If the woman has an injection of pethidine for pain relief, there are some support strategies that her partner or support people can use to contribute to making it a positive experience. These can include:
Helping the woman if she needs to move
Timing her contractions
Communication
Connecting with the baby
Helping the woman if she needs to move. If the woman needs to change position or pass urine, she will need physical assistance to move around or get to the toilet and back. Pethidine can make the woman quite dizzy and disorientated, so holding and guiding her as she walks, staying with her while she uses the toilet and helping her back into bed is essential, even if she says she feels OK. It may be preferable that she uses a bedpan if she is quite affected.
Timing her contractions. Some women find that they are woken suddenly with contractions after drifting off to sleep in between. This can make them feel tense or 'out of control' and viewing the pethidine as a hindrance, rather than help. The partner or support person can help, by feeling when the contraction is starting and gently nudging the woman awake, to let her know to prepare herself. This can be done by placing your hand or fingertips on the woman's belly. It is possible to feel the uterus tense about 5 to 10 seconds before the woman feels any pain. If you are having difficulty doing this, ask your caregiver to show you.
Communication. A few women will feel very isolated and unable to communicate after having pethidine. They can hear you and are aware of what is happening, but have difficulty speaking and responding to those around them. On rare occasions the woman will express this feeling as a type of 'outer body' experience, 'looking down at themselves' during the labour.
The partner or support person should not presume that the woman is unaware of what is happening around her. This is especially the case if you are discussing issues about her care with your caregiver.