Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

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

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Is an epidural always necessary when you’re induced?

65 replies

sonyaya · 02/04/2018 14:50

I’m keen to manage childbirth without an epidural if I can because I’m scared of forceps etc (but to be clear I’m not suggesting there is anything wrong with an epidural and am open minded about the fact I might feel I need one).

However it’s now looking likely I might have to be induced. I know that induced labours are more painful. Has anyone managed an induced labour without an epidural or shall I just cut my losses and ask for one at the earliest possible stage?

OP posts:

tortelliniforever · 02/04/2018 15:58

Would be very interesting to know whether those that avoided epidural had the drip or the pessary as the pessary was painless in comparison to the drip.
I had the pessary. I didn't actively avoid the epidural but I was induced on a Saturday and my hospital didnt give drugs at weekends!! (And I didn't find this out till after the drip was put in ).

tortelliniforever · 02/04/2018 15:59

I Meant to say I had the drip!!

ZibbidooZibbidooZibbidoo · 02/04/2018 16:00

Would be very interesting to know whether those that avoided epidural had the drip or the pessary as the pessary was painless in comparison to the drip.

I had the drip and G&A and pethidine. Very painful.

DollyLlama · 02/04/2018 16:02

2 inductions, no epidurals or forceps. It's totally possible but I would recommend seeing how you go and keeping it in mind!

rubyroot · 02/04/2018 16:34

Dunno how you lot did the drip without the epidural- I managed 4 hours (3cm dilated) and was so exhausted I realised I was going to be too tired to push and was begging for an epidural. Saying that the pain relief stopped working anyway, but for the two hours it did work I am glad I had some respite!

With regards to the original query I would say don't plan anything, don't rule anything out, you will know what the right choice is when it comes

WitchSharkadder · 02/04/2018 16:39

3 inductions, no epidurals here

Yes, if I’m honest, the contractions came thick and fast after ARM and there wasn’t the ‘build up’ like there was with my one labour which I managed to get into myself. But it was manageable to me with gas & air only.

Also, I have the fastest labours in history and I can’t say I’d have held out if they were hideous 24 hour things.

However, I think the best way to go into an induction is with an open mind and thinking positive. The end result is a beautiful, snuggly baby whichever way you do it. Good luck!

Original poster

sonyaya · 02/04/2018 16:50

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences, really interesting and useful for me to hear

OP posts:

elportodelgato · 02/04/2018 18:32

Good luck OP

coragreta · 02/04/2018 18:46

I really think it matters what type of induction. I think it's fine if just pessary, broken waters but once they start the drip it is excruciating. I had a spontaneous labour on just gas and air but was begging for an epidural when I was induced. The pain was 1000 times worse than with my first. Plus they turn the drip up every half hour. Epidural was amazing. And I was so calm and relaxed once I'd had it.

donajimena · 02/04/2018 18:50

I had the drip and begged for an epidural. However I didn't need any forceps or venthouse and had no injuries either so not a bad experience really.

Eolian · 02/04/2018 18:52

I had 2 induced labours neither with epidural, even though I bloody begged for one both times.

Same here. One slow (back to back) and one quick after a slow start. I was begging for an epidural.

pregle · 02/04/2018 18:52

I had pessary and gels, no pain until they broke my waters when it was very intense instantly until my baby was born. I was open minded about an epidural, wanted to see how it went until the pain started! Baby came too quick for an epidural unfortunately. Am pregnant again and induction or not I want one as early as possible! No forceps needed but did need an episiotomy, no bother during or after.

Lindtnotlint · 02/04/2018 18:53

Was induced once with just breaking of waters (no drip) and was completely fine without pain relief. Was induced another time with drip. Would have sold my soul for the epidural by the time I got it. Personally my advice: if they are putting in a drip, get the epidural.

DollyTots · 02/04/2018 18:55

I was induced on the drip. They did turn it up too high at one point (after about 14 hours), I ended up begging for an epidural, then refused & had pethidine which was heaven! I was in and out of sleep till I was told it was time to push. I managed fine on gas and air till that point though. I'd laboured naturally for 2 days before that (contractions kept getting a couple of mins apart then she was a no show twice!) it was far easier so I'd just go in with a game plan of pain relief, if for anything just to help you sleep.

TheShapeofYou · 02/04/2018 18:57

I've been induced and not had an epidural...

I was induced as dc1 was two weeks overdue. Had the pessary. Went from being offered paracetamol () once my waters broke and I was contracting to being whisked to theatre for an emergency c-section as he was breech!

dragonmummy17 · 02/04/2018 19:48

Good luck op. I was induced with pessary then the drip. I had gas and air and diamorphine. I asked for an epidural but it was too late by the time I asked. I think go in with an open mind and make your decisions as and when

Jestem · 02/04/2018 20:08

I've been induced via drip, and all I used was TENS machine. Childbirth wasn't as painful as I was expecting, especially as I was induced. I mean it was painful, but it was bearable!

neighbourhoodwitch · 02/04/2018 20:09

yes

sidesplittinglol · 02/04/2018 20:16

I was induced with DD1 and had pethadine (not for the pain relief but so that I could sleep), gas and air and tens machine. Breathing helped a lot too. Didn't feel I needed an epidural.

DS2 natural labour and used gas and air, and tens machine only.

I found natural labour worse than being induced.

Izzadoraduncancan · 02/04/2018 20:17

3 inductions here with syntocin. 3 epidurals and no forceps or ventouse.
I always asked for the epidural before they ramped up the drip.... no medals given out at our hospital for enduring the pain.

YassQueen · 02/04/2018 20:20

I had a full induction (2 x gel, then pessary, then ARM, then syntocin drip) and didn't need an epidural. It was fine. The contractions were very intense but gas and air was fine. A woman on the labour ward kept telling me I'd need an epidural as soon as they broke my waters, trying to scare me, but I really didn't want one (squeamish about catheters and needles in my back).

Ritualunion · 02/04/2018 20:23

Just gas and air for me. 10.5 hours in total. I was in the process of getting a canula in my arm for pain relief, when baby arrived! I was actually crowning before the midwife even realised.

Screaminginsideme · 02/04/2018 20:26

Both my labours were induced. One because the little minx didn’t want to come out and was overdue and the other was 6weeks early because of complications.
I didn’t have anything more than gas and air with number 1- midwives didn’t believe I was in real labour!
No 2 I think I had some pethadene? And gas and air

Perpetualstateofchaos · 02/04/2018 20:28

I was induced with ds2 no epidural but the me very kindly gave me 2 cocodamol told me I was nowhere near and shed check on me in an I'd had him 15 minutes later.

kiwielite · 02/04/2018 20:37

I had the IV drip and did it with just gas and air. It was fine, I’d do it again tomorrow. It was fast though, first contraction to birth was 6 hours. Had it gone on much longer I may have requested an epidural

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread