Unmedicated Second Labour after Induction First Time Round?

[14hourstillbedtime]

Morning all! (morning here in CA - supper time back home?)

Long story short (ish ): DS was induced with prostaglandin (sp?) gel only at 39 + 4 afer low amniotic fluid on/off for 3 weeks (not responding to increased maternal hydration). Labour was actually great and fast-ish, i.e. 11 hours from first contraction to delivery. However, despite planning an unmedicated birth, I did get an epidural 6 hours in as the contractions were just coming (from the start!) at 2 minute intervals and I never felt I got a breather. Epi actually helped me dilate to 10 incredibly quickly (3 hours) and then I only pushed for half an hour and baby out!

This time round, though, I would really like to have a completely unmedicated birth, and was hoping to hear from any of you who managed it after an induced first labour. What was it like? And should I get a doula or just rely on fab DH?

Any thoughts/advice much appreciated!

Anybody? Nobody? Somebody?.....

I have had an induced labour and two non-induced ones. I used pain relief (Meptid) for the first, which was uninduced. Gas and air for the second which was not induced and nothing for the third which was induced.

I hated G+A (I appreciate I'm in a minority there) and Meptid. I definitely want to do this one unmedicated if I can.

Your second labour will most likely be totally different from your first, induced or not. That said, you can't guarantee not being induced, or anything else for that matter.

Am I right in thinking that birth is very medicalised in the States generally?

I had pre-eclampsia with DS1 and an induction, epidural and ventouse delivery.

My next two children had no interventions and I only used gas & air.

I've never used a doula - just had a hospital midwife.

First labour was induced. Second was speedy and completely natural. Both were great in their different ways.

First labour was induced and a tortuous nightmare.

Second dd came on her own, 6 days late, just gas and air and pethidine, weighing 10lbs 6oz, was a walk in the park after number 1!

First was induced as I had pre-eclampsia, had epidural and finally an emergency c-section.
Second and third were no intervention, gas & air only (oh, and a birthing ball - fab!).
Second was with hospital midwife, third with community midwife.

First labour was induced and was horricfic and ended in forceps. Epidural.

Second labour was natural at 40+1, 2.5 hours, no pain relief, baby delivered in car in hospital car park . Easy peasy, can't believe how worried I was in the lead up.

Thanks all for the feedback! Good to know it can be med-free after a medicalised go-around first time...

flybynight - yes, birth in the States is WAY more medicalised than back home: 90% epidural rate at most hospitals is the norm - I think it's the huge malpractice insurance/liability issues the hospitals carry. Would really like a home birth, actually, but no way DH or my mum (a GP back home) would go for this option!

I'm really seriously leaning towards a doula this time round - one of my very good friends is a doula and had an unmedicated delivery, so I feel she would be a great advocate for me. DH is great and super fantastic; I just feel having a woman with me might be helpful, KWIM?

Thanks again to everyone!

I was induced at 38 weeks with ds1 (also gel). 5 hour labour started soon afterwards.

Not induced with ds2, just had my waters broken to bring on labour at 40+4. Ds2 born an hour after that.

Pre-eclampsia in both cases.

Hello

I had an induction at 38 weeks first time round - pessaries, waters broken, drip, epidural - long and hideous.

Second time round, i made sure I got in with an amazing team of midwives. They gave me the confidence to believe in my own abilities (IYSWIM). Had a wonderful labour - about 6 hours - on 2 paracetamol only. Still can't quite believe it and I'd love to do it again.

I'd definitely advocate going for a doula - having the right expert support is essential, I think. Particularly because, despite it being the norm for everything to be much easier second time round, you never know what can happen and it's better to be surrounded with good help if you need it.

Best wishes for the birth and your new baby (v envious)

1st labour, term + 18 induced gel then waters broken (horrendous as they never told me DD was back to back) ended up epidural, ventouse, spinal, sholder dystocia the lot. I was really really nervous with DS so did every thing I could to ensure he was in a good position and also found the most comfy position for me - on hands and knees on the bed and delivered like that. Cannot beleive the difference between the two labours - with ds few twingers over night, random contractons all day, bit regular 6pm, hurty 6.30 pm, arrived hospital by 8pm delivered at 9 pm. My midwife beleives that once you have had one delivery, your body knows what to do a lot more and tends to get on with it pretty well provided mum and baby in a good position to deliver, good luck.

I was induced with my first at 38 weeks - due to pre-eclamsia. V. long horrible induction (took over 3 days from start to finish!), followed by epidural and foreceps delivery, which took me ages to recover from.

2nd baby was born naturally, also at 38 weeks, had nothing except gas & air, and it couldn't have been a more different experience! Guess you just have to keep an open mind about these things, as it is easy to feel negative after a bad birth experience. Am due in July with No.3, so hoping that we can have a repeat of no.2's type of birth!

My first baby was not exactly induced but I had syntocinon and an epidural as nothing much was happening after 2 days of contractions.

Second baby was a 4.5 hour labour with nothing but TENS (not realy planned like that but got to hospital very late!). It was a great experience.

Third baby was a planned home birth but waters started leaking and a week later nothing had happened so was induced. When I finally went in to labour it was 1.5 hours with just gas and air (and by God it hurt!).

I was the same as you - PROM, just the gel, no drip, but no epidural either.
no 2 came totally naturally and was nearly born in the car. I just got to the hospital on time and didn't even have gas and air (hated it too first time round, I felt drunk in a bad way).
Wouldn't have had my money's worth out of a doula but then I don't get the whole doula thing TBH.

Thanks, guys (girls ) what great feedback!

Feeling very positive and happy (ha ha - talk about amnesia...) and even secretly googling home birth web sites though I know DH is vehemently opposed....

TheHappyCat - doula is a very good friend and our childbirth group facilitator for DS's birth; I just like her a lot and would feel really comfortable having her around. Also, as she's actually had an unmedicated vaginal delivery, feel she really knows the drill... DH is very supportive and completely fab but I know he finds it hard to see me in pain and would run and find the anaesthetist in a flash...

We'll see. Only 28 weeks, so much (hopefully!) time to go to think this one through.