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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Why did I find the drip so painful?

62 replies

Scoutingaround · 11/05/2019 04:54

Hi everyone I am hoping someone can help!
DC is 6 months old and is lovely. I had a long and relatively difficult induction as baby was overdue. I’ve made peace with it all and had debrief with midwife. However the thing that I really struggle with is the memory of being on the drip before the epidural.
I got to 3cm in the pessary and breathing techniques etc were working well. However then I was put on the drip and it was absolutely unbearable. How did I go from feeling fairly calm and in control to feeling utterly out of control in half an hour? Also this was when the drip was only on 4 - apparently it can go up to 30?! Was I just a total wimp?!
I just don’t understand how I got in such a state so quickly.

OP posts:

Tinyteatime · 11/05/2019 08:22

Because it’s evil. I don’t think many people survive the drip without an epidural. I was screaming for one and threatening to pull the cannula out of my hand unless they got me an epidural at that instant. Worst pain I’ve ever know and my 1st baby was back to back and long labour (which apparently is v. Painful). And yes I felt totally out of control.

polkadotpixie · 11/05/2019 08:45

I had the drip and my baby was back to back...never felt pain like it 😩

The contractions were seemingly relentless but actually only 5 in 10 minutes for most of the time

I started with gas & air but had an epidural after 2 or 3 hours. I never got past 6cm anyway and ended up with an EMCS

Next time will be an ELCS!

IntoValhalla · 11/05/2019 08:51

You were not a wimp at all!
That drip is fucking hideous
I was induced with my first, and had a spontaneous home birth with my second, and comparing the intensity of the contractions is like comparing chalk and cheese!
My induction only took 3 hours. 3hours of constant, brutal, drip contractions with no time for an epidural even if I’d wanted one. It’s not a process I would willingly go through again.
My spontaneous labour was 10 hours, but the contractions were a billion times easier to manage because they built up in intensity over that time rather than just: BAM! HAVE SOME PAIN! Like the induction was.

Anyone who goes through a drip induction and survives it is an absolute badass in my opinion! I’ve never felt pain like it!

abcriskringle · 11/05/2019 08:52

I had the drip too. I was batty with pain. It's a fucking torture device. It's certainly not a sign of weakness on your part! I didn't have an epidural but they give me pethidine and it still hurt so badly. Utter nightmare.

Ces6 · 11/05/2019 09:48

Actually this thread is making me so angry that I was induced on a drip and not allowed pain relief. They must have known. I now tell anyone getting the drip to have pain relief first.

RNBrie · 11/05/2019 09:56

I had to have the drip for my third. I asked for an epidural before hand because I've heard too many of these stories and they said no, that I'd be fine without it and it would be quick because it was my third.

They were right that it was quick, from no contractions to baby in 2.5 hours but they were the worst 2.5 hours of my life. I was sick a lot towards the end, the pain was far worse than anything I'd experienced with the first 2. If that had been my first experience of labour I'm not sure I'd have wanted to have any more babies.

Jambalaya76 · 11/05/2019 10:24

I had the drip with both of my births. My second wasn't that bad, intense, but I guess I'd prepared myself after having had it before. The whole labour lasted 2 hours and I had an injection.
My first I remember was horrific! Labour lasted 4 hours, had the injection too, but I do remember it being so so painful that i was bashing my feet on the board at the bottom of the bed and I was quite panicky with the pain.
I just thought this was how labour was, never thought that it was because of the drip! This post has opened my eyes. My first birth was truly crazy! Just glad they were not long births and that everything was ok in the end. And also glad the second was better than the first. I wonder why?

Number3or4 · 11/05/2019 10:57

I was offered epidural before the drip and I said no. Few hours later, all of sudden evil back to back contractions started. Cried for epidural which worked first try. It was bliss. 12hr later I was still only 2cm dilated so off I went for c-section for failure to dilate (I was being induced and this was day 5 and I had 6 rounds of gel).

I had a vbac next, but I gave birth still waiting for evil contractions to start. They never came and I was shocked as the contractions didn't even hurt half as much as they did on the drip.

VTechnophobe · 11/05/2019 11:00

Yes! This was the same for me. Induced at 37 weeks and needed epidural and so painful. Second birth was 41 weeks spontaneous labour and just gas and air...turned out to be undiagnosed breech too but so much more manageable than the sintocinon contractions.

AnnaMagnani · 11/05/2019 11:02

No personal experience but a bazillion years ago when I was a medical student doing obstetrics I was taught that everyone having induction should have an epidural as the drip was so painful!

Now of course everything is less medicalised and women have choices - no one would just say 'You are having an epidural' but instead you ended up feeling like a wimp and in agony. I think the drip just really is that bad.

Ces6 · 11/05/2019 11:02

If that had been my first experience of labour I'm not sure I'd have wanted to have any more babies.
It was my first experience and next time round I had a c-section. Still didn't get any post-operation pain relief (what is it with Italian hospitals and no pain relief?) but I was delighted as it was so manageable compared with the dreaded drip.

Original poster

Scoutingaround · 11/05/2019 11:23

I am sorry that we have all endured such pain...but these responses are also very reassuring!

@AnnaMagnani that is so interesting. My cousin told me that if I was put on the drip I should have an epidural at the same time. The midwife said that I should give it a go without...however she didn't argue once I asked for one. I didn't even bother with pethidine. I read somewhere that in the USA (where I think they induce far more often on due dates?) it is standard procedure to give an epidural at the same time.

@Ces6 My midwife told me that I could ask for an ELCS if I had baby number two. Not sure if I would (totally hypothetical at this point!) but it's reassuring to know it's an option.

OP posts:

supadupapupascupa · 11/05/2019 11:29

First baby I had the drip, bit of an emergency and his heart rate was all over. Had epidural some stage in and all I remember was the intense itching! The pain before the relief was bad.
2nd baby the epidural was in EARLY on with the drip. I went to sleep, awoke fully dilated and started pushing! Much better
Both vaginal births after drip, both times midwives fully expected cs and told me so, both times were a bit surprised I was fine. I'm old and fat.

Caribbeanescape · 11/05/2019 11:43

With my first baby, I went into labour naturally but then the contractions stopped. They put me on a drip, but didn't say it would be more painful, in fact, I didn't know until reading this thread 22 years later that it was a thing! I wasn't offered an epidural, and struggled on in agony for a few hours. I had to beg for an epidural, which was fantastic when it kicked in, and my daughter was born a few hours later. I had the drip, a back to back baby, a very long labour and then an episiotomy and forceps. I also had a vile midwife, who hurt me and made me cry. Luckily her shift ended and a lovely midwife was there for the birth. The baby was actually delivered by a doctor. The whole thing was very traumatic and I suffered with post natal depression, which I'm sure was caused by the traumatic birth.

I couldn't face all that again, and my second daughter was delivered by ELCS - it was wonderful - a totally different experience.

Girlofgold · 11/05/2019 11:44

Horrendous unbearable pain. Worse than the pain of the contractions during a second quick birth. Thankfully my lovely midwife read the situation and positioned me for a quick epidural. I'd have gone mad with pain if I'd had to wait much longer.

User24689 · 11/05/2019 11:49

Not read whole thread, but the day I spent on that drip was the worst day of my life and I feel bad saying that as it did result in my lovely DD. They warned me in advance that it would be more painful, but when it came to it I was denied all pain relief, told 'see how you go' for hours with a tens machine and a hot water bottle, then eventually told it was too late and I had to manage with nothing. Just screamed for hours with no break between contractions, my throat was raw the next day . I actually ended up being diagnosed with PTSD when I was pregnant with my second and found I was nauseous and panicky just attending the antenatal appointments. I was given a C section for my second in the end.

Fatted · 11/05/2019 11:52

No you are not a wimp.

The drip was the reason I needed an emergency c-section with DS1. The contractions I was having on it were so strong that they were crushing him and caused his heart rate to drop drastically. It didn't help he was in an awkward position and a big baby. I had to get rushed into theater with him. I have no idea what level I was at with it. I just remember it being very painful and needing diamorphine very quickly.

When I had ds2, I was advised not to have an induction because of what happened last time with the drip.

bumblingbovine49 · 11/05/2019 12:03

I had the drip with ds. The contractions don't give you a break so it is very intense. I have only had dc so.never had ' natural contractons' so.cant compare.

I.did.manage with a tens machine for the first few hours then with gas and air for the last few. I was only in labour 8 hrs from start of the drip so I.managed but if it had been longer I am not sure I would.have.

I.did.walk around though ( hard to do with a drip.but not impossible) and was able to stand etc. I was lucky as I had people with me to advocate that I did not just want to.lie down.as I knew that would make the pain worse as I would.feel I had no control
Noone told me what to expect but I know that the person who.was my advocate had seen a lot of births and she told.me.afterwardd that mine was one of the best she had when using a drip in that it didn't end in an epidural

My aim.had been to.avoid an epidural if at all possible so.in that sense I felt.it had been ok but it really did hurt a lot. I just assumed all childbirth did. I think if it had been longer I'd have been begging for an epidural. I had started to ask about one but I moved to the last stage soon after so it was too late.

AgentCooper · 11/05/2019 12:48

@Scoutingaround This thread has been such a welcome eye opener. DS is 19 months. I’ve spent 19 months thinking I was weak because I couldn’t take that drip. I cried when I got my fucking epidural because I thought I had let DS down already by not being strong enough.

I am so grateful you posted. And angry too because when I asked for the epidural they were not keen initially but I was begging. I felt like an anomaly all this time.

Coolcoolcoolcoolcool · 11/05/2019 13:10

I was on the drip both times, it's insane. The first time was worse as my son's heart rate was dropping so they were in a rush. The midwife told me at the time that inductions were more difficult than normal births. But sceptical glances from other mums who didn't need pain relief etc made me feel like a whimp. Just had my second and I know the drip is the worst thing in the world now and that I needed both epidurals.

I do know one woman who was induced with the drip who left it too late to have the epidural. She is definitely not having another kid.

TastingTheRainbow · 11/05/2019 13:17

The synto drip is awful and nothing like natural labour. As a midwife I always recommended women consider pain relief and suggest an epidural before starting it, not everyone wants one but I’ve not known many people last more than a couple of hours on it without an epidural.

Original poster

Scoutingaround · 11/05/2019 14:53

@AgentCooper I am so glad this thread has been helpful. I was speaking to a friend about this the other day who also had the drip (and an epidural!). We agreed that unless you had been on the drip you couldn’t understand. Hope you’re feeling better. We women give ourselves such a tough time. Xx

OP posts:

Lizbiz89 · 11/05/2019 20:56

I had it with my first and oh my god was it excruciating. Had the epidural after the hour as I just couldn't bare it any longer. Had my second 4 weeks ago with no pain relief at all, just birth pool at mlu. So yes in my experience it will turn any pain your pain threshold can just about take into absolutely torture. Don't for a second beat yourself up about it. Anyone who's had that bloody thing is an absolute trooper, pain relief or not!

Newyearsameoldshit · 12/05/2019 21:53

I was induced and once they turned the drip up, bloody hell! I panicked, was going a bit bonkers with the pain and wasn't getting any break between contractions.
Asked for an epidural and then told the anaesthetist I loved him

Vinorosso74 · 12/05/2019 22:04

I had the drip to get things going as my waters had gone but wasn't going into labour. I was having some contractions but not frequently.
What got me was the intensity of it. I think naturally it builds up to it (I only have 1 so no comparison ) but with the drip it just seems to start then they increase it and I seem to remember a point there was just no break from it. Additional problem is not being able to move much; with pain I prefer to move to help me deal with it.
I didn't have any epidural. The midwife got the anaesthetist in to discuss it. I did get to a point where I asked for it, she left the room then the urge to push suddenly arrived so too late. I used a lot of gas and air!!!

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