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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Will I be ok getting an epidural?

132 replies

tellmyfriendsiminlove · 14/09/2017 09:30

Shamelessly posting for traffic.

I've been in hospital for around 9 days and I am exhausted. Been through the entire induction process and have been refused a c section.

Doctor said I can go down to have my waters broken and have an epidural beforehand so I don't feel any pain and can rest while the drip speeds up contractions.

Can anyone tell me if they've had the hormone drip and or epidural and if I'll be okay?

OP posts:
Ridingthegravytrain · 14/09/2017 09:32

I haven had both. You will be fine. The drip can make things a bit intense so the epidural will help

But am I reading incorrectly..have they been trying to induce you for 9 days??

Orangebird69 · 14/09/2017 09:33

9 days?? Are you full term?

Original poster
tellmyfriendsiminlove · 14/09/2017 09:35

Sorry, no I've been in hospital for 9 days with complications and I have been in the induction process for 3 days now.
I have had a 24 hour pessary, two x6 hour gels and an 'overnight rest'

I am feeling very weary. I haven't had a full 3 hours sleep or a meal since I've been here.

OP posts:
Original poster
tellmyfriendsiminlove · 14/09/2017 09:35

I'm 37+6 today.

OP posts:
MrSMokEyNuTsS · 14/09/2017 09:39

I had the drip and although it can get intense quick I was glad I had it. I did get tired and asked for an epidural in the end just so I could get some sleep, I was 4 cm dilated when they injected me and by time they finished 10mins later I was 10cm dilated and had to push and the epidural had no effect what so ever, even when stitching me up nearly an hour later after the epidural I could feel everything. I'd say go for the epidural if your tired but be prepared that it might not have an affect.good luck

ExPresidents · 14/09/2017 09:39

Have the epidural. I had the drip and held out for 12 hours before having the epidural, if I was to be induced again I'd go straight for it. You'll be comfortable and able to rest or even sleep, which you'll need before the baby arrives. There is no shame in accepting pain relief whatsoever.

Good luck, you'll be great and you'll get to meet your baby soon x

Writerwannabe83 · 14/09/2017 09:40

Whilst pregnant with DS1 I was given the option of either having a section or being induced under epidural. My Consultant said that most induced epidural labours end up with a c-section anyway so advised I just go straight for the section, which I did.

Why have you been refused a section?

CheeseAndBeans · 14/09/2017 09:42

You will be fine. I was induced with my second with the hormone drip, contractions got very intense very quickly. So I had an epidural. Was 4cm when it in, I fell asleep for 5 hours and then was woken up to be examined. I was 10cm and ready to push, 10 minutes later DD arrived! Compared to my first which was natural and long this was amazing!

Original poster
tellmyfriendsiminlove · 14/09/2017 09:43

Consultant is refusing to bring my planned csection forward from the 22nd of this month as baby won't be 39 weeks until then- as she said it adds a % of breathing difficulties.
She said my exhaustion and distress isn't affecting the baby so she can't justify the risk.
I have begged. They also won't let me go home until section date. So is either try to birth or stay here until 22nd for section.

OP posts:
sleepymama81 · 14/09/2017 09:44

I had both. My waters had broken 24 hours before but my labour didn't start, so they started it because of risk of infection. I was 39+5 so term. The gel was first, which did zero, then the drip then about six hours later an epidural when the induced contractions had been every 2-3 minutes for all that time (came on quickly and didn't stop) but I was only 3-4cm.

Anecdotally it appears that drip induced contractions can be much more intense and fast (and painful!) that natural ones, perhaps because you don't get the slow build up like you do in natural labour.

If I was to do it again (I won't, other complications mean I have to have an ELCS next time) I would want to epidural put in at the same time as the drip! I was quite sure I wanted to avoid one before, but it was such a relief to have. Didn't hurt at all having it put in, just a sharp scratch like any injection and within a minute or so I was pain free. Even managed to get a couple of hours sleep before waking up to push.

Disadvantages are that you won't be able to get up and move around and that it may slow things down (it took me 13 hours to dilate fully). You'll need a catheter, but again it's really no big deal. Chances of interventions are a bit higher too. But as you're pain free, you can use that time to rest if possible if things do go slowly - you'll need all your energy to push that baby out! You won't be able to feel when you need to push, but the machine and midwife will tell you.

Good luck. Don't worry, you'll be fine and soon you'll have your baby!

Steeley113 · 14/09/2017 09:46

I had the drip but no epidural. It was really painful but quick. I asked for an epidural but by the time they came to do it, I was pushing.

kaytee87 · 14/09/2017 09:47

They can't keep you in hospital against your will op.
To answer your question, I went into labour naturally at 40+7 (baby born 40+8), he was back to back and he head was also at an awkward angle, I had an epidural and the hormone drip after about 20 hours of labour, baby was born 4 hours later via rotational forceps.
The labour and birth wasn't nice but oh my the relief I felt when the epidural started working! A side affect of the drip can be that your womb doesn't contract as well afterwards and also the stronger contractions can upset the baby a bit but they will be monitoring you both closely.

LetsSplashMummy · 14/09/2017 09:48

I had a planned c-section earlier than that, as did a friend of mine, they reduced the risk of breathing difficulties by giving steroids in advance. What is the reason for the section on the 22nd? I'm just finding it hard to think of a reason for a section that wouldn't apply with added complications a week earlier.

kaytee87 · 14/09/2017 09:49

You might have a sore back from the epidural for a few days and will almost certainly have constipation, ask your dh to buy some lactulose to keep at home. You may also have bad swelling in your hands and feet, drinks loads of water and get dh to massage them once you're home.

Goldfishshoals · 14/09/2017 09:50

I'd say go for the epidural if your tired but be prepared that it might not have an affect.

I think this is the right attitude. I had been having contractions every 5 mins for 4 days (so no sleep) when they induced me. I got the epidural at the same time, it worked, I managed a few hours of happy dozing still able to feel contractions but no pain (wonderful!).

Then it wore off and they gave me a top up but it somehow didn't work (still don't really know why) and I had to do all the final pushing etc without.

It was worth it for the rest.

Writerwannabe83 · 14/09/2017 09:52

Why are they trying to induce labour but also saying they can't deliver the baby earlier than your section date because of the risks? It doesn't make sense.

And surely if you need a section they should be doing that and not inducing a natural labour. Or am I missing something?

I have just had a section and st my Trust the do it as close to 40 weeks as possible so my planned one was booked for 39+6. Not surprisingly I went into labour naturally two days earlier and so they just did my section that day instead.

moreismore · 14/09/2017 09:53

I'm also not clear why a section carries more risk of breathing difficulties than a vaginal birth if they are happening at the same gestation? I'm not a medic though, I'd be interested to know a reason...

Lunde · 14/09/2017 09:54

Many people have an epidural when the induction drip is used. The contractions can be much more intense. I asked for an epidural when the pain was unbearable but it was too late and dd was born a few minutes later.

One thing that I managed to negotiate was that I had a say in when/how much the drip was increased as long as there was no danger. I'm not sure that they would allow this in the UK as I was induced in Sweden (but in similar circumstances as you). Although they warned me that it might lengthen labour - in fact dd was born before I got to the standard dose.

crow2018 · 14/09/2017 09:55

I had the hormone drip as my contractions suddenly stopped as I was about to start pushing, I would recommend a epidural as the hormone drip does speed things up but it did also make it more intense and painful for me.

Original poster
tellmyfriendsiminlove · 14/09/2017 09:55

I totally agree that a csection doesn't carry any more risk or breathing difficulties than a natural birth.

The reason the consultant gave me is that 'vaginal delivery warms up the lungs.'
Excuse me but I think it's bullshit.

OP posts:
PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon · 14/09/2017 09:56

I had the drip and turned down the epidural for hours. When it came to it, the epidural failed (twice by 2 different drs) as my spine is weird (I don't think this is normal). I ended up with a c-section. It was horrible as I got to 10cm to then have the baby get stuck.

i don't have good memories of it (my back was bruised for weeks). I wish I had opted to get the epidural tried at the start though as recommended as I would have avoided the horridness of it all

Lunde · 14/09/2017 09:56

I'm also not clear why a section carries more risk of breathing difficulties than a vaginal birth if they are happening at the same gestation? I'm not a medic though, I'd be interested to know a reason...

I was told that it was due to the compression effects of vaginal labour clearing mucous and fluids effectively from the lungs

Writerwannabe83 · 14/09/2017 09:58

Admittedly vaginal births do help clear the lungs of mucous.

Why were you due to have a section in the first place? And why does that reason no longer stand? Surely if you need a section then you need a section??

Tiptoethr0ughthetulips · 14/09/2017 10:00

Are you having contractions? I might be inclined to wait it out if I were you. However I've had induction with epidural and it was much calmer and more comfortable than my unmediated spontaneous labour. I had no bad after effects from the epidural. Good luck xx

ItsALardBaby · 14/09/2017 10:06

Vaginal delivery literally squeezes fluid out of the lungs and prepares the baby to take it's first breath.
Its a PDF so struggling to link it, but Google OAA epidural information card (obstetric anaesthetic association)