth with no pain relief at all!

My advice would be to just go with the flow as anything could happen! But there is no reason as to why you couldnt just do it with entonox!!

xxx

Sparky0207 · Feb 23rd, 2010, 15:10 PM

If I can do it just with gas and air, so can you!

I really didnt want pethedine (and they didnt want to try me with it as both mum and auntie have had nasty allergic reactions to it) and my local hosp dont do epidurals so it was my only option.

My only advice would be hold off for as long as you can manage. I got to 8cm with nothing, just breathing, relaxation techniques, warm baths and paracetamol and only had the entonox when I really needed it which im sure meant it was more effective when I did have it.

But in answer to your question, no its not unrealistic at all, you can do it! xx

louise85 · Feb 23rd, 2010, 15:24 PM

Sorry for hijackin 3rd tri but I saw this in the updated posts

With my 1st I was induced and didn't even have gas and air til I was 6cms (my waters hadn't gone tho!) I had the pethidine then too and when my waters had gone I had an epi

THis time well......I'm not gonna even bother with pethidine all it did was make me sick!! And I'm hoping not to have an epi either as I had my DD 1 hour after having it last time so hopefully just gas and air for me too

xxx

Feb 23rd, 2010, 14:36 PM	#1
KarrierBag Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 529	Birthing with just entonox - unrealistic? 1st baby so no idea what happens really but have been thinking about pain relief during labour and looking at my options. I 100% don't want pethidine and am not keen on an epidural so from what I've been reading, the only thing left is gas and air.. How realistic am I being thinking I can do it with just entonox? And are there any other types of pain relief that's available? Also, personal experiences of the different pain relief available would be great! Thanks xx

Status: Offline

Feb 23rd, 2010, 14:45 PM	#2
MandaAnda Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Coastal Kent Posts: 1,656	I'm hoping to use relaxation, water (my bath), aromatherapy, TENS and maybe Entonox. I don't want Pethidine for a number of reasons, and I can't have an epidural at home (wouldn't want one anyway for my own reasons).

Status: Offline

Feb 23rd, 2010, 14:51 PM	#3
waltzy Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: London Posts: 246	Meptid is an alternative to Pethadine (but you need to get the tablets in advance from your GP). There is also Hypnobirthing. Google the Youtube videos of it - those women don't use anything but self-hypnosis. I'm going to give it a try. I haven't had a baby before, but I just keep trying to think positively that most women around the world give birth without any medical intervention or drugs. If women absolutely needed medication to get through childbirth then the human race would have died out long ago.

Status: Offline

Feb 23rd, 2010, 14:51 PM	#4
poppy666 Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Elite Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK Posts: 13,494	I was induced with my 1st and just used gas n air, must admit i wouldnt put it down once i had it but everyone's pain threshold is different and you dont know what you will want till your there x

Status: Offline

Feb 23rd, 2010, 14:53 PM	#5
Celesse Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North East UK Posts: 5,498	I plan to use aromatherapy, relaxation, movement and water. I won't be allowed pethidine or epidural at home. Pethidine is a not allowed in my area at home, but is in other area it is, however I wouldn't want it anyway in case it made baby sleepy. I think the effectiveness of anything other than an epidural is going to depend on your coping mechanisms and attitudes towards pain.

Status: Offline

Feb 23rd, 2010, 14:58 PM	#6
country_girl8 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,653	no its not unrealistic at all i had both mine with just entonox

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Feb 23rd, 2010, 15:06 PM	#7
reversal Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: TYNE AND WEAR Posts: 916	My first labour I had epidural (it was great but seemed to slow things down) second labour I only had the gas and air as I was to late getting to the hospital to have anything else and I managed just fine and labour was alot quicker,, good luck

Status: Offline

Feb 23rd, 2010, 15:08 PM	#8
Mummy~L Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Essex, UK Posts: 3,365	I had planned a hospital waterbirth with gas &air but if the pain got to much to get out and have an epidural. I actually had a homebirth with no pain relief at all! My advice would be to just go with the flow as anything could happen! But there is no reason as to why you couldnt just do it with entonox!! xxx

Status: Offline

Feb 23rd, 2010, 15:10 PM	#9
Sparky0207 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 5,106	If I can do it just with gas and air, so can you! I really didnt want pethedine (and they didnt want to try me with it as both mum and auntie have had nasty allergic reactions to it) and my local hosp dont do epidurals so it was my only option. My only advice would be hold off for as long as you can manage. I got to 8cm with nothing, just breathing, relaxation techniques, warm baths and paracetamol and only had the entonox when I really needed it which im sure meant it was more effective when I did have it. But in answer to your question, no its not unrealistic at all, you can do it! xx

Status: Offline

Feb 23rd, 2010, 15:24 PM	#10
louise85 Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Birmingham Posts: 1,377	Sorry for hijackin 3rd tri but I saw this in the updated posts With my 1st I was induced and didn't even have gas and air til I was 6cms (my waters hadn't gone tho!) I had the pethidine then too and when my waters had gone I had an epi THis time well......I'm not gonna even bother with pethidine all it did was make me sick!! And I'm hoping not to have an epi either as I had my DD 1 hour after having it last time so hopefully just gas and air for me too xxx

Status: Offline

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