Please tell me about induction by drip without an epidural

[AntoinetteCosway]

When DD was born I was induced with syntocinon and had an epidural. For many reasons I absolutely do not want an epidural this time round but I am scared of ending up on the drip again (hopefully it won't happen but you never know).

Is the drip without an epidural at all doable?

Yes! I did it two weeks ago! I would not have been without that epidural with my previous birth but avoiding one this time meant I got to feel the incredible feeling of pushing out a baby, which I'll never forget. Yes, it hurts but an epidural is not inevitable. Keep an open mind is the best advice I can give.

I was induced twice. gas and air only. really no problem although I did have pessary first which I think helped get things gently underway. try not to focus on the negatives. I'm hoping to be induced again for DC3 although there are no specific reasons for doing so this time other than convenience.

My waters broke 40 hours before being augmented straight on the drip. I managed pretty well with TENS, then g&a, then I had some pethidine when (in hindsight) I was overcontracting at 4cm, and possibly entering transition (was fully dilated an hour later).

I would have made it all the way without anything further, but ended up with assistance in theatre with a spinal.

It hurt, but I found it ok. Would recommend TENS as a lighter touch option... certainly good to begin with.

I will be honest with you. I was put on the drip after I failed to dilate fully after labouring for 10 hours and they were concerned my uterus was getting tired.

I am not sure why I wasn't offered an epidural but I wasn't, and to add insult to injury they also took away my gas and air. So I ended up biting down on the air piece like a rabid dog and hated every fucking person in that room for the pain they let me endure. I did feel like I had post traumatic stress afterwards for quite a while but I would do it all again in a heart beat if I was lucky enough to get pregnant with a second.

I was put on the drip 24 hrs after my waters went as I'd felt no contractions but was 4cm.

Didn't get an epidural as I was freaked out about not being able to move. It was my first so I've nothing to compare it to but I only had gas and air (and a lot of screaming).

I had to then have a spinal to be repaired after nasty tearing and hated every minute of it!

I had a drip to speed up my contractions, and I didn't have any pain relief.

Tbh it was quite intense, but it wasn't really pain per se, more a feeling of things rushing forwards before I was ready for them (it was painful though, but less so than my first labour).

It all seemed to happen quite quickly, no idea if it was actually quick or just my impression though. I know I only needed 3 or 4 pushes once the time came.

Yes. I had dd1 on the drip and had an epidural. I had dd2 on the drip and no epidural (I had actually been told I couldn't have one anyway but never came even close to needing one).

The difference for me was partly physical (back to back vs right way round) but I think mainly mental. I felt more in control and aware.

I had a drip after 48h of labour when fully dilated with DS (didn't work, EMCS required but that's another story). I refused an epdiural (spinal needle fear following a lumbar punch years ago for MenC) and wanted as natural a birth as possible so I had no other pain relief other than a TENS machine. It wasn't unbearable, and not much worse than the contractions I was having anyway.
Good luck