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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Induction - hormone drip - has anybody done it just with G&A?

46 replies

Fran919 · 16/08/2021 12:40

Just as above really, has anybody done with just gas and air or is an epidural definitely needed? Thanks!

OP posts:
edin16 · 16/08/2021 12:42

I didn't get b epidural with it. Wanted one at the time but glad I never got it. I did have morphine though. It was when they got too fast that felt awful, there was literally no time between them till they adjusted the dosage.

xxmyheartxx · 16/08/2021 12:46

I've given birth 5 times with gas and air while on the drip.

tedsletterofthelaw · 16/08/2021 12:47

I did but only because the epidurals didn't work.

I would strongly advise the epidural.

NeverMetANiceOne · 16/08/2021 12:47

I did it with just G&A, when i reached the point of thinking I couldn't do it any more they gave me the morphine injection - just wish they'd examined me first, I was much further along than the midwife thought so could have gone without and felt much more aware of what was going on. It really knocked me and my DS for a good few hours.

nicecheesegromit · 16/08/2021 12:49

I did both of mine on the induction drip with just gas and air. Both were big babies too!

Christmas21 · 16/08/2021 13:02

I didn't have an epidural when I was induced. I had gas and air and one injection of pethidine. I actually said to my DH straight after that it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Twickerhun · 16/08/2021 13:04

I just had gas and air. I wanted more but the drip progressed me quickly and I think they thought there wasn’t time. I won’t lie, it hurt but it didn’t last long.

RavenclawsRoar · 16/08/2021 13:09

I had gas and air and pethidine. I'd have an epidural- the pain was horrifying.

Original poster
Fran919 · 16/08/2021 13:12

Thanks all!

I’ll take note and ask about examination before any morphine etc @NeverMetANiceOne.

Out of curiosity how long after birth were you allowed home? Do you generally stay in a bit longer than a spontaneous labour?

OP posts:
Shehasadiamondinthesky · 16/08/2021 13:13

I wouldn't recommend it, unless you are a masochist. It makes contractions 10 times worse, I was screaming the place down and wanting to die. There is nothing natural about being induced.

BuffySummersReportingforSanity · 16/08/2021 13:15

I did 8 hours on the drip with just TENS (I've never liked gas and air). I had an epidural for the last few hours but if I'd known it would only be a few hours more, I'd have skipped it. It was intense but doable. I was getting tired by the point where they gave me the epidural, was the main issue.

Mrsjayy · 16/08/2021 13:15

I can't have epidurals I had G&A and pethidine if you want an epidural take 1 the pain is very intense !

ispepsiokay · 16/08/2021 13:16

My induced birth was the same as my spontaneous births and I didn't need anything to assist. It's not always true that induction is more painful

grey12 · 16/08/2021 13:19

I had epidural when I had the pessary and labour went on for 2 days Confused I needed a sleep but then they reduced the medication and I was able to feel and move when it came time to push

WithASpider · 16/08/2021 13:29

Out of 3 induced births 2 were on the drip. All G&A.
Tbh my drip births were easier as they were significantly faster!
Dd2 we had to stay in for 23h after as I had PROM and they were, waiting for swabs to come back. DS born at 5pm, I was home the next morning.

Parsley1789 · 16/08/2021 13:44

I think it depends how long your labour lasts for. A few hours on the drip? Manageable. A 15 hour induction on the drip? Less so. Have an open mind.

Ohpulltheotherone · 16/08/2021 13:48

Oh god the drip was horrendous.

G&A did me for the first half but I did end up having pethadine and an epidural.
If I’d know I would have ended up with forceps I might have forgone the epidural and tried to brave it out.
Not gonna lie it was absolutely brutal.

But everyone is different!

You don’t need to make any plans or rules now; be open to pain relief if you feel you need it.

Ohpulltheotherone · 16/08/2021 13:51

@Parsley1789

I think it depends how long your labour lasts for. A few hours on the drip? Manageable. A 15 hour induction on the drip? Less so. Have an open mind.
Oh yes I’d agree here - I was hooked up at 9am and I didn’t start pushing until 8pm ish…. So I did about 9 hours on it.

A few hours probably manageable for most

Tangledtresses · 16/08/2021 13:51

I did it... but Once Labour was fully under way I told them to turn it off or down or I'd rip the canula out!
They did and 1.5 hours later my son was born

Sadless · 16/08/2021 13:58

My midwife told me they recommend a epidural if having a drip. I had one with my 3rd child did the grip put the epidural in but it didn't work like it had with the first two. So had gas and air as well lucky from having drip at 11.30 he was born at 1.30.
Felt everything with that birth.
Fourth child broke waters at 6pm and he was born at 7.30 with no time for epidural just gas and air.
My first two had epidural and didn't feel a thing they just had to tell me when to push.

Sal

Lunde · 16/08/2021 15:05

Yes I did it with just gas and air. It got to a stage where I felt I couldn't cope and asked for an epidural - the midwife said she would just have a little look to see where I was and dd fell out into her hands

pinkteapots · 16/08/2021 15:35

@xxmyheartxx

I've given birth 5 times with gas and air while on the drip.
This is seriously impressive.

I've had natural and induced labours snd oh my, the contractions and contracting process is chalk and cheese ime. Hats off to you

pinkteapots · 16/08/2021 15:36

@Parsley1789

I think it depends how long your labour lasts for. A few hours on the drip? Manageable. A 15 hour induction on the drip? Less so. Have an open mind.
Yeah, this ^^
Amz6219 · 16/08/2021 15:39

I had G&A for a long time (probably 6 hours or so), then decided on Remifentanil

The induction drip is like 0-100 very quickly, very intense

AvaCallanach · 16/08/2021 15:40

I had 2 natural and two augmented labours (contractions started spontaneously but didn't settle into a pattern and we weren't getting anywhere).
Had epidural for 1st augmented (my first baby)
Had gas and air for my 3rd, and then pethidine just about 15 min before he was born (went from 4cm to fully delivered in 40 mins).
I don't remember them being horrendously worse than my 2 natural labours which I did with gas and air. My youngest I actually only got 3 puffs of g and a before she was born.