induction, epidural, and pushing baby out

[Ericadm]

With my first baby I had to be induced with the drip. I found it untollerably painful so I had an epidural. When time came to push, I could feel the contractions but I had no urge to push. I pushed as hard as I could when I felt a contraction coming for about one hour and a quarter but nothing happened, baby did not move an inch!! Finally had to have foceps (and ended up with big tear). It looks like I may need induction with my second too, so I have two questions: 1. Has anyone had an induction without epidural? How did they cope with the pain (considering restricted movements and continuos fetal monitoring are required)? 2. Has anyone had an epidural and still managed to push baby out easily? If so, in what position (on back, lateral) and with what kind of help/support from midwife? Thanks a lot

I was exactly the same as you, except with ventouse not forceps. But I wouldn't have not had the epidural - the pain was horrendous. I'm just hoping I don't have to be induced next time!

I had an epidural both times but on a very low dose as I hated not being able to feel my legs, asked for it to be turned down to the point where they said it wasn't worth having but for me, it seemed to help take the edge off the pain whilst allowing me to feel exactly when I was ready to push and was able to push each time without tearing or intervention.

First time round I was induced, I was lying semi upright in the bed for each delivery. Nurses were trying to get me to hold off pushing as the urge was immense and they wanted me to wait for dr (I was overseas) but it was hard to hold back, I had to really slow the pushing down to avoid going too fast as that can cause tearing.

I also did perineal massage with almond oil before each delivery, fiddly to do but it might have helped, just be careful not to slip on a puddle of oil!

I had a similar experience - continuous monitoring, epidural, on back, in stirrups. I could feel pressure but also had no urge to push.

The midwife put her hand on my tummy and told me when to push, for how long and how hard. She told me which bit of my baby I was birthing and that helped me as well. She was a huge help - I just assumed it was standard, not that you'd be left guessing and pushing - poor you. Perhaps you can put something in your birth plan?

You might be surprised - I was induced with DC2 and just needed the pessary to kick things off. No drip needed, then labour so fast there was no time for epidural anyway. Induction this time may be a lot easier, shorter and less involved. I had epidural and forceps etc 1st time btw.

Second babies are a different kettle of fish. Induction, epidural, 15 mins 2nd stage, and 5 mins+ of that was waiting while they discovered the call button wasn't working and faffed about trying to get 2nd MW in. Just on my back with stirrups. MW asked me to do 3 pushes each contraction, and made a few encouraging noises that I was doing it right. I could tell when the ctx were fine.

induced all five times.

only needed drip.the first and fifth times. other thsn labour number one i didnt need an epidural, just lots of gas and air.if you dont need drip you wont need continuous monitering. i laboured in bath and had numbet four in birth pool.

with no 5 i did need the drip but even witj moniter on still stayed mobile, upright, knerling, on all fours, sat on birth ball etc and coped with gas and air.

pushing was much easier with no 2 :)

With a second baby you'll probably already be slightly dilated, so they may just be able to break your waters.

My first was almost exactly the same as yours.

My second was totally different. They induced me by breaking my waters at 3cm. DD was born less than 2 hours later, with no pain relief.

I was induced and had an epidural. I could feel everything by the pushing stage (they didn't believe me that it had worn off until they went to stitch me up and I almost kicked the doctor in the face!). Next time if I need to be induced I'm going to ask for a mobile epidural as I actually was really glad I could feel the urge to push.

yes like toby i was induced via arm.. artificial rupture of membranes for subsequent babies. it worked fine apart from no 5 and that was because she was back to back but even with drip it was fine.

I had a "light touch" epidural with my induction. Dd ended up being born about 30mins later in one contraction. I could feel that I needed to push (need a poo feeling) just no pain. I was flat on my back. The epidural also had a top up option which I controlled.

I had no urge to push for my first baby and I didn't have an epidural. I don't think it is always the epidural that causes this problem.

I was induced and had a mobile epidural which was allowed to wear off for pushing, that said it took over 2 hours pushing for me to get DD out. I could feel the contractions but after being in labour for 2 days was too exhausted to react properly I think. I was semi upright and at one stage managed to be on all fours half clinging to the back of the bed, not sure I found either position easier than the other. What really helped me was the intervention of yet another midwife just as the doctors were discussing ventouse/forceps who gave me a towel to hold the middle of and brace against while she and another MW held the other ends. Honestly don't think I'd have managed without! So that's my top tip - mobile epidural + towel!

I was induced both times.only gas and air as pain relief. my indiction with my first was really long, I was in labour for 3 days, literally.i was having contractions but stalled at being 3 cm dilated.then I suddenly went from being 3 cms to 10 cms and pushing and my mum (birthing partner) missed it as the hospital didn't ring her in time.
But, my second induction was so much easier.given a pessary at about 5pm, had mild contractions all night and then the next day my waters broke at about 4pm and I was taken to labour ward where they put m on the drip, it increased contractions to the point where I swore at the midwife to give me the **ing gas and air NOW and then 30 mins later baby was out.
second induction by far was the easiest out of the two.

I had an induction with epidural, which wore off when it to came to push. 45 mins if pushing, baby was out second degree tear. Don't think all inductions necessarily mean complications. God luck.

I was induced with ds and had diamorphine. I don't remember any real pain after the injection.

Although I didn't feel the need to push I did manage to do it.

Hopefully this time you won't need the drip

I wasn't induced but ended up on a drip and having sweeps because the labour wasn't progressing much naturally - it was 55 hours in total. I opted for an epidural on a very low dose so I could still feel my legs but was in no pain at all. I didn't get the urge to push and relied on the midwife telling me when a contraction was coming and when to start/stop pushing. I was laying on my back with my legs in stirrups. After three pushes and thirteen minutes DS was born. No tears either.

I was induced and had no epidural. I ended up on my back as it was too awkward with the monitors to be anywhere else! The gas and air really helped. I tried to go as long as possible without it as I had heard this can help with not needing any other pain relief.

Good luck OP

Watching this thread with great interest. Induction in 15 days. I've been told it will probably be long and result in epidural but I do NOT want a section. So can you push a baby out with an epidural?

I've had had three inductions with an epidural and an induction with gas and air only. All of them were with the drip as my waters went but no contractions. I've pushed all of them out in spite of having no real urge to push and the back to back one was the easiest. The first took about thirty minutes but subsequent ones were out in three pushes because I think your body learns what to do after the first. Hopefully second time will be easier for you too. Good luck.

i had an induction an epidural and could only feel the contractions at the top corner of my ribs...i pushed when they asked me to and the baby was out 28 hours of labour but 5 mins of pushing

Billy that's really comforting to know

ElBombero I had an epidural and could feel to push. I just had no pain. My epidural was quite "fresh" too as it had only been put in about 1hr earlier, so it wasn't because it had worn off. I was only pushing for 8mins.
The epidural obviously can make it harder to push efficiently, but there are lots of other factors - size of baby, positioning of baby, energy levels etc.

I had an induction and epidural with my first and third babies (nothing with my second and I know which method I prefer!). With the first, the midwife let the epidural wear off so I could feel to push. It was pretty hard going from no pain to the 'ring of fire' but I only had to push for 15 mins so perfectly doable. With the third, I insisted on keeping the epi topped up as I'd realised by this one that even though you don't feel the pain, you do feel the intense pressure that makes you want to push. I could feel baby crowning (had to tell the midwife, who thought it wouldn't be for hours yet), gave 2 wee pushes and she slid out. Literally 2 mins of pushing. Subsequent labours are usually a lot easier so hopefully you'll have a much better time with this one.

Thank you for all your reassuring comments. Hopefully second time will be easier. Elbombero, induction is not necessarily going to be long, mine was about 15 hours from pessary to baby out and I am told that's not too bad for a first baby.