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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Anyone tried syntocin induced birth without epi? Is it worth a go or just go straight for pain relief?

59 replies

fanjobiscuits · 11/07/2013 17:09

Induction looming and thinking ahead to choices if I get to that stage. Any experiences very much appreciated!

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BeenieBaby · 11/07/2013 17:12

I did. Didn't get very far though. Only got up to 4cm but it was a obstructed labour with brow presentation tht needed a c/s eventually. I was having strong contractions every 2 minutes and felt like my bum was going to burst with each one!

MrsBungle · 11/07/2013 17:12

I did with my second birth. I had ds 1 hour 54 minutes after the drip went in! Very quick and easy. I used gas and air.

I had the drip to augment my first birth and that one was a lot more painful!

5madthings · 11/07/2013 17:16

My fifth was induced with drip, took three hours I stayed mobile, sat on birth ball, knelt up, moved around etc. Tricky with drip and minister but doable! Lots oif gas and air. It was OK, less intense than my fourth lab our which took under an hour.

My dd was back to back and midwife said it would have been shorter than three hours had she been the right way round. I needed the drip turned up quite high (they start on a low dose). It was OK, much better than ds1 where I had the drip and an epidural.

Original poster

fanjobiscuits · 11/07/2013 17:20

Thanks all! This is my first, so am wondering if that will make a difference as likely to be longer.

OP posts:

Hasitfallendownagain · 11/07/2013 17:22

I was put on a drip with my second after not progressing fast enough - I was at about 5cm when they put me on.

I didn't have any pain relief at all (wimpy about needles and they don't offer gas and air in the country I had her in).

It was very intense and I found it quite scary and felt out of control right at the end - fortunately she was out in 3 pushes. I wasn't really aware of the passage of time, but I think it was about 20 minutes from going on the drip to her being born.

I'm not sure pain relief would have helped much - it was the frightening feeling of things going so fast and outside my control that was more upsetting than the pain. It did hurt though!

wem · 11/07/2013 17:22

I was induced with DD2. I didn't have an epi, I didn't really think to ask, as once the drip was in things went pretty quickly - 3cm dilated to birth in 2 hours and 15 minutes. It hurt a lot more than dd1 (lovely chilled homebirth), but it was manageable (ish!).

Retrofairy · 11/07/2013 17:24

I had it for my first without an epi - but not through choice, there just wasn't one available!

In hindsight with a first baby and syntocin drip I would have absolutely insisted. I had it after I had been in labour for many hours and things weren't progressing to speed up the contractions - it was unpleasant

RNJ3007 · 11/07/2013 17:24

I had a synto induction. 3 hours, only gas and air until being prepped for EMCS that didn't happen as I delivered before making it into theatre!

TheTruffleHunter · 11/07/2013 17:26

I had 3 failed epidurals so not quite the same thing but it was pretty unpleasant. I would second the pp about feeling totally out of control and would refuse any form of induction for any future births.

ldt87 · 11/07/2013 17:31

I had the drip for my first with just gas and air. I didn't think it was too bad really, better than sitting with no progress for hours getting exhausted. I think it's fine and would still refuse an epi if I need a drip this time. My last was a home birth which was nice and chilled but the extra recovery for an epidural doesn't make it worth it in my opinion.

Original poster

fanjobiscuits · 11/07/2013 17:36

Thanks for all the shared experiences, really appreciate it and so sorry for those who had a tough time :0(

Waaah! Really don't want to go down this route if I can avoid it, but equally don't want to go over 42 weeks without inducing, due to possible risks to baby.

Would rather go straight to cs if pessary doesn't work, but am guessing this isn't an option the way things tend to work with the nhs.

Come on baby, time to come out!!!

OP posts:

hazelnutlatte · 11/07/2013 17:48

I also had the drip with my first, and no pain relief - it really is different for everyone, the drip did bugger all for me, I sat and watched dvd's in no pain at all, whilst a variety of confused midwives wandered in and out thinking I couldn't be the person on the maximum dose of syntocin!

3boys3dogshelp · 11/07/2013 18:05

I had syntocin drip for my first, I was all for pain relief but actually ended up having nothing ( just tens machine) as I didn't need it.
Ds2 I had pessary which seemed to do nothing then went into labour naturally the following morning. His birth was much more painful IMHO.

Umicar · 11/07/2013 18:10

I had the drip with my first to speed up my contractions. I had already been in painful labour for 3 days at this point!

I started on the drip at 4pm, managed with a Tens machine for 5 hours. At 9pm I was (finally) offered gas and air. At midnight I had an epidural. So if my labour had been less than 7 hours long after being on the drip, I would have coped without.

DS was finally born at 6am. The drip does not always speed up labour!!

Umicar · 11/07/2013 18:14

After I had DS, I did wish that they had moved on to a CS sooner fanjobiscuit. But when the time finally came to have my second child, I was glad I had had a vaginal birth as number 2 was so much easier. My body seemed to work much more efficiently.

ilovepowerhoop · 11/07/2013 18:22

I didnt want an epidural at all so didnt even consider it when i was induced with dd. Had the drip to speed up contractions (had to be turned down at one point as they were too fast!). Don't like the idea of needles being put into my back/spine so it would have been a last resort.

gintastic · 11/07/2013 18:23

I was induced with a drip. Labour was 45min from first contraction to delivery, I had more anaesthesia for the stitches than the delivery... I'm sure it will all be fine, good luck!

SignoraStronza · 11/07/2013 18:42

I was attached to a drop of that evil stuff for eight hours with zero pain relief, after 3 pessaries failed to do anything other than give me contractions. Syntocin just ramped them up so they came one after theother with no pause. Traumatic and utterly barbaric. I think I might have reached 4 cm before they finally relented and granted me section I was making so much noise.Thankfully, as dc1's cord was wrapped twice around her neck.

Don't even contemplate it without an epidural. Fortunately you'll be in the UK.

Choccyjules · 11/07/2013 18:48

I was on it for 24 hours, no pain relief til an hour or so before the forceps, when I had some gas and air. Afterwards I said 'just knock me out next time' and I bloody meant it. So I would say go with the pain relief. I was badly advised imho.

Breezy1985 · 11/07/2013 18:57

I had the drip both times, dreaded the thought of a epi so didn't have one just had gas and air both times. They both came within 3 hours.

rallytog1 · 11/07/2013 19:33

I was sure I wouldn't want or need an epidural. When it came to it, the drip started really intense and rapid contractions out of nowhere and I was literally screaming for the epi. I absolutely loved it - had a mobile one which meant I could still move around a bit and change position. I could also feel the contractions but they didn't hurt half as much, which was just as well seeing as I laboured for 24 hours. In the end I had an emcs but such is life.

I certainly wouldn't go on the drip again without an epi. I have much respect for anyone who can manage it!

Rowboat · 11/07/2013 19:55

I did. About 8 hours of just gas and air and a faulty tens machine! Other was intense and hard going but ok. i survived. I did scream for epi but that was transition and dh dis very well to keep me calm. He knew i really didn't want one and the idea of huge needle in spine was much more frightening for me. Its definitely doable. By the way O had to go on drip for failure to progress so the contractions ramped up very quickly.

ilovepowerhoop · 11/07/2013 20:19

I had diamorphine injections and gas and air rather than an epidural.

TarkaTheOtter · 11/07/2013 20:27

I was induced at 38 weeks with syntocin. Because I had several drips in and monitoring I wasn't really able to be in any other position than on my back. It started off ok but the pain did get very bad and I ended up requesting an epidural which they did very quickly. It was a "walking" epidural (although I wasn't able to anyway) which meant I could feel contractions and when to push. I could also top it up if necessary.
After the birth I was able to walk straight away. Overall I think of my birth as very positive and that is 100% due to how in control I felt once I'd had the epidural. I was calm and lucid at the moment of birth and it was lovely.

I would be interested to know how much of my pain was due to my position. Maybe if I hadn't been stuck on my back I would have been able to do without epi. Who knows?

redcaryellowcar · 11/07/2013 20:42

I was induced. tried to stay as mobile as possible, had gas and air from 11pm to 7.30am, then some diamorphine at 7.30, which made me very sleepy so I think progress slowed down. I delivered at 2.30pm. I was keen to avoid epidural but i appreciate some people would only do it with one! doctor who started my induction said being induced was not very comfortable and not to hold back on the pain relief!
best of luck. it will be fine.

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