How painful is induction drip?

[Pinkglittery]

I'm 36 weeks and currently in hospital as my waters have been leaking since yesterday. Slightly pink this morning so I've been put on induction list for today. I mentioned to the midwife that I've heard the contractions while on the induction drip are really brutal and she said that they are 'very different' I'm taking this to mean that I'm in for an incredibly painful day.

For people who have had this, is it worse? Any tips to help? I'm trying not to be a massive wuss but I'm a bit nervous!

It doesn't always work anyway.

Mine didn't and I ended up with an emergency section.

I'd skip the induction and go for an elective

Thanks. I'm hoping to avoid a section if possible as I have a two year old to chase after and I'm concerned this might not help!

I had an epidural which they were keen to put in place before the drip even started. Is that an option for you? I had about half hour when they couldn’t top up my epidural (I forget why now) but the pain was bearable but tiring. Although I was very tired by that point.

I too would ask if an elective is possible, I had a very overdue baby and my induction still didn’t work - although my baby was also stuck so induction would have never worked for me.

Have an epidural if you're on the drip

Epidural or c section.

I don’t have “normal” contractions to compare them to, but after I was put in the drip I had about 4 contractions before I was begging for an epidural. MW said because they don’t have the opportunity to build slowly and you get used to the pain they can be a lot worse, and she’s never know someone not have the drip and epidural. I was very thankful for that epidural I’ll tell you 😂

They nip a bit, they try to force an epidural on you like. I managed fine without one. Can stick their epidural up their bums. Sure it's because they just want to waft in and out knowing you're stuck on your back and can't go anywhere

I found it controlled and nearly enjoyed that labour compared to the other 2 natural ones.

It's a different way of labouring, as the contractions are being bought on by the oxytocin drip.
It does tend to be more intense, but there is pain relief available! Have an epidural when/if you need one. I was induced with my first baby, and was fully dilated 6 hours later(started the drip at 2cm ) Every labour is obviously different though.
You could labour perfectly straightforwardly and have no need for a section. Just take each stage as it comes.
Good luck!

Thanks for replies. I should mention this is baby 5, I had a section with first due to pre eclampsia but 3 vaginally so no issues giving birth or problems progressing in labour so they are saying hopefully won't be on the drip for long and then my body should take over, I'm just a bit scared of the pain. Wondering if an epidural might not help things move on naturally though?

Yes the induction (for me) made it worse. Not trying to scare you but after my first induction (was really just to speed things along) I refused the next one until I had epidural set up. It depends how your body reacts to induction though I seem to react quite strongly whereas it doesn’t seem to work so well for others.

I would say the pains with induction drip are more intense and in that sense harder to manage. The sweep and pessaries however were far more gentle at pushing things along and are effective for me.

Drip and epidural here too!
It was described to me as the same amount of contractions in half the time.
The transition between contractions is much steeper with the drip and it can be hard to feel as if you're keeping up with them and it can get quite overwhelming.
I ended up with a section anyway as cervix refused to dilate.
Good luck. Your baby will be here soon.

I had a drip with just gas and air, not until
i was in established labour though. It was bo different to normal contractions. I guess maybe the problem is that you’re not contracting and it will be worse to go from 0 to established labour very quickly. They should taper up the infusion so that it’s gradual but that would be more labour intensive for staff. If you’ve had a baby already I think the infusion is likely to be effective, I’d definitely try it if it was me

Thank you all so much. DP is just getting DS settled with his mom at home so I was feeling a bit nervous and alone stuck on the ward. I really appreciate the advice.

I don't have a comparison. Both my labours were induced.

The I had morphine with my first and gas and air only with my second - was getting to the point of needing something else but dilated quickly once waters broke.
It is manageable pain I would say up until the transition phase but as far as I'm aware most women get to that point.

I had it with my first, I wish someone had advised an epidural first!
The pain wasn't like contractions at all, it was one long horrific pain. I've had two natural births since and they were a walk in the park in comparison.
Obviously everyone's experience will be different, but I would definitely find out your pain relief options first. Ask if an anaesthetist is or will be available.

Don't hesitate to take the epidural. I have had a drug free birth but having supported a friend and sister through the drip, I would be first in line for epidural.

I would also ask about elective. I get your concerns but I have seen incredible recovery after cesarean and this would be my absolute preference, even with a toddler to factor in, over the drip.

I had a reaction to the drip and was having intense (like turned all the way up to 11) contractions with 10 second breaks in between for hours and hours. It was bloody painful but it was the exhaustion that got me. Baby was also distressed every time I contracted too because my body was essentially in over drive.

Had a second induction, told the midwives all about the first issue and they ignored me and it all happened again.

Not having a third!

Honestly I think if you've had 4 already you'll be alright. They are more painful but only because they go straight into high intensity rather than building up. That's rough as your first labour. Imagine your other contractions at their worst and how you managed them and you'll know what it's like. My epidural didn't work but gas and air helped loads

I had drip as waters broke and after 24 hours I was only 2cm. Mine was also back to back labour and I managed 6 hours before getting an epidural. I also couldn’t wee due to the contractions as they were essentially non stop so they wanted me to have a catheter put in anyway. It was my first labour so can’t compare but they definitely got more intense and painful the second I started the drip!

I had the drip with my first, so didn't have anything to compare it with at the time. The first half hour was pretty intense but then I got gas&air and it was fine from then on. I had a mobile drip and monitoring which enabled me to wander around and be upright which helped enormously - the one time I lay down for a contraction it was absolutely awful (although I know now in hindsight I was in transition then).
it was very quick for me which also makes a difference, 2 hours from start to finish. But I never felt like I was anywhere near needing an epidural so it's not always a given.

My contractions started naturally after my waters broke but was put on drip due to infection risk. I didn’t notice a difference tbh. But I did have an epidural.

Good luck OP, it will be all worth it when you hold your little baby with a peach-fuzzy head 😊

The drip affects women differently, so there is no one way it could go. I’ll tell you my story - it wasn’t funny at the time, but now I can laugh about it.

I was put on the drip (with broken waters but 0 cervix opening) at 5pm in the afternoon. Cables placed on me to monitor baby and contractions.

The first few hours I didn’t feel anything. Then contractions started coming in - light at first, but quickly ramped up. By 9pm I was climbing the walls in pain, the contractions were crazy - 3 minute pain with a 30 second break in between. The midwife said she’d never seen such a reaction before.

My cervix was still firmly shut. I was begging for painkillers. I already had gas & air which did nothing.

Midwife offered some aromatherapy - asked me if I prefer lavender or camomile. I shouted that I don’t believe in hippie shit, and can I please have real painkillers. 😂

I was finally given pethidine around midnight and it made me really woozy. I felt really out of it, but at least the pain stopped.

A few hours later cervix was still firmly shut, pethidine wore out and I started very aggressively asking for an epidural. Midwife kept refusing.
At 5am (12hrs on drip and no progression) the doctor came in - looked at my readings and told midwife to immediately get me epidural and put me in a queue for theatre - I needed a c-section.

It was the best ending I could ask for.

If it's your fifth then you might respond OK to the other drugs before they get to the drip?

I've not had the drip (so not speaking from experience) but always thought if I did have that then I would go for epidural - less worry about it impeding "natural process" as the drip induced contractions aren't really natural anyway?

As I understand it, the synthetic oxytocin has the effect on the body/muscles to make them contract, but you don't get that hazy rush feeling after a contraction to help you zone out, so it can be harder to get to that zoned out blissful place that helps you cope with the contractions (if you've had unmedicated labours before, then I assume you know what I mean?) - as said, not based on experience though, this is just what I'd heard.

So couple of things. I have had two inductions and two very different experiences.

How's your cervix? With my first my hind waters broke, my cervix was not soft and there was no time to use pessaries to make it so. This induction via just a drip was painful and very long I had an epidural in the end. My son was also large 9lb 10 😳

My second induction was very different. It was planned and we used pessaries to try to kick things off a bit more naturally. This made things progress a lot quicker and more smoothly once on the drip. Needed gas and air only. Son 2 was also thankfully a little smaller at 8lb 6

I would ask about pessaries, but if your waters have broken and there is pinkness they are unlikely to agree due to risk of introducing infection.

@7Worfs lavender or camomile I'm sure it was definitely not funny at the time though!