Induction but no epidural allowed.

[Twickerhun]

I was recently induced. I had my waters artificially broken and was on a drip for 4 hours. I asked the midwives at al the different stages what my pain relief options were and they all said gas and air or cocodamol. I said I’d heard that it was ‘normal’ to have an epidural when on the drip and I’d like one, and they all replied I wouldn’t need one, shouldn’t want one, would be fine without.
I delivered without an epidural in just over 6 hours after starting the drip and just with gas and air. but I’m confused about why I wasn’t offered an epidural having asked for one.
Any ideas?

Because they thought you were coping with the pain? Also if the anaesthetist isn't available you can't have one anyway...

You should have been asked if you wanted pain relief and given the option of an epidural (unless you requested they not offer and to wait until you asked).

Because they are sadists.

It doesn't matter if they thought you were coping with the pain, you requested an epidural and they should have tried to get you one. If the anaesthetist was unavailable they should have explained that to you.

This stuff really fucks me off. I cannot think of a single other scenario in which adults are denied pain relief. Books my piss. And is one reason I'm opting for section this time.

Because, outrageously, they thought it was more important that you didn't have one than it was to ensure you were fully informed. There are a number of potential reasons for this, both ideological and financial (I don't suggest either of these are right). It's not simply about availability of anaesthetists either, because if for example you knew at the start you wanted one and were told one wouldn't be forthcoming, you could have refused consent to the induction until one was available/at all.

Would you have liked an epidural?

They were cruel. When I had the induction drip the consultant came in to ask if the midwife had discussed pain relief. She said we’d talked about pethadine and gas and air. The consultant just gave her a look and said she wanted to make sure proper pain relief had been discussed as the drip can leave women in more pain. I had the epidural and it was the best thing. You sound like you were coping quite well though so maybe they were trying I encourage you.

Having an epidural can really slow down labour and make instrumental delivery or C section more likely - I suspect that was their reason for being reluctant to give you one.

This happened to me when I was induced - had epidural, labour slowed down, ended up with forceps and episiotomy.

However, all the pros and cons should have been discussed with you so that you could make an informed choice.

6 hours for an induction is quite quick. Did your labour progress quickly? You may have been too early for one when you first requested it and they didn't want to slow labour down.

Because in their minds once thy had given you an answer you were happy with it, you have to be really bloody pushy with some midwives and their 'we know best' attitude.

I'm still raging about the midwife with DS2 who refused to call the consultant and we almost lost DS2 as a result, only DH forcing the issue got the consultant to me in time. She didn't like consultant 'interference' in 'her' births. Fucking arrogant cow......

I just wished they had explained why. I’d have accepted most reasonable explanations but as it is I feel
Fobbed off. And I wish now that I had been clearer and more forceful.
My first child was born without needing to be induced and it was a lot less painful and more manageable. The induction contractions hurt so much more. I just wondered what was normal really.

I was induced with the drip for DS1, I had been very clear in my birth plan that I didn't want an epidural but the midwife insisted I reconsider - I'm so glad I did! I didn't cope well with the pain AT ALL.

It sounds like you were probably just really unlucky with the midwives you had. Some see you having an epidural as more work for them, and have a "can't be bothered" or "we know best" attitude.

I was induced, from start to finish 64 hours! And it was very painful because my baby was back to back with me.

I had totally loose the plot and scream at the mid-wives to even get gas and air. Finally when hand over came and the dr came round they realised something was wrong and I got an epidural.

I'm in two minds to complain, but I just want to forget the whole episode. It was horrific!

I was induced four years ago. My sister is a midwife and she told me to refuse the drip until an epidural is in place. She said they will try to get you to do it without, as sometimes the anaesthetist is not available. So I held out, they tried to persuade me until I said I wouldn’t allow the drip until I had an epidural and that I was being advised by my sister. Funnily enough once they knew she was a midwife they stopped trying* to force me. I was 3cm before the drip and the whole thing took 1 hour and 51 mins. Crazily fast

I think it’s time that’s the biggest issue, too few delivery suites and pressure to deliver as quickly as possible. Luckily my sister knew this thank god.

That's really good to know @Iwillorderthefood I'm worried about
needing an induction and how painful it could be, to the extent I've considered refusing one and asking for a c section instead. Knowing that you can insist on the pain relief being set up beforehand is quite a relief!

Did you have bloods taken? Maybe your infection markers were high? They still should have told you though

My first and only birth which pretty much exact same as yours ! The contractions were so bad I too asked for an epidural but was told no it will slow down labour too much and baby was in distress , she did say I could have diamorphine as I turned round for her to inject this into my bum I felt an urge to push I told her this and she looked I was fully dilated ! I still had the diamorphine really wish I would have had it earlier!

It’s interesting to hear that the drip makes it more painful when I discussed how painful labour was with my friends who weren’t induced I was made to feel like a drama queen my waters were broke at midnight on the drip by 1am and baby arrived at 8.30am

In my experience you do have to be quite firm about what you want, especially with an epidural.

Have been booked in for induction next week (if baby not out by then!)... Do you think (given the experiences on this thread) that I should insist on epidural before drip?

I would Aw. Get it locked in.

@Aw12345 I'd recommend it if possible. I was induced with a drip, epidural wasn't offered and I really didn't cope well with the pain. Screamed and for one but was told anaesthetist wasn't available. Whole thing took 5 hours from drip being put in to delivery - fast but so so painful. In my experience there were points where there didn't really seem to be a break between the contractions either, continuous monitoring and asked to stay in one position didn't help either!! I'm 31 weeks pregnant again and if I need the drip I'm going to demand that an epidural is in place first if at all possible!!

Aw. Where I work the anaesthetists won’t do an epidural before you’re actually contracting. This is because if you’re not having contractions they can’t tell if the epidural is working effectively. I do however see the argument that for 99% of people having a drip started they will soon be having contractions and will soon say if it’s not working and could be sorted then. There are a small number of people who don’t respond well to syntocinon and could be hours until you get any contractions.

I think usually induction with a second or subsequent baby is usually more manageable than a first.

As I understand it the problem with drip-induced contractions is that they can come on quickly and at high intensity, meaning that there's no build up to give you the chance to either acclimatise to the pain or realise that you're going to need more pain relief. I believe that what they did with me was ramp up the dose gradually to make it less precipitate. I didn't actually go in to labour in the end (so they might have underdone it!), but it might be worth exploring.

ok, thanks very much for the advice... epidural it is if they advise drip (though I'm naively hoping to respond to a ARM/pessary so no drip needed :-S)

I had an induction with a pessary and was sent home. Contractions started after 4 hours and waters broke after 6. All was fine with just tens as pain relief and using hypnobirthing and then at 6cm got in the pool as wanted a waterbirth.
However I failed to progress past 6cm so was advised to move onto the drip. The midwifes also advised me to have an epidural as once the contractions increased they couldn’t guarantee I could have one (I said yes as this was 20 hours after first contractions started). That helped a lot (but still failed to progress and had to have an emcs which was all explained when my massive son appeared- I think his head was too large for my pelvis!!!) so push for an epidural if you think you need one!
Good luck- it’s all worth it!