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Original poster

Is it possible to deal with the pain of being induced and not use epidural?

114 replies

Spockrates · 03/05/2023 13:55

they want induce me I am just waiting to hear back about the date but I heard induction is more painful than natural labour I don’t want an epidural it’s never been part of my birth plan has anyone ever been induced without an epidural?

OP posts:
Grumpi · 03/05/2023 20:36

Induction on the drip, unbearable pain, had an epidural and then of course ended up with an episiotomy and forceps.

Really wish in hindsight I’d not been induced but hey ho, managed with it and baby is fine.

2nd I stuck to my plan to avoid induction

dottypencilcase · 03/05/2023 21:27

I had a failed induction (ended up being an ECS) but I was puking with ever contraction and wouldn't have survived with an epidural- the best thing I've ever had. If they sold it on the streets, I'd be first in line to have it. Do not discount anything OP.

annlee3817 · 03/05/2023 23:17

I also had Induction without an epidural, the contractions were far more intense than they were with my first labour which was not an induction. I asked for an epidural when the drip had been turned up as I didn't feel in control, they were convinced I was in transition, but checked and just 3cm. Five minutes later I was 10cm and unable to have an epidural, part of me wishes I had just got one before they started the drip as I was offered it.

bert3400 · 03/05/2023 23:26

2 inductions just G&A . Very very painful, awful but it was in the early 90s and woman where treated like crap.
2 Natural Labours in the 00 and at home G&A but so much less painful ...not pleasant but certainly nothing like the first two

Hiddendoor · 03/05/2023 23:26

Two labours here, both induced. First was via pessary and only had gas and air. There was pain but my body took over in terms of pushing with contractions.

Second was artificial rupture of membranes. Then on syntocin drip. Baby was back to back and I needed an epidural, different labour to the first.

Epidural wasn't part of my birth plan, but I didn't really have one for the first and the second was limited to "no student midwives". Best approach I found was to not be hung up on how I wanted Labour and birth to go. Because you can't control how it goes. An epidural is a useful tool and pain relief if you need or want it.

AlwaysAlba · 03/05/2023 23:30

I’ve been induced 5 times, each time only had gas and air.

Itsjeremycorbynsfault · 03/05/2023 23:44

Depends on whether you end up having the syntocynin drip as that is very painful

SpottyUnicorn · 04/05/2023 00:10

Had the drip and no epidural. Was traumatised for a long period after that. Wouldn't recommend it.

NurseEssie · 04/05/2023 00:18

goinginsaneinthemembrane · 03/05/2023 14:17

I was induced & didn't have an epidural (not by choice) and would not do it again. In fact I'm having a c-section this time due to the trauma of last time.

Everyone handles pain differently though and some women might cope okay on just gas and air

I'm the same. Failed epidural, never ever having natural birth again - would opt for c section.

The pain was just behind any comprehension.

NurseEssie · 04/05/2023 00:20

Although it was a vacuum delivery and I think it made the pain worse as the baby was pulled out, rather than my body pushing it out.

NotMeSecretFormular · 04/05/2023 00:25

I went into labour at 41+1, apparently too slowly (3 hours later, water not broken). When I was put on the drip (I had refused consent) I very quickly requested an epidural, at which point water suddenly broke. They then lost baby's heartbeat and forced me into the internal clip on baby's head. I only spent an hour pushing and needed no intervention there. Struggled to sit down (2nd degree tear) or lie on my back (epidural) for a week or so. Still can't stand anything touching my back where the epidural went in (DD is 11). When I got my back tattooed, my vertebrae were counted and that one stuck out, I must have a weird spine and it was just a rotten spot for me. Jumped out of my skin when he put a finger on it. Just my experience. What reason have they given for inducing? Hope it goes well for you Flowers

HamBone · 04/05/2023 00:27

I had an induction with a drip, no pain relief, not even gas and air.

It was painful but took just three hours from when the drip was inserted. It was worth it for me, I recovered really quickly. I must have a higher pain tolerance than I realized.

gg45 · 04/05/2023 00:39

I simply don't understand why so many people don't want epidurals. I had one and it was great- basically the last 7 hrs of my birth were relaxed, I read a book, slept a bit and listened to the radio. Yes I had to have forceps etc etc but since I couldn't feel anything and baby was fine I really didn't mind at all and frankly was v grateful I didn't go through agony. In France 80% have epidurals (and interestingly their intervention rate is still lower than ours here)

PointyMcguire · 04/05/2023 00:41

All I will say OP is don’t rule anything out. I was induced in January and if you’d asked me beforehand I’d have categorically said I wouldn’t have an epidural. 4 days of induction later followed by ARM and the drip and I couldn’t have been more thankful for an epidural. By the time I was in labour I was absolutely shattered, having an epidural meant I was able to rest until active labour commenced, by which point we dialled down the epidural dose so I could feel when to push. DD was born 2hrs later with zero complications.

Barleysugar86 · 04/05/2023 00:51

Two inductions- one with epidural one just gas and air. The pain was intense in a way but also okay. It was more scary for me as I'd planned an epidural both times so doing it naturally was a surprise!

Epidurals are lovely. I slept most of my late stage labour with my first. It was lovely to come into the pushing part feeling really well rested.

LadyJ2023 · 04/05/2023 00:54

Lol wherever you got induction is painful is 99%incorrect no different to having your labour start pain wise naturally its just uncomfortable briefly

Ruthietuthie · 04/05/2023 00:56

I had an induction without an epidural. The pain was more intense than I can possibly describe. Afterwards, I was so traumatized that I felt I would never be the same person again. However, I think we are designed to forget, and within about a month I was back to normal and couldn't really remember the pain.
I should have gone for the epidural.

Busybutbored · 04/05/2023 01:01

OhcantthInkofaname · 03/05/2023 18:28

Yes. But why would you want to if it is available.

It's much better for you and your baby not to (I did lots of research), the less intervention the better, both short and long term outcomes

Busybutbored · 04/05/2023 01:02

I managed for 14 hours, then had to make a call due to other issues. I think you can do it if you really want to (I did have gas). I'd avoid the induction altogether if you can and look to other methods to bring on the labour - raspberry leaf tea, acupuncture, curb walking, bath etc, etc

Imperialleathers · 04/05/2023 01:10

Possible, absolutely. Extremely painful, yes. I was given the drip when my epidural failed and the pain was absolutely horrendous. But everyone's experience and pain threshold is different. Definitely try it without pain relief if you want to but don't feel bad if you choose to use pain relief at some point.

Sandcastles24 · 04/05/2023 01:11

I didn't have an epidural because I was also scared of having something in my spine.
I had a successful drip induction using Remifentanil. I highly recommend it if your hospital offers it

HamBone · 04/05/2023 18:02

gg45 · 04/05/2023 00:39

I simply don't understand why so many people don't want epidurals. I had one and it was great- basically the last 7 hrs of my birth were relaxed, I read a book, slept a bit and listened to the radio. Yes I had to have forceps etc etc but since I couldn't feel anything and baby was fine I really didn't mind at all and frankly was v grateful I didn't go through agony. In France 80% have epidurals (and interestingly their intervention rate is still lower than ours here)

@Sandcastles24 Some people have really bad reactions-i had a epidural with my first child and I ended up flat on my back with a spinal headache for several days, had to go back into hospital for a spinal tap.

So I wasn’t risking another one!

Soontobe60 · 04/05/2023 18:10

Gettingbysomehow · 03/05/2023 14:27

Induction caused me unbearable pain that was akin to being tortured with hot knives. I cannot possibly imagine why anyone would go through that without an epidural. I ended up with PTSD and unable to function for months. Induction is not a natural birth.
I cannot understand why everyone is so masochistic about child birth. Can you imagine someone saying the didn't want anaesthetic for surgery because "it isn't natural". Bonkers.

The point is, every birth is different. I had a natural birth with pethidine and entonox 1st time round and also ended up with PTSD / Post natal depression because the pain drove me literally mad. I still weep at the memory 38 years ago. Second time, was induced, took 24 hours to actually start to feel anything, had no pain relief, gave birth in 1 hour. The crowning bit was excruciating for about 1 minute. It was the most euphoric experience of my life.

mumsince2021 · 04/05/2023 19:37

I've only had one birth so nothing to compare with but I had an induction (prostaglandin pessary) which worked so didn't have to go on any hormone drip. It was quite a painful labour but I coped with gas and air and didn't need anything else. I was fortunate that labour only lasted 12 hours. I’m not sure if the hormone drip ramps things up more than just the pessary? Anyway, just wanted to share that I did have an induction and coped without anything beyond gas and air, for some reassurance.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 04/05/2023 19:39

I was induced with ds1 and just had some paracetamol and gas and air.

it’s definitely not a certainty that you’ll end up with an epidural.

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