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Pregnancy

Induction tomorrow - epidural question

12 replies

1978andallthat · 30/12/2012 20:17

Induction tomorrow at 42 weeks. Midwife said chances are they'll break my waters as am already 3-4cm dilated, then use drip of necessary, so skip the gel phase. I'll ask for epidural at same time as drip (which is what I had last time when induced after waters broke but no contractions), but would it be reasonable/is it likely, to get one when they break waters?

OP posts:

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CareerGirl01 · 30/12/2012 20:22

I was induced with DD1 and they didn't give me any pain relief until I was 5cm.

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5madthings · 30/12/2012 20:24

I guess you could ask but if they break your waters they will ideally want you to get up and mobilise etc afterwards to encourage labour to start.

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bealos · 30/12/2012 20:28

Are you asking if you could get an epidural before they break your waters? In my non-medical experience, I thought you couldn't get an epidural til you are technically 'in labour'?

Why do you want to skip the gel and go straight to Syntocin? You might find, as you are 3-4cm dilated already that breaking your waters is enough.

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Eletheomel · 30/12/2012 20:31

When I was induced last time they gave me an hour after breaking my waters to see if labour would start naturally without syntocin.

After that hour they then put me on the drip and discussed putting in an epidural (i didnt want one so said no).

Why do you want an epidural when they break your waters? Is it just so you can get it out of the way earlier?

I'm not a health professional so don't know of any reason why they wouldn't give you an epidural then - no harm in asking anyway, eh?

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McPheastOfStephen · 30/12/2012 20:32

I wish I'd had had an epidural before my inductions. But then, I had it done 5 times and it hurt like fuck.

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1978andallthat · 30/12/2012 20:34

It's the midwife who said it would be drip not gel. But I am good with that.

Def want epidural because was v happy with it last time, when I had it at same time as given drip (24 hours after waters breaking when still no contractions).

So even if labour starts with waters being broken and no need for drip, would still like epidural. But good point re being active to start off labour.

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Eletheomel · 30/12/2012 20:40

You'll definitely be able to get an epidural when labour starts whether you end up needing the syntocin or not (e.g. whether labour starts naturally or needs the drip).

So, even if you don't get it when they break your waters you should still get it before any contractions start.

I didn't particularly enjoy having my waters broken but it was just a bit uncomfortable, not anything that you'd need pain relief for (unlike the contractions!)

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bealos · 30/12/2012 20:43

I asked (and got) gas and air for when they broke my waters. I also specifically asked for a consultant to break the waters, who had been the most gentle in the previous internal examinations. Made a big difference.

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5madthings · 30/12/2012 20:47

Yrs gas and air when they break your waters.

Fwiw i have been i duced this way with all my five ie 3-4cm and they broke my waters to start labour (i am allergic to the gel tho)

It worked for all but my dd, no 5 and i think that was because she was back to back. So had thw drip with her but managed with just gas and air.

If you do need the drip they do iften offer an epidural at the same time ir you can ask for one.

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DomesticCEO · 30/12/2012 20:48

I had an epidural when induced with DC2 before my waters were broken. It was wonderful - epidural, waters broke, gorgeous baby arrived four hours later!

My 1st induction was an unmitigated disaster and excruciatingly painful from 1st pelvic exam onwards, so it was a no brainer to have an epidural straight away!

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MaMaPo · 30/12/2012 21:10

I also skipped the gel, had waters broken pretty much painlessly then tried moving around lots to start contractions. After about 2 hours they started Syntocin and I had an epidural in about the same time- it was a great mobile one so I was still on my feet moving around with it.

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1978andallthat · 30/12/2012 21:21

Thanks all - feel better knowing all that.

Having waited an extra two weeks am now hoping it doesn't kick off tonight as it has been a pain being so overdue but the benefit at least is I get pain relief and get to make our way to hospital calmly and get dd to my parents first.