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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Can anyone explain to me the likelihood of getting an epidural with a planned induction please?

50 replies

chequersmate · 12/03/2009 18:35

I mean, do you take your chances same as anyone who goes into spontaneous labour, or are you more likely to be able to ensure an epidural is in place with a planned induction?

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shonaspurtle · 12/03/2009 18:38

I'd think it would be pretty much a certainty that you'd get an epidural if you wanted one.

I was very much encouraged to have an epidural when I went in for my induction. I didn't want one as it happens, but I would have absolutely have got one if I'd said yes.

lilymolly · 12/03/2009 18:40

I had one as soon as induction starting working. (Admitted to hospital NOT in labour and had prostaglandin gel which made waters break and then straight into intense contractions withing 30 mins

I then had to wait about 30 mins whilst anaesthatist was in theatre, but because It was more controlled when I was admitted to be induced and I was insistant on having an epidural I think it was prob easier to get one.

I made sure I had the epidural in before the syntocin drip and before they broke my hind waters
Due No 2 next week so hope even if I go into spontaneous labour this time I will be able to get an epidural as easy.

Original poster

chequersmate · 12/03/2009 18:41

Thanks shona, do you know at what point you'd get one though? I mean, might they delay the induction to ensure the aneasthestist was available, or would you have to wait it out for a few hours?

OP posts:

DanJARMouse · 12/03/2009 18:43

almost a certanty. I was induced with DD1 and within 30mins of full on contractions, I had my epidural! Lovely!

Original poster

chequersmate · 12/03/2009 18:45

Excellent.

As a side issue does anyone know what your chances are of being induced pre-term on the basis that you have had a previous large baby and are still traumatised by that? (as a better option than begging for a c-section on the grounds of mental anguish!)

OP posts:

RubyRioja · 12/03/2009 18:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SnowlightMcKenzie · 12/03/2009 18:52

Surely you just refuse to allow them to touch you until they can guarantee an epidural!?

Can I ask chequersmate, was it the big baby that was the issue, or the way that labour was handled, i.e. preventing you from labouring in an optimum position etc.?

Original poster

chequersmate · 12/03/2009 18:53

T'wasn't the position, I had an (unintentional) mobile epidural (i.e. it was crap) and laboured on my knees on the back of the bed.

OP posts:

cece · 12/03/2009 18:58

I had a previous big baby. There is talk of an early induction this time if I get big again. TBH I am not keen and would prefer to wait for things to happen naturally. I also will not be having an epidural - never had one.

However with my first labour I asked for one after being induced. They came to do it quite quickly but then refused when they heard about my previous history of bad backs...

me23 · 12/03/2009 19:32

I don't think a prelabour induction would be advised as the babys lungs may not have matured and there would be more risks for the baby beacause of this. Also it would be more likely to end in a emergenct cs if your cerix isnt ready.,

Milliways · 12/03/2009 19:38

DD was induced early and it was only after hours of unproductive labour that the midwife suggested one to give me a break.

Maybe you will be lucky like I was with DS though. Induction planned for Monday - go into spontaneous labour on Sunday, 1 hour total, 1 push & head out !! Fab. (and he was 9lb 6oz)

Lulumama · 12/03/2009 19:41

agree with me23

an induction is not neccesarily going to be any easier or less traumatic than a spontaneous labour

if i were in your position i would be getting as much support for the birth as possible and consdiering a doula, who can support you before during and after the birth

even if your induction is planned, which all inductions are, there is no guarantee you would be able to get an epidural the minute you got to labour ward, you might have several hours on an Antenatal ward, with a pessary to start you off, and no epidural there

there has to be an anaesthatist available, and if he/she is in theatre and others are busy, you will ahve to wait

an epidural , as i am sure you are aware, can contribute to longer labour and possibly more intervention , as can an induction, particualry whne done before term

i know you are wanting to try and plan and be in control, but labour just does not work like that

for all you know, you could deliver in 2 hours!

mears · 12/03/2009 19:43

Cece - Induction for previous big baby is not necessarily a good idea. A smaller baby does not make labour easier - induction before being ready for labour can be worse. The fact that you have laboured before makes it likely labour will be easier - big baby or not. Also doesn't mean next baby will be bigger - ofetn it is smaller.

Epidurals often do not work well if they are in before contractions start. It is better to be able to feel regular contractions before the epidural is sited so that you know it is hitting the right spot because the contraction pain disappears.

Original poster

chequersmate · 12/03/2009 19:44

Did it take long for them to administer your epidural after the m/w suggested one Milliways.

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GColdtimer · 12/03/2009 19:48

cece - just some anecdotal evidence to back up what Mears said. 2 of my friends had even bigger babies the second time round and their labours were a breeze in comparison to the first. The virtually popped out

Lulumama · 12/03/2009 19:51

hello mears

chequers, my second was smaller than my first, with a smaller head, and i had a straightforward intervention free VBAC, after a failed induction at 39 weeks, with epidural, ending in c.s second time can be a lot more positive.

expatinscotland · 12/03/2009 19:54

I've had to beg for epis the two times I had them.

The second time I had one, for a third birth, they made me wait for nearly 4 hours.

I literally held myself back from having the baby till I got that fecking epidural because I did not want the experience of giving birth drug free again. I found it very traumatic myself.

Midwife kept trying to get me to move around.

NO WAY. I just did NOT want to go there because I knew damn well what it felt like to give birth with no drugs and that it just wasn't for me.

I was scarred by that and still have nightmares about the pain I felt.

So if you are really sure about your decision stick to your guns.

Milliways · 12/03/2009 19:56

No - they grabbed a doc and it didn't take long at all

Heated · 12/03/2009 19:56

Had waters broken and guaranteed epidural the minute the first contraction hit (about 15 mins later) - but had this agreed beforehand.

Since the mws were keen not for me to have an elective section (something I could have had since the consultant okayed it) they guaranteed me the epidural instead.

Original poster

chequersmate · 12/03/2009 19:56

Thanks expat.

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expatinscotland · 12/03/2009 19:59

I had to be very firm with the midwives both times I got epidurals and bang on and on and on and insist over and over again, tbh. The second time, I even tranferred hospitals to get that type of pain relief and went on a very long journey in absolute agony because I wanted an epi and then they made me wait all that time.

Well, by that time, I was going to get that bloody epidural! Like I said, I dug in because I didn't want a repeat of my second birth experience.

I have absolutely no regrets about having them at all.

In fact, I'm pissed off that I had to wait so long whilst they tried to manipulate me out of having it.

Original poster

chequersmate · 12/03/2009 20:03

That sounds crappy expat, sorry for you.

They were pretty good at getting mine, I have to say. It went like this:

m/w: I understand you want the birthing pool
me: I'd rather have an epidural.
m/w: You can't just have an epidural just like that, it depends what else is going on in the hospital.
me: Well go and find out what else is going on then.

I think it took about an hour for them to arrive. The only downside for me, is that they let it wear off so that I could feel to push and refused to top it up. Like fuck is anyone going to do that to me again. For all the good it did anyway, I still ended up with forceps but I just had the pleasure of feeling the episiotomy

No one is being in charge of my pain relief next time but me, and if they can't guarantee that then I'm pleading crazy and going for a CS.

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 12/03/2009 20:06

I buttered up the anaesthetist and he wanted to go sleep in some room because it was the middle of the night so he ramped that thing up to the max last time.

I told them over and over again that I had had a drug free birth and it was not for me and I was also on my own with no one there because DH had to say with the DDs.

Still had to be very insistent.

DevilsAdvocaat · 12/03/2009 20:07

i didn't have one and had a very quick 1st birth (about 8hrs start to finish). it was incredibly painful but retrospectively, i had a straight forwards birth which i may not have had with an epidural.

if i was induced again, i would probably try to do it again without because i know i can.

however, i've never met anyone else in rl who has been induced without one. i guess it's pretty common to have one as you get very intense contractions straight away.

also, i was screaming for one by the end but i guess that's pretty normal, induction or not!

warthog · 12/03/2009 20:07

well i fing BEGGED for an epidural and i didn't get one. purely because the anaesthetist was busy. so luck of the draw i'm afraid.

AND i spent about 15 mins explaining to the midwife why it was so damn important. she felt bad afterwards, but really, she should have taken me seriously when i first requested it, and then i would have had it.

so my advice is make DAMN SURE they know you are very serious.

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