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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Induction without epidural

72 replies

Grimbles · 23/01/2019 19:46

I can't have an epidural for medical reasons. I'm booked in for an induction next week @39 weeks. Would I be mad to go ahead with it - I don't know what to do at the moment.

I'm having a sweep tomorrow which will hopefully work but need to decide if I want to go ahead with an induction if not, or ask to delay for another week.

Part of me wants it over and done with, the other is worried about the pain if I have the drip

OP posts:

Opheliasgoldenwine · 23/01/2019 19:48

Is the induction for medical reasons? To be honest, I had the hormone drip with being induced and tried to have an epidural but it failed. I did manage it through without the epidural but the contractions were awful because the drip intensified them. I'd rather do it again than have a c section but that's personal choice. I only had gas and air (which really did help me) and it's doable, what else were you considering re labour? Is waiting to go into it naturally an option providing it's not over 41 weeks?

Owlettele · 23/01/2019 19:49

I was induced twice but never needed to go as far as the drip as pessary worked each time. I managed without any pain relief for both of them. Yes hurts like hell but for me once pessary worked it was think and fast and by the time I asked for pain relief moment had gone and I was pushing.

Unsure about how hard it would be if you were on the drop though. You could always ask them to hold off on the drip as much as is possible. Or if medically appropriate delay things and have extra monitoring ? Good luck op. However bubs gets here you will be amazing 💐💐

Verbena87 · 23/01/2019 19:53

You are not mad. I had an induction and was fine without epidural - I had one shot of pethidine and then used gas and air.

My baby did get wedged due to being back to back and massive, and Doctor was insistent that he didn’t want to try and do a manual rotation without epidural, so I had one for delivery but that was after 14 hours of labour including 2 hours pushing without.

I didn’t need a drip though, just the pessary, so I guess that may have made a difference. Good luck!

coragreta · 23/01/2019 19:53

Drip was a killer. Thought I was dying. Also started shaking really violently. I couldn't have done it without an epidural. Sorry not what you want to hear. Are there any other things you could try? Spinal block? What would be the procedure if you needed a c-section?

Wavingwhiledrowning · 23/01/2019 19:54

I've been induced three times (at 37 weeks for medical reasons) and only went as far as the drip once. Did all of them on gas and air only. I didn't want an epidural so wouldn't have gone for it anyway, but I doubt there would have been time in any case - once the contractions start they're super intense, but also pretty effective, so it's quick (I nearly had DD2 on the loo it was so fast!).

Original poster

Grimbles · 23/01/2019 19:54

Apparently the induction is due to my age and that I am high risk for other reasons too. Although the MW I saw most recently rolled her eyes a bit and said she wasn't sure why they were doing it at 39 weeks.

I'm considering just asking for sweeps and monitoring until I get to 40 weeks and then rethinking?

OP posts:

coragreta · 23/01/2019 19:55

Also had one none induction baby and didn't need pain relief other than gas and air. I think if you're induced without the drip you'd be fine.

Original poster

Grimbles · 23/01/2019 19:56

I would need to have a GA if an emcs is needed.

Would other pain relief be as effective? I had oromorph last time which was lovely but I was away with the fairies for most of it!

OP posts:

Original poster

Grimbles · 23/01/2019 19:58

It is the drip that concerns me the most. Can I just have the pessary or is it a fixed sequence that you have to complete?

OP posts:

NaturWilde · 23/01/2019 20:02

Two straight to drip inductions (post dates) and no pain relief. Moving lots (try to move every 20-30 min) really helped. 2nd baby was back to back but again very manageable by moving. Felt very difficult when I had to stay on the bed to be examined/encourage him to rotate. But it worked, so worth it and that was only the last hour. 9 minute 2nd stage with no injury.
Both inductions were 6 hours from drip to baby. Was dreading induction the first time, unnecessarily so. Each birth is different and the method used doesn’t necessarily make it less or more painful.

AgeingDurannie · 23/01/2019 20:02

I was induced (drip) for my first and didn't know epidural was usual until the midwife told me after I'd given birth without one! I was offered but was more scared of the concept of a spinal injection than I was of labour pain! (Did have other pain relief though, Meptid I think?).... obviously I had nothing to compare too but I coped fine and couldn't wait to get home with DS.. next time around was twins so an epidural was more or less compulsory in case of complications and I did at that point wonder why I didn't have one first time round, but it was fine, in my case, to be induced without the epidural....

NaturWilde · 23/01/2019 20:03

I dreaded the peasant and was so pleased to avoid it!

Honestly, it was absolutely grand!

Moving and hypnobirthing (free MP3) - I felt both helped.

NaturWilde · 23/01/2019 20:03

*pessary!! 😂 there were no peasants there!

Opheliasgoldenwine · 23/01/2019 20:04

I think it's different for different people. I'm the only person I know that had the drip after the pessaries. I'm not actually sure if mine worked enough and that's why I ended up on the drip but it did something as they were able to break my waters as a result. If the pessaries caused regular contractions then I wouldn't see the need for a drip but I could be wrong?

Tinyteatime · 23/01/2019 20:06

Drip was a killer. Thought I was dying. Also started shaking really violently. I couldn't have done it without an epidural.

My experience was identical to this.

blodynmawr · 23/01/2019 20:07

I had an induction both times. Gas and air only both times followed by 'normal' delivery.

thisismee · 23/01/2019 20:11

I've had two inductions had the drip both times, only had gas and air for pain relief . Labours were fast thankfully. First baby under 4 hours. Second just over 1 hour.

Kittykat93 · 23/01/2019 20:26

I'll be totally honest op. The oxytocin drip made my contractions extremely painful and constant, I didn't have the break in between that some have.

Saying that, I also know of people who have done it without an epidural.

ImAChaiseLongueGetMeOutOfHere · 23/01/2019 20:34

Had a pessary induction for ds2 and rapid delivery in the pool with just gas and air. Totally doable.

SockQueen · 23/01/2019 20:48

Have you seen an anaesthetist at all to discuss your options? Would a remifentanil PCA be available in your hospital?

ittooshallpass · 23/01/2019 20:54

I was induced and didn't have epidural (didn't know it was an option/ usual). It was fine.

PierreBezukov · 23/01/2019 20:55

The oxytocin drip made my contractions extremely painful and constant, I didn't have the break in between that some have.

Same here. Gas and air didn't touch it. However there were complications and baby was in distress. Natural birth but doctor used vacuum suction.

However with DC2 I was also induced with the drip it was a much better experience as there were small gaps between contractions, so that time I didn't have an epidural and managed on gas and air.

TrickyKid · 23/01/2019 20:56

I didn't have one and it was a hell of a lot easier than the previous labor where I did.

Cakeandslippers · 23/01/2019 21:15

I was induced with the drip at 37 weeks due to complications. It was my first so I've nothing to compare it with but it was really tough - but do-able. I ended up having Remifentanil which I opted for over diamorphine.... it was the hardest thing I've ever done as my contractions were regularly coming in threes with no break but I found i managed with the Remi and gas and air. I was glad I did because I felt really in control at the pushing stage which some of my friends who've had an epi said they found hard. I also had no idea till after that most people opt for epi.
My main issue was I was on constant monitoring so was basically stuck on my back the whole time, I'm pretty sure if I'd been able to move around things would have been a bit easier for me as walking to the toilet and leaning against the wall on the way really helped!

PetuliaBlavatsky · 23/01/2019 21:21

I was induced with the drip (no pessaries) first time around and while everything kicked in extremely fast, once I got on gas and air I was fine. Very quick labour, was upright and active throughout (had continuous monitoring but mobile).
My friend was induced because of age at 39 weeks and it took 3-4 days to get her into labour - the problem with that is that you are shattered before you even start off and that makes the pain worse.

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