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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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Lulumama · 12/03/2009 20:08

well, in that case, i woudl ask for a c.s, most hospitals would prefer to have the epidural wear off to a point so you can work with the urge to push, also, an epidural can increase the risk of needing an episiotomy and instrumental delivery

if there are other c.sections or emergencies, you will have to wait, you cannot be in sole charge of your pain relief if you want an epidural as there are lots of factors that can come in to play

expatinscotland · 12/03/2009 20:10

I had two instrumental deliveries and I'd rather have had those than CS's.

Recovered just fine from both.

If you want one, ask for one from the get go and don't let it lie.

Original poster

chequersmate · 12/03/2009 20:18

Warthog, were you induced?

OP posts:

usernamechanged345 · 12/03/2009 20:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

chequersmate · 12/03/2009 20:27

MrsPickles, that's exactly what happened to my friend when she had the prostin gel.

OP posts:

warthog · 12/03/2009 20:29

first time yes, second time no. to be fair i did get one with the first (with the synto drip) but they didn't believe how far along i was and it was too late so didn't work. and i'm sure of that as the second time i had nothing and wasn't much different!

fishie · 12/03/2009 20:37

i was induced with no epidural and a syntocin drip for 7 hours. fucking torture ending in cs.

Original poster

chequersmate · 12/03/2009 20:41

Horrible fishie, I'm sorry to hear that.

Did you ask for an epidural?

OP posts:

fishie · 12/03/2009 20:47

oh yes, i was very much asking for pain relief. but i was too clueless to insist on an epidural or realise that it really wasn't normal for me to be treated (or not) like that.

was strapped to bed too by idiot mw who got disciplined for not labelling drip - that was all they cared about on that shift.

these threads make me feel better about it though, i like to think of women getting properly informed and ready to stand up for themselves to get a better birth experience.

me23 · 12/03/2009 20:50

I have to say in most hospital units inductions go hand in hand with epidural as the contractions are brought on artifically and therfore are usually a lot more intense.
I know in my unit you would never have to beg for an epidural you ask and it's given! we have quite a few anaesthetists floating around soyou never have to wait long (very medicalised unit) one m/w told me she much prefers women to have epidurals as it makes her life easier!
needless to say my unit has a high cs and instumental rate, which is unfortunate.

beansontoast · 12/03/2009 20:54

i was induced for both my labours...with no epidurals (as both times i had a blood condition which meant they couldnt puncture my spinal chord)

first time i was scared and gritted my teeth and tensed up and simply endured the pain.ouch.

second time...with each contraction i made every cell in my body go FLOPPY FLOPPY FLOPPY FLOOOOOOPPPPPPY..and took deep deep breaths right down into my belly and i swear to you it made the pain go from 10/10 to 3/10 and my contractions were less than 30 secs! no shit.

rempy · 12/03/2009 20:54

What size/sort of hospital are you delivering in? That is usually the biggest determinant of how available the anaesthetist is.

Big tertiary referral centre - one anaesthetist dedicated to obstetrics overnight, and obstetric anaesthetic consultant present as well as trainees during the day.

District General Hospital, daytime cover pretty much as above, night time cover the anaesthetic registrar usually covers both obstetrics and intensive care. Intensive care comes first.

Make it clear on your birth plan. If you have a midwife who seems a bit sniffy about you having one, ask to be looked after by someone else.

GColdtimer · 12/03/2009 20:55

I was induced and didn't have an epidural. My m/w was trying to get me to have one though because DD was back to back and I kept wanting to push because of the pressure. By the time I caved in the aneathitist was busy. But all in all, it was fine.

Point is though that I could have had one, if I'd wanted it when they offered.

me23, that is quite shocking. you are right to be

Hulababy · 12/03/2009 20:56

I was induced and did have a epidural. The induction didn;t really work but after the second night I was in a lot of pain so I askked for pain relief and was eventually (when rest didn;'t work) had an epidural. Ended up with a c section in end though/

rempy · 12/03/2009 21:04

Agree me23, induction and epidural do not necessarily go hand in hand, and that is largely due to the influence of the midwives.

We have one unit in the region I work in that has very very few epidurals, even for inductions, and one unit the midwives recommend epidurals before the syntocinon is put up because, frankly, they are overstretched, a lady with an epidural is easy to manage. In fact they "sell" them by saying "once its working you can get a couple of hours sleep so you will be rested so that you can push". Mmmmmmmm. Not exactly the provision of neutral information, and a balanced risk/benefit analysis.

GColdtimer · 12/03/2009 21:07

you know rempy, I always felt like I was being bullied into having an epidural, and being a stubborn mule, it made me even more determined not to have one.

I'd never thought of it that before.

cece · 12/03/2009 21:14

mears - thanks for th tip re induction. I am pg wiht my third and it was my second one that was big. He was 5.1 kilos. The consultant said that if I got big this time I would have growth scans and then they would probably induce me. tbh i AM NOT BOTHERED about having a big baby as such. He was easier than my first (which was induced at 42 weeks). Hence I would rather have a big baby than be induced iyswim...

Joycey29 · 12/03/2009 21:15

I was induced with both mine. My 1st was a nightmare as it was very fast and they wouldn't believe how far I was along and so missed chance despite asking!!
With 2nd had reflexologistand nothing else!!! Still very speedy 3 hours but much happier!
If it happens fast you might miss your chance so be insistent if you are sure it's what you want!

warthog · 12/03/2009 22:20

beansontoast - i will definitely try that IF i have another!

mears · 12/03/2009 23:43

An alternative to epidural is a fairly new drug called remifentanyl. Anyone heard of it? We have started using it and most women seem to like it.

mears · 12/03/2009 23:47

Information here scroll down the page

Original poster

chequersmate · 13/03/2009 07:58

Mears that looks good, do you know how widespread it's use is atm?

OP posts:

cory · 13/03/2009 08:41

There are lucky women who don't need epidurals with an induction. I didn't and I'm not particularly brave or natural-birthy, so I think it was sheer luck that it didn't really hurt that much.

SnowlightMcKenzie · 13/03/2009 16:15

Sounds great Mears.

mears · 13/03/2009 22:50

Not sure how many units are using it. We have only just started so I haven't even seen it myself, however my colleagues have reported that it appears to be good.

One woman felt a bit nauseous and didn't like it apparently but otherwise good reports.

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