Homebirth without gas and air?

xsadiex · Jan 28th, 2013, 08:43 AM

Hi ladies!

I had my son at home and had a pool and used gas and air. This time is like to try it without the gas but I don't know if I will be able to. Around transition I really felt I couldn't cope anymore an the gas gave me something to concentrate on and it helped me relax. That part was so hard, I've never felt pain like that before but I coped fine and the pushing part was great, didn't need gas and air for that.

For those who didn't use gas and air, what helped you cope? Im considering being more active and maybe getting out the pool and walking around. Any tips?

fionar · Jan 28th, 2013, 09:31 AM

I just kind of meditated and zoned out - we don't have gas and air in the US, so that wasn't an option for me when I had my son. Being active should definitely help... do you have access to a birth ball or a birth stool? I REALLY liked the birth ball because of the range of positions I could get in to on it. The tub helped a lot, too - I'd definitely recommend using water!

NaturalMomma · Jan 28th, 2013, 15:01 PM

Midwives in my area do not carry any type of pain meds (that includes gas and air). It is normal to feel like you can't cope in transition, and that is actually a sign to the Midwives that your baby is close to being born. There are a lot of hormones going crazy at that time and you dialate the most during transition.

What worked for me last time was to close my eyes and think about a flower opening up, to represent opening up of my cervix. I also swayed a lot and sipped on water. Moaning is also suppose to be good for transition, and so is water.

RoxyRoo · Jan 28th, 2013, 16:17 PM

I found that my mind was so powerful, similar to NaturalMomma above, I visualised my cervix opening and my baby moving down. I made myself relax with every contraction, physically forcing myself to un-tense my hands and shoulders. It was intense but managable.

Why not have the gas and air on stand by just incase but tell your MW not to offer it to you, and that you'll ask if you want it.

Sam Pearson · Jan 28th, 2013, 18:06 PM

Nobody in Australia homebirths with gas and air. I found using Clary Sage essential oil (NOT SAGE but CLARY SAGE) during transition took the edge of and I was able to manage well with that bit of help. I used it as a compress on my abdomen and wiped it off before hoping in the birth pool.

aliss · Jan 28th, 2013, 20:28 PM

I found moaning in the shower helped me through transition but I admit that was really the breaking point where I wish I was dead!

TBH I got through transition by thinking "if I don't, I'll have to go to the hospital!!!" after my 1sts disastrous hospital birth, that was enough to keep me home!!!!

Feronia · Jan 30th, 2013, 15:02 PM

My midwives don't carry gas and air so it wasn't an option for me. I don't really know when transition occurred with me because I didn't notice it. My contractions never got closer together than 4 minutes, so it all felt like a continual process -- it never really intensified, I just felt like pushing. Like the other ladies have been saying, hot water helped incredibly. I went in and out of the shower and birth tub and just tried staying super relaxed so I wouldn't tense up.

ravenmel · Jan 30th, 2013, 15:41 PM

With my first I had gas and air in the birth centre but stopped using it after an hour.

I have my second at home I planned to use gas and air but ended up having a unassisted labour so no gas and air. It was ok just breathe through it and tell yourself you can do it, it wasn't as bad the second time around because you know it will be over. The first time I though I can't cope coz this is going to last forever, its just panic talking.

Have a good strong team around you. This might sound weird but have a list of things they can't say whilst your in labour and tell them before hand. I hate seeing midwives telling women off when they get to that stage of, I can't do this! My mum said stop screaming you'rE being silly now? I seriously wanted to slap her but what a thing to say, that was with my 1st LO.

gryphongrl · Jan 30th, 2013, 16:50 PM

I planned a homebirth but had to go to the hospital because LO was born before 37 weeks... during transition I pretty much just screamed at my midwife and husband that I hadnt been warned properly about the pain. I still wouldnt get an epidural next time, but I totally get why some women do, as it was miserable. LOL. I wasnt very classy, but I got through it okay. My midwife slipped me a few arnica pellets too.

xsadiex · Jan 31st, 2013, 05:07 AM

Thanks for your replies ladies. I just remember feeling do hopeless and wanting to die as I'd never felt pain like that before , it felt like it was going to continue for ever! At least this time I am more prepared.
I was literally writhing around in the birth pool, it helped a bit though.
I'm so excited to do it again anyway as I loved my last experience so much x

Jan 28th, 2013, 08:43 AM	#1
xsadiex Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: West sussex Posts: 2,852	Homebirth without gas and air? Hi ladies! I had my son at home and had a pool and used gas and air. This time is like to try it without the gas but I don't know if I will be able to. Around transition I really felt I couldn't cope anymore an the gas gave me something to concentrate on and it helped me relax. That part was so hard, I've never felt pain like that before but I coped fine and the pushing part was great, didn't need gas and air for that. For those who didn't use gas and air, what helped you cope? Im considering being more active and maybe getting out the pool and walking around. Any tips?

Status: Online

Jan 28th, 2013, 09:31 AM	#2
fionar Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 527	I just kind of meditated and zoned out - we don't have gas and air in the US, so that wasn't an option for me when I had my son. Being active should definitely help... do you have access to a birth ball or a birth stool? I REALLY liked the birth ball because of the range of positions I could get in to on it. The tub helped a lot, too - I'd definitely recommend using water!

Status: Online

Jan 28th, 2013, 15:01 PM	#3
NaturalMomma Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,592	Midwives in my area do not carry any type of pain meds (that includes gas and air). It is normal to feel like you can't cope in transition, and that is actually a sign to the Midwives that your baby is close to being born. There are a lot of hormones going crazy at that time and you dialate the most during transition. What worked for me last time was to close my eyes and think about a flower opening up, to represent opening up of my cervix. I also swayed a lot and sipped on water. Moaning is also suppose to be good for transition, and so is water.

Status: Offline

Jan 28th, 2013, 16:17 PM	#4
RoxyRoo Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Wales, UK Posts: 3,240	I found that my mind was so powerful, similar to NaturalMomma above, I visualised my cervix opening and my baby moving down. I made myself relax with every contraction, physically forcing myself to un-tense my hands and shoulders. It was intense but managable. Why not have the gas and air on stand by just incase but tell your MW not to offer it to you, and that you'll ask if you want it.

Status: Offline

Jan 28th, 2013, 18:06 PM	#5
Sam Pearson Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 551	Nobody in Australia homebirths with gas and air. I found using Clary Sage essential oil (NOT SAGE but CLARY SAGE) during transition took the edge of and I was able to manage well with that bit of help. I used it as a compress on my abdomen and wiped it off before hoping in the birth pool.

Status: Offline

Jan 28th, 2013, 20:28 PM	#6
aliss AutoSignup (SAAB) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Québec Posts: 24,339	I found moaning in the shower helped me through transition but I admit that was really the breaking point where I wish I was dead! TBH I got through transition by thinking "if I don't, I'll have to go to the hospital!!!" after my 1sts disastrous hospital birth, that was enough to keep me home!!!!

Status: Online

Jan 30th, 2013, 15:02 PM	#7
Feronia Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 951	My midwives don't carry gas and air so it wasn't an option for me. I don't really know when transition occurred with me because I didn't notice it. My contractions never got closer together than 4 minutes, so it all felt like a continual process -- it never really intensified, I just felt like pushing. Like the other ladies have been saying, hot water helped incredibly. I went in and out of the shower and birth tub and just tried staying super relaxed so I wouldn't tense up.

Status: Offline

Jan 30th, 2013, 15:41 PM	#8
ravenmel Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 371	With my first I had gas and air in the birth centre but stopped using it after an hour. I have my second at home I planned to use gas and air but ended up having a unassisted labour so no gas and air. It was ok just breathe through it and tell yourself you can do it, it wasn't as bad the second time around because you know it will be over. The first time I though I can't cope coz this is going to last forever, its just panic talking. Have a good strong team around you. This might sound weird but have a list of things they can't say whilst your in labour and tell them before hand. I hate seeing midwives telling women off when they get to that stage of, I can't do this! My mum said stop screaming you'rE being silly now? I seriously wanted to slap her but what a thing to say, that was with my 1st LO.

Status: Offline

Jan 30th, 2013, 16:50 PM	#9
gryphongrl Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 399	I planned a homebirth but had to go to the hospital because LO was born before 37 weeks... during transition I pretty much just screamed at my midwife and husband that I hadnt been warned properly about the pain. I still wouldnt get an epidural next time, but I totally get why some women do, as it was miserable. LOL. I wasnt very classy, but I got through it okay. My midwife slipped me a few arnica pellets too.

Status: Offline

Jan 31st, 2013, 05:07 AM	#10
xsadiex Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: West sussex Posts: 2,852	Thanks for your replies ladies. I just remember feeling do hopeless and wanting to die as I'd never felt pain like that before , it felt like it was going to continue for ever! At least this time I am more prepared. I was literally writhing around in the birth pool, it helped a bit though. I'm so excited to do it again anyway as I loved my last experience so much x

Status: Online

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