Hormone drip...

[alicelake]

So this afternoon my waters went. Had mild contractions that seem to be slowing down, so they said in a few hours if nothing happens they'll put me on a hormone drip, and being a previous section they won't give me a pessary. What is people's experience with this? I was induced with my DD and ended up being emergency section, wanted a vbac this time but haven't heard good things about the hormone drip...

If you do - ask about getting an epidural at the same time as the drip - the contractions can be full on!

But in any case you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. Are they monitoring the baby? Are they showing any signs of distress?

The baby I mean, not the HCP!

Baby is fine, contractions are near enough gone. But had such horrible contractions being induced last time I don't know if I want the hormone drip. Would rather go straight for CS. Also heard such horror stories about hormone drip!

I had this. Exact same reasons.

However, in my case the baby got stuck and ended up with a forceps delivery (nothing to do with drip). It was painful and I eventually got an epidural after being convinced by the midwife it would only get worse. I didn't want the needle in my back. Trust me, you want the epidural.

The hormone drip just speeds things up, it is much more painful because it's not a reliable build up like regular contraction, iyswim. Also, they start the drip low and if you're not having regular contractions they increase it a little every half an hour. So its not 0-100.

Also, recover is better than with a c section. Especially if you have another running around. The next 12 hours may be shockingly awful, but the subsequent 6 weeks will be much easier than a csection (and i say that having had a forceps delivery and they cut me!)

This may not be helpful but I thought the drip was a no-no if you've had a previous CS?

every day is a school day

Also, they start the drip low and if you're not having regular contractions they increase it a little every half an hour. So its not 0-100.

I would check this and only accept this if it is the case. My drip was turned up too high (nurse got a bollocking afterwards!) and it was very full on. No pain relief available and I felt out of control. The birth was super quick - 3 pushes but really crazy and broke my coccyx too. I'm not saying this to put you off but I would definitely check on how it is administered and whether you can have pain relief FIRST. I wish someone had told me the same! Good luck!

I also said that, I didn't think I could have anything being a previous section. She said I can have the drip, just not the pessary. Can I request a section? Think I'm traumatised from last failed induction

Honestly, if I had to do it again I'd skip the induction and go straight for CS. I laboured for about 12 hours on sintocin drip and although I coped with the pain ok, it didn't end well.

@alicelake just wanted to hop on and wish you the best!
I can't offer any advice on the hormone drip (although my friend had the same situation as you and she found the drip made contractions come very fast and they were very painful) but I wanted to say I just (4 months ago) had DD2 by c section following a emergency c section for DD1. The recovery was great (apart from the first 7 days but that was just as much about the pain of milk coming in/ravaged nipples than the c section!) and - as long as you have support to avoid overdoing it the first few weeks post birth - it was easy enough juggling two kiddies.

Thinking of you! Good luck!

I would definitely ask whether there will be an anaesthetist available to have an epidural.

I had the drip with my second child and the pain was unreal. My contractions went from 0-100 with no break between contractions!

I know everyone's pain threshold is different but if i were to have the drip again i would have an epidural set up at the same time. No need for anyone to put themselves through that pain

Syntocinon, shudder

Have an epidural xxx

Thanks for the responses! Am really sceptical about going on the drip. I would much rather have a section. Would they try push me for the drip if I requested a section?

I had the drip. They strongly recommended I had an epidural too (which I accepted). However, I ended up having an EMCS after I was completely exhausted. In your situation I would go straight for a c section.

They may push you, I don't know, but remember you don't have to agree to it.

Get the epidural! The contractions with that evil drip are really intense (to the point I really wish I hadn't told the obstetrician to stop suggesting a c section!)

You have the right to ask "if I don't go for the drip then what would you suggest"

And ask a DOCTOR if you can and not a midwife. The latter may try and fob you off.

The response will basically be "CS".

At which point you can say "that's great, let's go with that then".

Here's another dumb biology question: can your waters break and your cervix be completely undilated?

Because if it is trust me when I tell you to
just proceed to a CS.

Well my waters went and 3, and are still leaking. Had a bit of plug come away, but she didn't say I am pretty much not dilated at all. So think I want a section rather than hormone drip after hearing about it!

I am not a medical expert

But I'm researching my socks off at the moment re cervical favorability and CS's as I'm considering a VBAC but am considering going for ELCS as basically I don't want to fuck around with a 100 hour failed process lot of jiggery pokery when it's as near as dammit guaranteed that if you're cervix is unfavourable you're going to end up with a CS anyway.

Again, I'm not a medical expert but for me the certainty of "choosing" a CS vs the risk of experiencing shitness in labour (outrageous pain, risks re availability of epidural, basically risks around aggressive contractions and previous CS scar) wins outright.

Ps: you are so clear headed for someone actually in labour! I was a jelly brained mess.

Pps: don't dictate to the professionals what you "want". Always get them to list the "alternatives" x

I haven't experienced a section so can't compare, but needed the hormone drip with both of my children.

With my first, I was 5cm dilated when it was started, I lasted an hour before I asked for an epidural, mainly because I realised it was still going to take a long time and I couldn't cope with the pain anymore.

With my second, I was 7cm dilated when they advised I had it as it was looking likely forceps would be needed. (Both of my children were forceps deliveries.) I already had an epidural by that point because there were concerns about DS's size etc. It only took an hour or so after that, and was absolutely fine.

After that, personally if my waters had gone but I wasn't particularly dilated, I would be asking for a CS. If I was fairly dilated, and just needed it for some help, I would ask for an epidural with it.

Good luck, I hope things move along for you soon.

I was in your situation almost exactly when I had DD. I declined the drip and we went straight to CS. I'm very glad I refused to consent to the drip, and I hope that whatever you choose to do results in you feeling good about you choice.

You've had brilliant advice here. I'd like to add, I was so hell-bent on 'doing this naturally' that I lost sight of what the goal was. In the end, my 'natural' labour (being induced is the most unnatural thing ever!) resulted in distressed baby delivered by EMCS. He spent 3 days in neonatal and a further week on IV antibiotics. The goal is to have a baby and natural is not always safest.

If the going to be a lot of faffing about, I'd just go for a section, I had a truly hideous Labour involving 'the drip' which ended up with foreceps, I had such a lovely elcs that I wouldn't think twice about having another!

I had a positive experience of the hormone drip: began at 4pm, baby born just after midnight. I spent the whole labour on a birthing ball. Wishing you a calm, quick labour

I had the drip 4 weeks ago. I had been very anxious about it having had a previous induction by gel and having found that tough. Basically nothing much happened as they started the drip very low then hey turned it up gradually. Eventually my contractions started and when they did it was 2cm to baby born in less than 50 minutes. There was no time for pain relief and I had a 3rd degree tear. HOWEVER, while it was extremely fast in the end I felt it was better than my previous labour. I felt oddly present and aware of what I had to do. The tear was ok and has heeled absolutely fine. It isn't felt that this was caused by the speed but rather baby having her hands bunched in front of her face.

Best of luck whatever happens.

You can have the drip with a previous section but the risks are higher.
Higher risk of instrumental as they won't use as much with the scar.
Risk of scar rupture.
Some units use it some won't.
They can use mechanical options to open the cervix - namely a balloon catheter.

What as your previous section for - if failure to progress you have a smaller chance of achieving vbac anyway so I'd be having a section.

If you don't want the drip then ask for a section. They cannot force you to labour. Say you want it pronto as the infection risk increases once your waters break.

(I used to be an obstetric doctor)