Talk

Flip

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Childbirth

If you have an epidural do you have to have syntometrine?

8 replies

nappyaddict · 15/03/2009 13:07

My friend would like to deliver the placenta naturally without syntometrine. She would like to avoid an epidural but if she needs forceps or whatever then wouldn't rule it out.

OP posts:

Report

SlightlyMadScotland · 15/03/2009 13:09

Report

nappyaddict · 15/03/2009 13:11

She had her epidural topped up for forceps last time but didn't know about delivering the placenta naturally then so would have had syntometrine.

OP posts:

Report

SlightlyMadScotland · 15/03/2009 13:14

Topping up is different.

If she has not had an epidural prior to the deciding that forceps is necessary she will not get one. She should get a local anasthetic though.

Report

me23 · 15/03/2009 16:40

physiological 3rd stage is only recommended in natual labours. So if an epidural has been used then syntometrine will be advised as epidurals can affect the way the uterus contracts and therefore can increase the risk of bleeding.

Report

nappyaddict · 16/03/2009 00:45

What about pethidine or G&A?

OP posts:

Report

gigglewitch · 16/03/2009 00:50

I had a tiny amount of g&a for dd [dc3] and no syntometrine as I had pre-eclampsia and hideous BP, thus they wouldn't have given it to me anyway. It was horrendous. as was the bleeding afterwards - I looked like several internal organs had fallen out [sbock]

Report

childrenchildreneverywhere · 16/03/2009 10:24

Ditto Me23, anything that interrupts your release of oxytocin makes a physiological 3rd stage unwise, so epidural, episiotomy, forceps, ventouse, pethidine, induction and so on.