Induction & Epidural

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After some advice please :)

For those who were / are going to be induced… and want an epidural, at what point is the epidural the most useful? So that you don’t have it too early or too late :/ Any of tips or advice would be great! … Third birth but first induction for me…

I was induced with both my kids, and had epidural for both. They had rye contractions monitored so they gave me it when the contractions were getting closer enough but not too much that they couldn't administer the jab. You need a good gap for it. You can't wait too much because if the contractions get too close you can't have it (they cannot do it during one, nor can't be the middle of it and then a contraction comes so won't risk)
I almost didn't have for my second because I decided to wait for it as much as I could handle the pain and it was a miracle they still managed to do it. My advice is get it as soon as they ask if you're ready. Good luck!

Thank you!! This is really good to know, I will definitely get it as soon as I can then :)

In an ideal world we’d get all epidurals in in the space between contractions, but it’s really not uncommon at all to have contractions while the procedure’s being done. The anaesthetist will explain what to do if you do get a contraction during the procedure (basically tell them and keep absolutely still!) and manage things safely. HTH. Good luck!

I had it before they started the drip. I was having contractions but only about every 6-7 minutes.

When I put them in, it's not uncommon for it to take a few contractions to get the whole thing done. That's fine with me, I don't mind waiting, the most important thing is that you're still in control enough to stay still!

ASAP 😂

I was induced with my first and honestly found the drip torture, if I were to ever accept induction again I'd want to epi placed before the drip if possible, but then again it was my first birth and I felt very out of control and scared which I know can make it more painful etc
2nd birth was a lovely pool birth and I found natural much more manageable and didn't even consider the epi.
you've got this!!! x

If you are having the drip, before the drip!!

If you just have pessaries see how you go. I found a tens machine really helped. If it's very slow going it gets tiring and you can get lots of pain in your legs and contractions that aren't effective.

My first three I had epidurals the last one I didn't need it and that was more about me being relaxed and only being in pain for 11 hours - official labour was 1 minute it's just takes me ages to get into labour.

My forth was a induction as my waters had gone, they wouldn’t let me have epidural till I was 6cm dilated. Turned out my waters hadn’t gone (weak bladder 🤦🏼‍♀️) so had my boy 4 weeks early for no reason. Would never go through with anything like that again (too old now) others only had gas and air. Mine was horrific from start to finish and ended up with other problems but think I just drew the short straw and I was stubborn should of had c-section when I was offered the day before.
Good luck and we’ll done for trying to find out. Just don’t try to cope for extra half hour or anything, your know when you need it.

With my first it was at some point after being put on the drip.

With my 4th (3rd induction) I had it before I would consent to the drip.

With 3 and 5 (2nd and 4th inductions) they broke my waters and the babies were born 2hrs later. No time for an induction.

I mean no time for an epidural!

I asked for one straight away, I ended up having to wait 3 hours due to an emergency, the time passed quickly but best thing I ever done.

I had mine between them breaking my waters & starting the drip because my contractions were agony, I was only 2cm.

I had induction at 38 weeks due to GD and went to an NCT bumps n babes group beforehand and asked to speak to anyone who'd been induced to get advice! The best I received was to get the epidural in before the drip. Although I found the pain intolerable from when they broke my waters manually so earlier than that would have been preferable. I think I still had an idea I could manage it with different positions until then!

Depending on anesthetist availability you may have to wait for an epidural so it's worth getting your 'order' in early. I asked how soon I could have it and there was a 30 min wait so I had pethidine in the meantime.

Epidurals don't always work. My first only partially worked which was probably the worst moment as I could still feel quite a bit of pain. A more senior anaesthetist did a second one and that was bliss!

Once you're at 10cm don't be surprised if you then wait an hour before pushing. This was protocol in my hospital and gives the baby an opportunity to drop a little lower. I thought it was for the midwives' lunch break as they all disappeared to the staff room!

Finally, I was just told my options were induction or to wait, but that GD meant the placenta would deteriorate faster. I am disappointed no one told me I had the right to request a CS.

Good luck!

Doi- anaesthetist
We assess the board with all patient details on it constantly, anyone that is for oxytocin "hormone drip" we expect to epidural, and are surprised if don't. Not all inductions need oxytocin, some just have pessarys/waters broken

We cover all emergency csections, cardiac arrests, trauma calls etc so unfortunately we aren't always instant for epidurals that aren't life threatening but do aim to provide within 30m of request

Some labour wards have the policy that you must be in active labour for one (4cm) Others don't mind provided you're on a path to having a baby one way or another

We recommend you actually feel some pain of contractions before we put them in, as there's evidence that people get less pain relief if sited pain free (could be people are grateful to go from pain to sat on facebook/asleep, more likely they're now noticing every tiny twinge they wouldn't have noticed otherwise).

We prefer it if you have some pain 1st, as if you needed to go to theatre we topup the epidural with stronger medicine normally, so if we know its definitely working by you now being comfortable it's more reassuring for us

You can gave them at any point in labour but if at 10cm (fully dilated) we tend to advise against as will be unlikely to get any benefit but still have all the risks (they take 40min to fully work), and obviously no point in being in pain unnecc)