Drip and epidural

[Parsley1789]

Am pregnant with dc2. Dc1 was a straightforward pregnancy but was two weeks late so was induced. Really hated it, ended with forceps but to be honest they weren’t so bad. It was more the drip. I have never felt agony like it, I went from
0 to 100 and contractions were back to back so my TENS machine and hypnobirthing breathing were both totally useless. Anyway after an hour and a half, having been told I probably had another 12 hours to go, I had an epidural.
Am really really hoping that I go into labour naturally but my midwife has told me that chances are I’ll go massively over again and need to be induced. I’ve seen a consultant and he has agreed to offer me a c section at 42 weeks rather than induction. The thing that terrifies me about induction is the drip.
So, I guess what I’m now thinking (baby due October) is should I just say that I will be induced but that I will only consent to the drip with an epidural? I’d love a natural birth but I guess once I’ve gone down the induction route that’s not really on the table anyway.
Dc1 was a 9lb-er and this baby measuring smaller, so maybe I wouldn’t need forceps this time to get baby out? That’s another worry of the epidural.
I need a crystal ball! I just can’t face the agony, and also the experience, of being on the drip. I hated things being done to me, if that makes sense.

You might not go overdue. My first was born at 42 weeks after a long long labour with the drip by emcs. My second was a VBAC at 38 weeks.

My first sounds very similar to yours, 2 weeks late, did labour spontaneously but slowly so was put on the drip and very quickly asked for an epidural as the drip contractions were horrific! Baby got a bit stuck/distressed so was an emergency forceps delivery in theatre.

No 2 was a sudden spontaneous labour at 39+6, labour was a doddle, two paracetamol and some gas and air got me through a straightforward birth.

I would definitely have wanted an epidural in place first before having the drip started, had it come to that.

You can absolutely ask for an epidural to be sited prior to starting the syntocinon drip. 2nd babies are often a lot easier as your body has done it before so no reason to be sure you’d end up with another forceps delivery. Good luck!

I've had 5, 4 of which were inductions.

First was 42wks, pessary, drip, epidural, ventouse, back to back, 3rd degree tear and episiotomy.

Second was spontaneous (still had an epidural!)

Third and fifth were both inductions at 42 and 41, waters were broken and both were born 2hrs later. No time for epidurals.

My 4th however was induced at 40wks due to size which was a bit early for me, and so when they broke my waters nothing happened and they wanted to put me on the drip. I would only consent to that if an epidural was in, which was totally fine although I did have to wait about 5 or 6hrs for an anesthetist to become available, still rather that than in labour!!

So yes you can refuse to have the drip until the epidural is in, and also all 4 of my subsequent births have been easier, quicker and not needed assistance. All babies 8lb11- 9lb10.

Hello, I had to be induced with my first as my waters broke but I didn’t go into labour. So drip and epidural. With my second baby I went into labour naturally and only had g&a. To be honest, from my friends, relatives, work colleagues etc, I’ve heard of loads of women being overdue with first baby but hardly any with their second babies. Good luck

Could you ask for the pessary for induction instead of the drip. I found the pessary induction with DC3 much less intense after having the drip with DC2. I’m opting for the pessary again this time if I have to have another induction.

@sparklyblue81 they start you off with the pessary at my hospital, but last time it didn’t really do much so I had to move onto the drip.
Am worried about that happening again so I think if that does I’ll just say I want an epidural first. It was horrendous last time!

I would absolutely insist on an epidural before the drip. That’s what I’d do if I was having another induction. Once the agonising pain was taken away my induction was successful. I could feel contractions and didn’t need any other intervention. I don’t see why your midwife thinks you’ll go overdue again though, there’s really no way of knowing!

It is worth remembering that it takes longer to know if an epidural is working if you’re not having painful contractions when it goes in. You’ll probably know from the OAA information leaflet for epidurals that around 1 in 8 don’t provide good enough pain relief to be the sole mode of analgesia for labour. So getting the epidural in early may help, but there is a failure rate and you may not know if yours is one of the disappointing ones until the drip is running.

Just refuse consent for the drip until you’ve had an epidural. I did with my first and the midwife said it was a very sensible decision.

That was bit odd for the midwife to say that. No labour is the same so you might not go overdue.

I had the drip with just gas and air and it was no different to my spontaneous labours. It's weird how it effects everyone differently.

I'm measuring big this time and have said I'll refuse induction. I would rather a c section. Even though mine was fine I'd rather not chance it.

Your body, your choice. Dont feel pressured into anything x