Hellobee Boards

I didn't for DD (even though DH wanted me to just to see what would happen) and for #2, I might consider it.

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.

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.

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!

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!

i had an epi later on and it was glorious and wonderful and i don't regret it for a minute

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

I wonder if my hospital offers it... it makes me think of "Call the Midwife!"

I had laughing gas when my spinal failed during my C-section. It calmed me down a little.

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.