Can you have an epidural if you are induced?

[blossomhill]

I am asking on behalf of a friend who is 1 week late. She is worrying that she won't be able to have an epidural if induced. TIA
BH

Yes AFAIK

I did both times. Once I was induced with a pessary (not a real induction, but still..) and once with the full blown syntocin. Both times I had an epidural without problems.

I've been actually told by a midwife - a very natural-birth type - to go straight to epidural if induced!

I think that you may need one, I'm not totaly sure but I think I remember that if you get the drip the contractions are a bit more painful. But I could be wrong.

Yes you can. However, I would advise that it is best to wait until she is experiencing regular contractions before it goes in. On the occasions where an epidural has gone in before the induction has started properly, I find that women do not get as good a block. One of the ways of knowing that the epidural is in the right place is that contractions no longer are painful. That is very difficult if you haven't had any.

yep. I did. Never been so pleased about anything in my life. would advise not even attempting it without if being induced!

yeah, I believe it's actually advised if you are induced as it is often more painful ie sudden onset and thus harder to deal with. HTH

yes, you can. i think some midwives advise you to have one if you have the synocin drip as it is so bloody painful

I had two!

(First one didn't work properly. Second one didn't work completely. )

One mistake I made was that I thought the contractions would gradually increase in intensity, at which point I would get an epidural. That didn't happen with my induction. I had a few slight cramps and then, wham, incredibly intense, excrutiating contractions. Mind you the baby was also posterior which didn't help. So I would advise her to get an epidural as soon as she can, even if she thinks she doesn't need one yet.

Yeah - I did!

I was induced and had epidurals both times.

First time took 3 lots of gel, water broken and then syntocinon drip - they wanted to get it going quickly because of fears of high blood pressure. I hated the drip - contractions very intense and on top of each other - no break between. Had the epidural when they thought it would take another 6 hours (1/2 hour later when epidural was sited I was in transition - that's why it hurt so much !)

Second time took 1 lot of gel, water broken, no drip (hurray !), epidural sited early on but not used straight away. Contractions much easier than with the syntocinondrip. Epidural requested by consultant because I was having twins and they wanted to be ready if there were problems with the second one.

You can have, and tell her to!
I was induced - 2 pessaries, water broken and then syncin.
Contractions came thick and fast and my tens machine really didn't cut the mustard! I proposed to the anethatist!

Absolutely! I did with DS after having the Synto and getting contractions. I had it early, even before I really needed it and it was bliss. I had a mobile low-dose epidural and could feel to push although experienced no pain - strange feeling but I wasn't complaining!

Yes!!! The contractions are definitely much stronger and closer together after being induced. I tried to weather it through for a few hours and wish I had gone straight to the epidural.

Just in case anyone is reading this thread who is facing an induction, but not necessarily comfortable with an epidural (as someone who was too scared of the big needles to even contemplate it!) it is possible to get through an induction on just gas and air. Stings a bit though

I wouldn't say it hurts more than ordinary labour - it's just all concentrated in a shorter space of time IYSWIM

Thanks everyone for your speedy responses. My friend feels v. reassured

I was advised to have one during my induced labour. 20 hours later when same doctor pulled DS1 out of me with the forceps, I was very glad of his earlier advice

Message withdrawn