[battymeep]

well im kinda not sure of whats going on and i was hoping for a few stories or hints or tips and advise on things i should maybe choose or think about about.
im pregnant with twins, 31 weeks. and apparently i need to or should start thinking about things to do and im so confused atm.


i think i want to try and have a vaginal birth cause i dont heal well at all and i hate pains that slow me down from doing things i have to do so i kinda dont wanna get cut open.

and i dont want a spinal or epidural. cause i hate needles and they distress me and last time i had one i went into shock. (twin a didnt like it either and moved weird which puts me more on edge)

and so the only thing is gas, but i keep hearing that it doesnt work well and a midwife told me i can affect the bubs.

and i wanted to know if anyone had any ideas.


someone asked me if i could have the perfect labor what would i choose for pain relief and i said a bullet... she didnt like it very much XD

but one of the things that kinda gets to me is i might not have any control over what happends.

this whole things is kinda stressing me abit.

[pixiesticks]

I used just gas with all 3 of my labours. It worked fantastic!! As far as I'm aware it gas no affect on the baby at all. It doesn't enter your bloodstream and wears off pretty much as soon as you stop breathing it in. I'd have a go with it. Gas seems to work with some people but not others. Maybe request the gas first but if your not coping ask for pethadine or something else.

Good luck with the arrival of your twins!!

ETA that 2 of my kids were induced at 36 and 38 weeks. Also 2 of them were posterior. Although I haven't had twins I did find the gas got me through. Also that if your being monitored you can use it to your advantage. The number on the machine will start to rise before a contraction gets painful, this is when you start sucking on the gas. Long deep breathes!! And once the number starts falling stop sucking. If your not being monitored just start sucking as soon as you feel a contraction starting or if you know one is due to begin.

This post has been edited by pixiesticks: 21/10/2011, 05:07 PM

[Honeymummy]

Hi,
I used gas with my three pregnancies. It took until the third and an awesome midwife who helped me use it correctly. Basically you need to start breathing it in a few seconds before the contraction starts and stop just before it finishes. So you need to be timing them or have a rough idea when they are going to start.

It is tricky to use - but very very effective if you manage to do it. I must say though - it only gives limited pain coverage. I had very painful inductions and the pain was still unbearable towards transition with just gas.

If you think you may need a bullet - then I would be thinking you should at least entertain the thought of an epi or spinal. You dont want to go in uninformed - you will probably be suprised what you end up asking for when it actually starts.

Read up on your choices. Dont stress too much about a plan. I took one to my first - and they laughed and said they dont read them. I have had this in both public and private hospitals.

Goodluck!

[Jenflea]

Best advice, talk your concerns over with your midwife or OB or whoever you're seeing during the pregnancy.
I never had a birth plan because as far as I'm concerned, birth doesn't GO to plan.
I was open to whatever suggestions were made on the day, in the moment. You might find gas works for you(and it DOESN'T affect the baby as it's out of your system really fast) and you might like to move around, or not.
I think the placement of your twins will affect your choices a bit as well.
I'm sure other women can tell you more though, I've not had twins (though I am one, and Mum delivered us vaginally back in the day).
Good luck and try not to stress too much.

[battymeep]

as soon as they talk about needles at my antenatal appointments i get annoyed and freaked up and upset (maybe cause they wont drop it) i know i'll need some but still i dont want to be full of holes.

i dont have an OB i keep getting different ones everytime i go in. most of the time they dont read my file and only glance over it and nag me about needles :/

yea i know but id still like to have a general idea of what i want just incase because i have no idea whats happening as it is.

[heatherbell89]

I can only speak from my experience, and what I plan for my twin birth.

I have two children, both have been vaginal deliveries, bth were induced due to me having PreE, both were very quick.

First labour, was just under three hours, I had gel, waters were broken and drip started, but turned off after 20 min as I went straight into active labour after breaking waters. I used gas and air, and presumed it was turned right up, never felt a need for anything else. Was only a few months later I was retelling my labour story when DH corrected me and said G+A was at level 1 - so 90% air.

Second labour I had gel, was examined and not quite 2cm, 45 min i delivered him.Again I used G+A on level 1.

I am scared of epidurals, I will have one if medically necessary but otherwise no way! Same goes for c-sect. For me G+A worked perfectly, it takes the focus off the pain but doesnt remove the pain, but for me it was enough to cope with the contractions. With my son, I actually stopped using it through one contraction because I thought the pain of the contractions had stopped, but nope it was just that I go into la la land and am able to cope with it when using hte G+A.

Everyone has different experiences, my sister hated the g+a, said it made her feel sick, I have dfriends that started on it then went to an epi. Ive had friends that used nothing at all. Im not 100% if it does effect the babies, to be honest I dont remember being told that, but even if it does, it would be momentary as it is literally out of your system within about three breaths of fresh air. I do know that pethedine effects babies as its administered through blood stream, I believe that epis do not effect babies. However all of that is my laymans knowledge not medical professional (although it was passed on via midwives etc)

With the twins, I have put that I want vaginal births, without epidural unless medically neccessary, that I will not have a c-sect unless the babies or I am at risk, and that Dh will cut twin A's cord (preferably after it stops pulsating depending on length of cord) pass him / her to me for as long as I can hold them until Twin B is born where I will pass twin A to DH and I will cut the cord (again preferably after it stops pulsating), then have a cuddle. I have also put that I want skin to skin contact ASAP. Thats the extent of the plan

Maybe post this in the twin section to they will be able to give mor einsight into how their twin births went, good luck with the rest of your pregnancy, we don't have long to go - Im two weeks in front of you

[battymeep]

yea i agree with u. the epi sounds scary and so does c-sec... i dont wanna be awake :,<
XD

i dont even wanna think about if they have to induce me :<
i think gas would be best for me. i remember when i was young i needed to have the gas to calm me so they could put a needle in my arm to knock me out XD

good luck with urs. hopefully its all good and we both get what we want

[busymumof1&1/2]

hi battymeep, I suggest you look up all different sorts of pain relief and put them in order of preference. We learnt all about different reliefs in our pre natal classes. For DD my DH was adamant that we would not be having an epidural, he was really against it, so I was open to the gas and pethadine, which I used with success, this was my only pain relief for DD. For this labour I am hoping to hire a tens machine. I am willing to try it at home before I go to the hospital, and for as long as it is working, before asking for the gas, then the pethadine, if needed, and in worst case scenario, I am willing to entertain an epidural (I am still hoping this will not be neccessary.)
My DH was fully aware of my pain relief wishes, and this helped to facilitate with the MW's and doctors on the day.
Go in with an open mind but be prepared.
BTW my sister had twins naturally and was in active labour for 1 hour Total. 30 minutes for my nephew and 25 minutes for my niece, and she only had time for the gas, nothing else.
Good Luck

[battymeep]

idk about pethidine.

i never got signed in for pre-natal classes and ive looked up some reliefs but i cant seem to find much on them. i even looked in the book they gave me at the antenatal clinic and it doesnt mention much.

im trying to but its kinda stressing me out. but my partner is trying to calm me but it doesnt work when i ask his opinion and he just shrugs

[PurpleNess]

Perhaps look at having a doula present to be your advocate or even look into hypno or calm birthing.
Explore massage, heat packs, tens machine, active birthing ( changing positions) using showers & baths as pain relief.

You can also request that the hopital staff do not offer you an Epi. It's NOT an option for me under any circumstances, I'd rather give birth than have someone stick a needle in my spine!

Look into possible side affects of things like pethadine etc & get informed, so many choices out there & you need to decide what your comfortable with . You DH should also understand your decisisons & support you, that'll be his job on the day.

Good Luck