Anyone been induced and not used any pain relief?

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

I'm being induced with DS on Friday because he's overdue. I really didn't want to be as I was induced with DD and was hoping to go naturally this time but doesn't look like it's going to happen.

With DD, I ended up having the drip but didn't have an epidural, just gas and air and one dose of pethidine.

This time there's no option for G&A or pethidine, it's going to be epidural or nothing. I've got a tens machine (loved it in early labour last time) and I can go in the water for pain relief but can't give birth in the pool.

So just wondering if anybody else has done it without pain relief? Particularly any second inductions?

[SirNiallDementia]

Yes, I was induced with DS2 and just had gas and air. Not by choice, I planned to ask for an epidural but the birth was so quick I didn't have time.

I had a sweep then the pessary to soften the cervix then labour started a few hours later. I didn't need to have the second pessary or the drip. DS was born an hour after my first twinge of a contraction.

It was really fast and really really painful but manageable! I loved being able to get up and feel so well after the birth. With DS1 I had a 12 hour labour and an epidural and I was completely done in afterwards plus unable to walk for hours after.

[HerculesMulligan]

I had a failed epidural on a syntocinon drip. It was extremely painful, but not agonising, and not so bad that it made me panic. The only pain relief I had was an opioid immediately before crowning, so I dodged that particular hurdle, but I'd laboured for about 9 hours with no effective pain relief by that stage.

[GoodStuffAnnie]

I havnt had an induction but I have had a quick birth. About an hour. The first contraction came from nowhere and whoosh we were go. I didn't use anything. I just chewed the gas and air mouth thingie. You can do it! Think positively. Envisage your baby coming to meet you. Imagine your cervix and birth canal opening perfectly. Lucky you newborn cuddles by the weekend x

[thisismee]

I was induced with DS. First baby . 40+13 had pessary first, mild contractions at home nothing major.

They then broke my waters the next day and had the drip started straight after due to meconium in waters. He was born 3 hours 50 mins later. Had G&A for last hour mainly to bite on mouth piece.

[FrankAndBeans]

Two induced labours but only by pessary. 4 hours each, just G&A for both.

[happyfrown]

ds2 and dd both induced. ds was pessary and dd drip to start contraction 2wks before due date.
no contractions with ds just lower back ache, told midwives i felt urge to push. was checked at 6pm - fully dilated ds born at 6:35 no time for pain relief.
with dd they kept upping the drip to bring contractions, I felt twinges but nothing too painful, again told them I need to push.... dd born. no pain relief, haemorraghe though so not as pleasant.

ds1 whole other story, 27.5 hrs of contractions from hell, pethadine, gas and air.

why no option of gas and air? good luck to you x

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

We've had to move abroad for DH's job so no G&A over here. Wouldn't feel so worried if I knew I had that again!

Thanks for all the reassurances. It was quick once I was on the drip with DD so hoping it'll be quick this time, especially if it's going to be painful. Or I'll have to go for the epidural. Just not the natural birth I was hoping for.

[LizzieMacQueen]

Epidural doesn't need to be all bad, If managed well it can be easing off so you can control when to push.

Are you in the Netherlands by any chance?

[SpiderAndMouse]

Yes, and without G&A too (it was available, I just didn't like it).

Took seven hours from start to finish on syntocin. It was alright. Did a LOT of deep yoga-y breathing. Had an episiotomy though (injected anaesthetic) and after that it was lovely!

[FreshHorizons]

I was induced and then it was so quick that when they asked about pain relief it was actually too late for anything except gas and air.

[Dunebuggy]

Yes, well with a bit of G&A! Induced with pessary for DC3 after two previous natural labours/ births. I got to 6cm using only the TENS, then used G&A from 6-9cm (took about an hour) then just the TENS again after that as the G&A was starting to make me feel sick. Not too bad at all, the TENS was brilliant.

[Floggingmolly]

Why are people so against pain relief? . You'd take an aspirin for a headache, wouldn't you?

[FrankAndBeans]

An epidural is hardly a paracetamol. Everyone I know who had one has some kind of back pain later on in life.
Why are people so judgemental of other people's choices?

[SpiderAndMouse]

Not against pain relief, but the only thing offered was G&A. It made me feel horrendous.

[DaisyQueen]

I've had 2 inductions with pessary then drip they lasted 12 and 13 hours. I could not imagine getting through it without the g&a and pessary. I was begging for an epidural which never arrived

[DaisyQueen]

Pethidine not pessary (my brain isn't working today)

[jinglestheelf]

My second birth I had no pain relief for. She was induced using pessaries only. It was really bad pain wise but also relatively quick. They had no beds in the delivery ward until right near the end of the labour, hence the no pain relief!

[SerialReJoiner]

There a side effects to any drug. Nothing wrong with taking a measured approach, especially when these powerful drugs used in labour are proven to cross the placenta.

[ispymincepie]

Gas and air IS medical pain relief, I'm not sure why so many people are saying they didn't have any just gas and air

[FrankAndBeans]

Gas and air is considered differently I think as it doesn't remove the pain, just gets you a bit high to deal with it.
Why are people being so bitter? No one's been judgemental or horrible about people's choices, they've just stated their experiences.

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

Flogging I'm not against pain relief at all but it's a personal choice. My choice in this situation would be to try to labour with G&A because having done it with DD, I'd hope I could manage again. I'd rather not have an epidural because it can slow labour down and therefore there is an increased risk of needing an instrument delivery or c section. I also want to be as mobile as possible and be able to get up as soon as I can once DS is born. Personal choices.

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

Thank you to all of you sharing your experiences. I loved G&A last time, especially combined with breathing techniques, just wish it was an option this time. I think I'll just have to see how it goes and take the epidural if it's too much!

[ispymincepie]

OP, I used gas and air in my first three labours. When pregnant with my fourth I did Daisy birthing classes where we learnt some breathing techniques. When it came to it, I found that the distraction of the breathing and being well oxygenated was as effective if not more so than the entinox.

[sj257]

No, I had an epidural both times. I haven't had any problems from having epidurals and they were years ago. I spoke to the anaesthetist as I said I'd like to have a more active labour this time, he advised that that is fine but should I need the drip he'd recommend an epidural! We shall see how it goes, I'm hoping I don't need to be induced this time but think that might be wishful thinking!