Hi..
I have 3 kids, the first one via epidural C-section, and the 2nd and 3rd via natural birth with no epidural, only used the laughing gas and Pethedine throughout.
Many pple said the laughing gas is of no use, but to me, it's a tremendous pain-relief! I guess the usual complain is that they dun know how to use it, ie, dun know when to breathe in and when to breathe out. For my #2, I did experience some kind of comfusion. When the pain comes, my breathing went haywire.
Luckily midwives at MtA are really wonderful, they guided me along. They turned the CTG machine towards me, asking me to start putting on the mask when the contraction starts to climb from 30 onwards. The max is 100 I think. So I followed their advice. True enuf, I had alot of relief, and was able to tahan that 4 hours.
For my #3 whom I just delivered 3 weeks ago, my labour was only 50 mins.. It was real painful!!! Guess I went to hosp abit too late. Also used the laughing gas and nothing else.
The oni thing about the gas is that it makes me super drowsy. When my gynae spoke to me, I was completely gone.. The midwife asked if I wanna breastfeed immediately, I shoo them away.
I think we all can do it, it's really mind of body. But then again, if ur labour is truly long, then maybe the epidural will be indeed useful.