https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 22 May 2026 10:34:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1106747 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 02:58:37 +0000 Grace 1106747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with Loveisstrange. I had it because the anesthesiologist wasn't available to do the epidural. It worked, but I still cried with happiness when I got the spinal for the c-section and didn't feel pain anymore. If it's important for you to have the pain taken away completely so you can sleep etc, I'd go with the hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1106742 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 02:10:38 +0000 SweetMamaM 1106742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had it when in a car accident and it really worked for me. I'm with @loveisstrange: - it's more of a pain/brain disconnect. It will be my pain relief method of choice during my delivery. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1106268 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 17:20:35 +0000 autumnlove 1106268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had laughing gas when my spinal failed during my C-section. It calmed me down a little. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1106266 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 17:19:19 +0000 loveisstrange 1106266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I managed pit labor with just gas and air also. </p> <p>It feels exactly like being high (pot, not like... Hallucinogens or something). You still feel pain, you just don't care anymore. I agree that's it's more of a coping mechanism than pain relief. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1106193 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 16:29:12 +0000 HabesBabe 1106193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wonder if my hospital offers it... it makes me think of "Call the Midwife!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1106025 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 15:09:52 +0000 MrsStar 1106025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took one breath of it and immediately threw up so it didn't work for me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1106004 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 15:03:54 +0000 Charm54 1106004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It worked in the early stages (3cm) to take the edge off...made me feel a bit woozy but the deep breathing gave me something to focus on during contractions. As labor progressed it stopped being effective (or I got fed up with it, one or the other) and the epidural was sweet, sweet relief </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1105973 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 14:53:46 +0000 Cherrybee 1105973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I managed pitocin induced labour with just laughing gas! It doesn't stop the pain but it allows you to relax - I was able to retreat into myself and ride each contraction out. I would highly recommend it - certainly not as pain relief but as a means of coping without if that's what you're into! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1105870 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 14:26:49 +0000 SugarplumsMom 1105870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Laughing gas was my only means of pain management if you don't count the stick-on heat pack on my lower back. I felt everything. If anything, it was a slight distraction, it didn't take the "edge off", at least not for me. </p> <p>It wasn't by choice. I wanted an epi and when the doctor finally arrived for it, I was already 8 cm dilated and it failed. I don't think it worked well for pain, but if that's all you have, then any tiny bit of relief (even if it's just a distraction) is a help. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1105815 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 14:05:35 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 1105815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used it for about 45 minutes, but after 20 it stopped being super effective. It was enough to relax me for a bit and let me catch my breath. Stopped being effective after awhile though.</p> <p>What I did love it for was my stitches afterward. Even with an epidural and four lidocaine shots, I could still feel the stitching, so they gave me the gas back and I was in heaven.</p> <p>I think if my labour hadn't been so long, and I hadn't had so much back labour, it may have been helpful for longer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1105755 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 13:47:48 +0000 Ree723 1105755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's the norm here in Australia too. They don't necessarily discourage you from getting an epi, but they really encourage other methods first, with gas and air (laughing gas) being the first pain relief option offered. If you're in a birth centre here, there is definitely no epi - you can ask for one and they will transfer you to the connected hospital to get it,but then you lose your birth centre experience.</p> <p>I tried gas and air whilst waiting for a room when having LO. It was ridiculous - the only time throughout my entire pregnancy, labour and delivery, and postpartum experience I ever felt nauseous and vomited, was when I took the gas. Aside from the fact that it did absolutely nothing for the pain.... I got the epi as soon as I was in my room and life was good again. </p> <p>Most of my mummy friends here in Australia have tried gas and air and to be honest, not one of them has had a good thing to say about it. But hey, it's worth a shot - worst thing that can happen is it makes you vomit but it's out of your system so quickly, even that doesn't last long! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1105567 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 12:41:50 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 1105567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wonderstruck: I have 4 midwives on my "team". Today I met with a student midwife for the first time.</p> <p>2 places that are options for delivery don't guarantee someone will be there to do the epi. The other place is a hospital that I really don't like, but they almost always can do an epi.</p> <p>I'm not too afraid of anyone telling me what to do, if I want one and the person is there, I"M GETTING IT! haha. I'm sure unsure about choosing a birth location that there is a chance that if I want it, I can't get it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1105539 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 12:35:37 +0000 tysonja 1105539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>for LO#1 i tried laughing gas first and threw up IMMEDIATELY after my first breath of it... the sweet nurse said that it works for some, and for others they throw up right away. so i guess for me it didn't work!</p> <p>i had an epi later on and it was glorious and wonderful and i don't regret it for a minute :D</p> <p>for LO#2's pregnancy i'm with midwives this time and they keep making side-references to how i probably won't need an epi and that i can do it without, etc... haha..... i just agree with them (maybe that will be true!), but i know i won't hesitate to get one if i want one in the moment! :D </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1105512 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 12:29:14 +0000 wonderstruck 1105512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know that everyone's labor is different (which is why it's always good to have options), but the idea of laughing gas making even a tiny difference in my pain difference...well, it makes me laugh! Honestly, I'd be pretty put off by the fact that she favors a plan that could involve you not having the pain medicine you want. Is she currently your midwife, or are you still in the process of choosing one? If you're still choosing, I would keep searching for someone who will do everything in their power to give you the kind of birth you want - and it doesn't sound like she's it.</p> <p>It would make me really nervous to have a midwife who was either for or against epidurals rather than just rolling with the patient's needs. My midwife did everything she could to help me through the pain (massages, exercise ball, birthing tub, breathing, etc.), but when I asked for pain medicine, she told me that based on the level of pain I was in she really didn't think anything less than an epidural would give me the relief I was looking for. I was able to trust her recommendation and agreed - if she was anti-epidural and put me through a bunch of other things first that didn't help, my experience would have been much worse. And you WANT an epidural! So I can't imagine how much it would suck to be delivering in a place that won't give you one if you do decide that's what you need/want once labor begins. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1105504 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 12:27:06 +0000 sslm 1105504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried it. It kind of helped. Mostly it was the noise of the machine I felt like that calmed me down, and it helped regulate my breathing. I didn't feel any different mentally though. It's worth a shot in my opinion! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1105475 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 12:22:30 +0000 Lindsay05 1105475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried and got nothing from it. Although I have heard other people use it and it worked wonders. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1105465 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 12:20:24 +0000 Sapphiresun 1105465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used it. It was fabulous for about 20 minutes. After that, maybe it was still taking the edge off, but I didn't feel as happy as when I first got it. Granted, I was also in the tub for that first 20, so maybe the warm water was doing more than the gas.</p> <p>I never intended to do a epi free birth, but my hospital's anesthesiologist ended up getting called away to an emergency c section that somehow got complicated, so he/she just wasn't available so I had to make do with gas and fentanyl IV. I think I liked the gas just because I could control it, since it's somewhat self administered. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1105453 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 12:18:34 +0000 illumina 1105453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like the gas &amp; air we have here. Can't remember the proper name for it, but it makes you feel quite drunk, apparently. I tried it for a bit but it didn't work for me at all in either feeling drunk or taking the edge off the pain. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1105439 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 12:16:29 +0000 Rubies 1105439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't for DD (even though DH wanted me to just to see what would happen) and for #2, I might consider it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/laughing-gas-while-in-labour#post-1105433 Mon, 23 Sep 2013 12:15:21 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 1105433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I met with a midwife today, and was the first time I expressed my choice of where I have the baby is partially based on where I can get an epidural. </p> <p>She seemed to be trying to push me away from that. She said there is other pain management options, including laughing gas that "takes the edge off". Has any one used this? Did it actually help? </p>