Oxytocin Drip (Syntocinon)...Talk to me...

[bananarama05]

So my waters broke at 11am yesterday but so far I've had not so much as a twinge. Am currently 38+3 with my first baby.

My midwife has advised they like for delivery to have taken place within 72 hours to reduce the risk of infection. I saw her this morning and I have been booked in for augmentation tomorrow afternoon at 3pm.

She advised some consultants may let me try one round of Prostin but in all likelihood due to the timeframe I will be going straight onto an Oxytocin drip.

I'm really hoping I can get things going naturally tonight and have tried the standard, curry, long dog walk, have just spent an hour up at the allotment. In my head I know this baby isn't coming out until it's ready, I just need to feel like I'm doing something!

Please someone re-assure me that Oxytocin isn't as bad as I imagine it will be.

I have visions of going from absolutely nothing to full scale contractions and being VERY VERY painful. Due to the baby needing contant monitoring I'm going to have to give the birthing pool a miss which I was really keen to try and my movement is going to be somewhat restricted. I was hoping to be as active as possible, they do have telemetry (sp? sorry) units so mw was keen to reassure me it won't be a case of flat on my back on the bed but we shall see. I was also keen on the MLU attached to my local hospital but looks as if that's out of the picture now too. I'm not keen on an epidural but if needs must I've not made a firm decision on that one.

Anyone have any experience that can help with my wobble? Sorry for the long post, just having a bit of a panic. I can honestly say I've never hoped to wake up at 3am in pain quite so much!

There is a good chance you will labour before tomorrow afternoon. Over 50% of women will after waters break (was it definetely your waters? Sometimes you can have a himdwater leak that re[airs itself, are you still leaking?)
Some things you could try-
acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz/Acupressure/induce.aspx
spinningbabies.blogspot.com/2008/02/alternative-to-induction.html
Also massage with clary sage oil. Vigerous circles on the birth ball. Belldancing.
The drip is gradually increased (dose doubled) every couple of hours until you are having least 2 contractions in 10 mins.
I have seen people cope with gas and air and stay mobile, especially if you have mobile telemetry.
Good luck!

I agree - find out why exactly they want you to have a drip put in.

If it comes to it, ask them to start with a low dose and up it gradually rather than slap it up to max straight away. They were v lovely with me and it took several hours to get regular contractions established but it was in my time not their's. No pressure at all.

I did it with G&A. To be perfectly honest, I begged asked for an epidural but it never came but I know that was more to do with ds being O than being induced. I've had 2 before that and never wanted an epidural before.

If it was your waters then I'm sure it will happen naturally. Keep mobile - and keep those natural alternatives going!

O? I meant OP!

TheSecondComing Belldancing should read Belldancing lol
(camel walk, hip drops, figure of 8 etc) you can see the moves on youtube if you've never done any!

Bellydancing!!! I will get it right eventually (I am 31 weeks myself lol I must get more rest!)

OP, I had pre-labour ROM too and was augmented with syntocinon (although I don't think it was actually within guidelines ).

Most women do spontaneously go into labour after ROM and you have a very good chance of delivering normally, however, syntocinon does cause your contractions to be abnormally strong and very painful. Labour can progress quite quickly with a synto drip (I went from 3cm to fully dilated in 2 hours - but that is anecdotal). They should not be doing any internals (except speculum) as that increases the risk of infection to you and your baby.

Discuss an epidural with your HCP before they start the drip. The contractions are incredibly intense on the synto and if you are considering an epi it is worthwhile getting it in before they start the drip.

I had that with DC1 - waters broke, labour didn't start for a while, then when it started it was very slow and I wasn't dilating. So I had augmentation with syntocinon drip. But had epidural put in first, so didn't feel any pain and went from 3 to 10cm in about 2 hours. Baby then born very quickly after 3 pushes with no intervention. Had very small tear requiring one tiny stitch. So all was fine. Am told that without epidural can be very painful, so epidural often recommended. If they are giving you 72 hours though, it is highly likely that you go into labour naturally before then. My doctor only gave me 24 hours after waters breaking. Good luck!

Second Coming no internal yet, but I have had the belts on at my local DAU which show uterine contractions so I assume they'll check that before doing anything - I've only been seen at home and at my GP's surgery for a pre booked MW appointment since my waters broke. Am loving the image of big old me bobbing about with bells on I must say, not sure how beneficial it'll be in this instance other than for others entertainment though

Selina I'm 99% sure it was my waters, there was A LOT and yep it's still going, making for an interesting past 24 hours whenever I've wanted to leave the house! Am on my second pack of pads and the MW seemed convinced they'd fully gone.

Button thank you, sounds like it doesn't have to be a horrible experience then, I guess it's just a case of being vocal about taking things slowly if necessary. I've a lot of confidence in the team at my local hospital thank goodness and everyone I speak to seems to have nothing but good words to say about them.

Guess the best thing for it is to get back on that ball and get bouncing about! Thanks for the reassurance ladies and here's to hoping things start moving along at some point soon...

Hello,

Sounds just like what happened to me. I second what MummyBerryJuice says - keep open minded about an epidural (I was dead set against it but it was fine - actually amazing ) and discuss it with them before they put you on the drip (even if they don't actually put it in until you have experienced the contractions, you may feel you don't need it). I ended up with fetal distress and EMCS but it was still a good experience and clearly hasn't put me off as shortly expecting DC2.

I'm sure they have made you aware that you will need to stay in hospital for 24 hrs after birth to monitor baby for infections which are more common with PROM, so take a few extra bits.

You still have time though! Fingers crossed that things start to happen on their own accord.

Ooh runnyeggs no, no one had told me that, so good to know thank you! And also for reminding me just how much I'm going to enjoy a fried egg sandwich very soon :)

TheSecondComing we discussed counting and visualisation in my NCT class and I think they could be useful. Right now I'd just like to know what a blinking contraction feels like before tomorrow preferably, now there's something I didn't see myself saying 48 hours ago!

Guess the main thing to do is keep an open mind on the epidural front as much as they scare the crap out of me! 17 1/2 hours and counting.....

You can have the epi placed before they start the drip, then if you feel you're not coping it's far easier to start.

I've had 1 with the pessary, and 2 with syntocin and G&A. They were fab and i was mobile throughout. I wouldn't have coped nearly so well if i was tied to the bed! :o

You'll do fine, congrats in advance on the birth too!

Yy. I made them put one in before starting the synto. Best thing I ever did. Didn't take the pain away entirely but made it manageable.

Oh, I've finally name changed as I've been meaning to for ages. Was MBJ up thread.

Anything happening for you yet?
S x