For those who had pethidine, when did you have it?

[SisterRose]

I've just started to think about labour again and what I think I'd perhaps like to do based on my last labour.

In my last labour, I was induced but went right in to labour after they broke my waters so no drip, and it went VERY fast. They broke my waters at around 1pm and Ellie was born at 5:36pm. Unfortunately I had an awful midwife who wouldn't listen to what I needed, didn't believe I was even having strong contractions, wouldn't believe my OH when he was timing them at less than a minute apart and kept "hush"-ing me. In the end she gave me a shot of pethidine in to what I think was the muscle in my leg, but only 40 mins MAX before I started pushing and gave birth!
I've just been reading on the internet that pethidine is used a lot in early stages of labour and shouldn't be given to ladies who're close to the pushing/birth stage because it can have an effect on the baby, ie: baby being drowsy, breathing problems etc.
Obviously with my labour only lasting about 4 hours after my waters breaking she didn't think I was being serious, but if she'd have listened to me and taken me seriously I feel like it could have been prevented and I would have been a lot calmer about the whole situation. She wouldnt even believe me when I wanted to push and told me to stop :s

Needless to say I wish I had known this sooner as Im pretty angry about the whole thing! I don't think she even checked me to see how dialated I was before giving me the pethidine. Obviously if I was 40mins away from birth I was pretty far in to my labour! And now that I think about it, my DD was pretty quiet for a few days after the birth.

 

[tristansmum]

I too was induced. They broke my waters after a pessary and contractions started on there own and never need drip. I think my waters were broken around 6am. I got gas and air around 7.30 I think. Not hundred percent on times because its all a blur but I had pethadine maybe 9-10ish???? She checked me before I had it. He wasn't born until 7pm by emcs and they had tried forceps and I had been pushing for 2+ hours prior to that too. But certainly over 4 hours before I got to 10cm.

 

[Mel_jj]

Yes pethidine should only be given at certain earlier stages as it can make baby very drowsy etc! I like you with DS had a midwife that assumed because I was a first timer that I was going to be a long time and she gave me a shot of pethidine and didn't examine me anyway I shortly after kept saying I needed to push and she reluctantly examined me and I was fully dilated!! So I no way should have had it!! Anyway DS1 was very drowsy and was for a couple of days and struggled to get a good latch to breastfeed!! I was not happy!

Anyway with DS2 I just went to a midwife led unit instead of the hospital and had a drug free water birth and it was excellent....I hoping for the same again this time round!

 

[SisterRose]

Thanks for the replies.

Mel_JJ - That sounds amazing. I'd love to try a water birth. I definitely don't want pethidine with this labour after last time it's put me off. Ellie struggled latching too, but I havent put two and two together until reading in to it this time!
I bet it was a lot more relaxing having a water birth the next time and having people who actually listen to you.

I think I'll be having this baby in the same hospital as last but if the same mifwife happens to turn up I'll be clawing for the door and begging for somebody else

 

[tristansmum]

Thanks for the replies.

Mel_JJ - That sounds amazing. I'd love to try a water birth. I definitely don't want pethidine with this labour after last time it's put me off. Ellie struggled latching too, but I havent put two and two together until reading in to it this time!
I bet it was a lot more relaxing having a water birth the next time and having people who actually listen to you.

I think I'll be having this baby in the same hospital as last but if the same mifwife happens to turn up I'll be clawing for the door and begging for somebody else

I'm hoping to avoid it too as it totally knocked me out for hours! good luck this time xx

 

[SisterRose]

Thank you, and yep it knocked me out too. I can barely remember my last 40mins of labour! it was horrible

 

[Mel_jj]

It knocked me out to I was pretty much asleep for the whole pushing stage and not very with afterwards!!

You should definitely try for a water birth its great I couldn't imagine giving birth on dry land now!! Could you not go to a local midwife led unit?

 

[SisterRose]

I'm definitely going to look in to it

 

[Kellen]

I had it at 5cm because I wasn't allowed in the birthing pool until 7cm and was having back-to-back labor. It made me super sleepy in between contractions, but I'm not sure it actually helped the contractions. The water was 100% more effective.

 

[LoolaBear]

you can actually put in your birth plan that before any pain relief is administered that you be checked for dialiation first.

they are actually meant to do this if the pain relief given can have an adverse affect on the baby.

I personally wont be having any pethidine when i next fall pregnant and go into labour. the one and only time i had it was when i was in labour with my angel and it made me feel suicidal! within 5 minutes i felt dizzy, sick, having major hot and cold flushes, hallucinating! and then i tried ripping the window off its runners as i wanted to jump out the window! took an hour for it to wear off.

 

[QueenMummyToBe]

With dd I had been in early labour for 4 days & we got to hospital at midnight & i had a shot of pethadine at 3pm or so as i was 5cm & had been for hours & the drip made contractions awful.. I was out of it & i was still pretty out of it when amelia was born at 11.43pm.
Never again would I have it! With ds i just had gas & air & between every contraction i could have a normal conversation, i felt in control x x