How often does induction lead to epidurals?

[blue daisy]

some great comments here

Jodi
please dont feel like a failure because you had an epidural....we all do what we can at the time and do what we feel is right...I had an epidural with my first, and was bitterly disappointed with myself with the whole experience. @nd time round I worked with what I really wanted...and got it...bit of gas and bath

in regards to epidurals, inductions and c/s I agree that there is a tendency for Ob's to move things along, often before the woman has a chance to even get into active labor...stressing the mother, baby and leading to a range of intervention

but...lets remember that the Ob's are doing what they believe is in the best interest for mother & baby...and the way around all of this of course is for women to be empowered and be informed of what the impact of choices in pregnancy and labor ...education

I know its hard...remember I work(ed) in the system, so I do really know what goes on...but many couples go into labor and birth without preparing and turn themselves over to the system...I have worked hard on many occaisions to work with a woman in natural labor, only for her to swing immediately to anything the doctor says and end up with a range of medical intervention that was not necessary, because of fear perhaps and the feeling of 'he or she' will make it better for me...sigh

so what am I saying...it is really important for couples to educate themselves about their options of labor/birth...and that often means finding a private educator...once the couple is empowered and confident with their choices, then intervention levels are reduced and rates of natural birth will increase

we need to reduce the fear associated with birth...which is what BB is all about ...something I work towards every day...birth is birth, its giving women the knowledge and confidence to welcome their baby's with happiness, and enjoyment


xx yogababy

[BellyBelly]

About the govt Caro - yes possibly... but it takes more than a few to make change... and while the majoity of consumers don't think or realise there needs to be change, then things will be slow!

YB - Have you seen the doco? It is going to be in Perth I believe!

[blue daisy]

no I havent and yes it is going to be in Perth...but I wont be able to attend

[BellyBelly]

Oh no!!! Maybe you can contact whose doing it and either hold your own or ask them if you could have a sneak preview

[jgal]

Thankyou for this very good discussion on inductions. As I wrote in another thread I had an awful experience with induction last time around (I wrote pictocin because I couldn't remember the name of teh drip stuff and that was what the thread called it, but now remember after reading it here it was definitely syntocin that I had).

Quick rundown of my labour:
* hind waters waters broke naturally two days before inducement
* went in for induction at 41+3
* started with forewaters broken by ob which started gentle contractions
* I was happily wandering around the yard, labouruing actively as I had hoped for when the ob assessed me again and decided syntocin had to be given as things weren't happening fast enough
* no sooner was the drip put in the contractions came hard and fast, no more than 3 mins apart to start with and got closer as the day went on, so that as soon as one waned the next began with about 30seconds to a minute down time.
* cervix started swelling and counterracetd dilation
* pain got intense and by lunchtime I couldn't handle it with just breathing/relaxation techniques. I started throwing up and thought that meant baby was near but lost focus when told I was still just 3cm (as I had been when I came in at 6am that morning).
* I took gas for a while which helped me focus my breathing more than anything - it was turned right down.
* I got told off for moaning (the pain was so intense) as I still "had a long way to go"
* Was encouraged to take pethedine after having wanted only gas if REALLY needed, as they kept turnuing the drip up and my cervix kept swelling
* When the peth wore off, I was told to have an epi or risk c/s under general as my cervix was so swollen and no progression.
* Reluctantly took the epi to try and have bub vaginally
* His heart rate dropped dramatically and the m/w kept prodding me to "make him wake up". They realised that the epi dose had been too strong for me so when they went to top it up hours later, they only gave me 3rd the dose (thank goodness) but bub's heartrate was still very low.
* Finally he engaged and I was ready to push, this bit was quick and really easy - two pushes and he was out, but had the cord round his neck twice so it was cut betwen push one and push two, and he was born at 11pm (17hrs since my hospital admission) with meconium all over him and whisked away for recsusitation and kept in a humidicrib for two days (no taking out for cuddles of bf'ing) as his oxygen levels were too low.

It was a long, hard, painful and scary journey. I had felt I had gone into it fairly educated and without fear (had been practising hypnobirthing techniques and affirmations that when the time came my body would know what to do). I had known it would be painful so when the pain came I told myself that the pain was good as it meant things were happening and my body was birthing my baby. But everytime I was told nothing was happening I was disheartened and started to become weak in myself and my belief in my body. If I hadv'e laboured longer I wonder if I'd still have DS, so perhaps what was done was for the best, but for months after I couldn't help the feeling that my body was a failure, and useless, not even able to do what it was made to do and birth my baby naturally. I am afraid this time around, and know that for natural birthing to be a possibility, I need to release my fears and trust my body, but I find it hard to when it failed me so badly last time. I wish I knew what I could do differently this time to make it work how it should and have a smoother labour and better bond with my baby in those early days. Any advice?

[marcellus]

Hi Jgal
Given how slowly you progressed and how intense the experience was, I'm really amazed at how you managed without peth/epidural for so long. It also sounds like you were really well informed and prepared - but unfortunately we can't ever be 100% prepared for this. I think you did a really great job!
How was your support, do you think? You were told off for moaning...!!?? That doesn't sound very supportive to me. If anyone had told me off for moaning I would have hit them, never mind how far along I was.
I really hope you can have a better experience this time round

[jjj]

I was induced @ 40wk and 3 days with syntocin due to high BP and protein and blood in my urine. Within an hour of the syntocin started i had gas, then went to the morphone because I had to wait so long for the dr to eventually do the epidural. Best invention ever I say!! LOL By this time my contractions were less than a min apart and stayed that way until I delivered my dd 18 hours later. If i ever go back again for a second, forget the gas etc i'm going straight to the epidural! LOL

[Hollo]

jgal i had a very similiar experience to you. was induced with prostoglandin though (which i had a reaction to and had a hypertonic contraction) and painful contractions that were not doing anything for the cervix.. they called them prosto pains.

i was told off for moaning, the midwife said i would have a sore throat the next day and that i should stop it. also my cervix was swelling and was told i needed to have an epi as it would be another 12 hours or so and it was just gonna get more painful. and was also disheartened each time i was examined and had not progressed from 2-3 cms after hours of labour. i ended up having the epi and a ventouse aided delivery with internal tearing.

needless to say i am also very apprehensive about giving birth again and soooo soooo sooo hope i dont have to be induced!

[Gabi]

When I was induced my cervix was long, hard, posterior and closed and I thought my chances of an epi and a caesar were really high (they were, I guess) but I didn't get either. I had a really supportive (and somewhat absent) team which made the experience all the better. I had peth, but if I had my time again I wouldn't have bothered, it didn't seem to do anything.

My contractions were pretty intense and immediate as well. They were never far apart, like three minutes, like some of girlfriends' who weren't induced. My contractions were on top of one another for the whole labour. I remember my husband telling the midwife about three hours into labour that I was getting a new contraction less than every minute.