It’s not unusual for all hopes of a natural birth to vanish without a trace when you experience the intense discomfort of labour first hand, so whether you plan to use them or not, it’s a good idea to know about the different pain relieving drugs available to you.
Pethidine This is a morphine based drug that’s injected into your thigh and lasts from 2 to 5 hours. It can make you drowsy and intoxicated, and if taken too close to delivery, the effects will show in your baby too. However, medication can be given to your baby to reverse this after birth.
Epidural
This is administered through a tube between your spinal cord and spine. It starts working after 20 minutes and can be topped up so it lasts throughout the labour. It completely numbs the lower half of your body, and therefore restricts your movement. It is an extremely effective method of pain relief.
TENS
Electrodes are wired to a hand-held device you control and are attached either side of your spine. It works by blocking nerve pathways, preventing them from sending pain messages to your brain.
Gas and Air (Entonox) This is 50% oxygen and 50% nitrous oxide. You breathe it in though a mask when a contraction begins to ease the intensity of the pain. Despite being a very useful birth aid, it makes you feel light-headed and doesn't offer much relief during the hardest parts of labour.
Join Our Antenatal Club! Why not join our free online Antenatal Club? Registration is completely free and once you're registered, you'll be able to attend an online antenatal class with Raisingkids.co.uk's midwife the month before your due date. It's also a great way to chat with other mums expecting around the same time as you. Click here for more information.
It’s not unusual for all hopes of a natural birth to vanish without a trace when you experience the intense discomfort of labour first hand, so whether you plan to use them or not, it’s a good idea to know about the different pain relieving drugs available to you.
