Labor pain management

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
Hello,

I looked on the forum but couldn't find answer so let me ask you this;

I was at the hospital for a tour and when we were visiting labor room, I asked if they had gas for helping the mother to cope with the pain. Answer: Nope.

I didn't have this option either at the Universityspital with my first and this hospital doesn't offer it either.

Is it a Swiss thing? It is all over Switzerland? Any idea if and why so?

Gracias amigas!

Nil

2
No gas here. Epidural is the way it is commonly done. Some manage without, or if you've progressed to a certain stage, they will sometimes deny the epidural too.

3
no, never heard of gas....there are some suppositories that they use, if u dont want an epidural, also they can stop the epidural before you have to push, which makes it easier for you to react to the contraction and push at the right moment.

though the pain is survivable......come now, Nil, you can do it!! literally millions of women get through a natural birth.

sorry, i'm very pro - natural birth

4
Hi Nil,

No gas and air, it's true. Plus make sure if you are willing to have an epidural if it gets too bad, to make sure your husband insists on you having it if and when you decide to.

I had a horrible midwife who wouldn't listen to me and my ex was happily sleeping in the windowsil so was little use So I ended up the "all natural" route.

And before anyone says it was probably because "I was too far along", it wasn't the case. I was asking for it the minute I got there and was only 3cm I am a wuss I know....

5
I am not going to comment on your ex...

You also probably got the same midwife I had. And I know you had as shitty birth experience as I did. I got an epidural but after 15 hours of intense contractions (from induction ).

Epidural are the best invention in the world. I have a friend who is going to give birth at the same time then me, we might even share a room! We are looking at other options for pain killer beside those stupid useless homeopathic pills.

It is so weird the lack of pain relief. It is Homeopathie or Bang! Straight the epidural! Nothing in between!

6
When I gave birth to my son at the CHUV in Lausanne, they asked me if I wanted a shot to 'reduce' the pain before or instead the epdural. They said it was not magic, but made you 'relax' and feel the pain less.

At the CHUV they also have one birthroom with a little pool: you have to get out of it when it's time to push, but you can soak in warm water for all your labour if you think it helps. Some say it does, but as far as I was concerned I was in so much pain that the simple idea to get out of my bed was unbearable.

But I guess nothing beats an epidural! I gave birth on a Sunday when the only anesthesist on duty was busy elsewhere, so I got mine only when I was fully dilatated after a very painful induction... But still, when I finally got it it was pure bliss!

7
Hi Nil,

they do have gas & air in the Unispital in Zurich, but it's not installed in every birthing room, but they do also have a mobile unit. They didn't mention it on the antenatal course I did there, however. I had to ask about it to find out about it!

If you haven't already considered it, I would highly recommend a TENS machine (like can be used in physiotherapy, giving you gentle electric pulses) - it got me through my labour until almost full dilation until bub got stuck and they called for a c-section. So I can't vouch for the final stage, but know people who do. Again, it's not common in Switzerland, none of the midwives had seen it before, but there are places you can rent them from. Downsides: not compatible with water births! and it's not something you can just switch on for quick relief now and again - you need to use it and build up to get the benefit (releases endorphins apparently), though you do turn up the intensity during contractions.

(Word of warning if you use one and need to change the batteries - be careful to turn the dial back down before switching it back on again with fresh batteries - my sister-in-law didn't and literally got the shock of her life! )

8
As jot says they do have gas. It's slowly starting to be used again over here. My midwife said due to costs rocketing for health insurances etc they are trying cheaper options and some hospitals are introducing it again. I know someone who just gave birth in unispital Zurich and only had gas and air. I asked about it but the hirslanden don't offer it

9
I know of some one who was ridiculing the idea of gas and air after he and his wife had gone round the hospital I know it was in Zürich and I'm pretty sure it was Unispital. I explained that it was normal in the UK and he was a bit surprised.

I gave birth in the water, got in about 10 mins after arriving at the hospital and didn't get out til after he was born. I was adamant that I didn't want an epidural, but they did give me a shot of something at some point (v. helpful I know, but I've no idea what it was or when I got it) so there must be other pain relief available.

Mélusine - did they give a reason why you have to get out of the water to push?

I do know someone who's a great fan of hypnobirthing, but I'm not so convinced myself!

10
They didn't have gas and air on the two occasions that I gave birth there, some time ago now. I managed to have two natural births (although I would have had gas and air if it had been available). The midwife really helped me during my first birth by showing me how to breathe properly, I found it really helped with pain control and in keeping me relaxed.

11
We do our best.

[](https://www.englishforum.ch/attachments/family-matters-health/23156d1296825193-labor-pain-management-bgrn310l.jpg) [](https://www.englishforum.ch/attachments/family-matters-health/23157d1296825206-labor-pain-management-bgrn313l.jpg)

12
I guess, as Nicky suggests, it must be a recent addition then (along with the brand spanking new operating theatre - they were very proud of this and how much it had just cost them when we looked round there 2 years ago!)

13
Hypnobirthing was a life saver for my 38 hour labour.

Hypnobirthing had a brilliant technique for keeping me calm and helping me work through the hours of contractions and being induced twice.

But then he got stuck. Oh well! Good character building.

14
Crossing your fingers will be more use than Homeopathy

15
Both of my children were water births ... the first in a proper water birthing pool, the second in the bath here at home. (We have a big bath and I am quite small!) It was great and certainly helped me to deal with the pain. You are not supposed to get into the water until labour is well established so it was a real point to aim at during my first longish labour - once I got the ok to get into the pool, I knew things were well on the way.

16
I had gas with my first 2 (NZ & OZ) but I didn't like it. I felt foggy and out of touch with what was actually happening. I did find the bath is brilliant though and found it to be really comforting.

With my last child, who was born here in a birthing centre, they used a lot of homeopathic remedies which I didn't mind. The one thing they did which I remember so clearly, was wetting a clean sanitary pad with freshly brewed coffee. They placed it against my perneum to help it stretch. With each contraction all I could smell was this delicious aroma of fresh coffee and I think subconsciously it did help with my pain. Strange but true!

Every one of my four labours have been very different and the pain relief I used was differnet each time. I wish you the best of luck and many positive thoughts for the special time ahead.

17
If I'd have just kept my legs crossed*......

*But of course I wouldn't change anything now I have my Munchkin

18
I am due to give birth at Triemli hospital (Zurich) next week. I am presuming from this thread that Gas and Oxygen are not an option at this hospital either. Can anyone confirm for me please?

Thanks

19
I didn't want an Epidural (the thought of a needle in my spine seemed more painful than labor) but was offered a few drugs during an induction. I had one that reduced the nausea (pethidine), so they definitely have other stronger options. Read this about the effects though. I felt really out of it and my son needed help breathing but fed a lot quicker than my second baby.

With my second I took a Panadol

20
I had my little boy here 5 months ago in Mannedorf Hospital and they did have gas and air there, albeit they looked at me a little strangely when I asked for it!

They must have just decided I was some mad foreigner when I arrived with my tens machine, asking for gas and air and point blank refusing their offers of epidural. They just let me get on with it in the end, and afterwards were looking at the tens machine just a little more closely!!