Induction without an Epi???

addam&tara · March 2012

Has anyone been induced and not received the epidural? Could you let me know what your experience was? Thanks!

kjg5445 · March 2012

with DS1 i went in and was induced at 37 weeks (preeclampsia) i was at 4cm upon arrival. they started the pitocin and broke my water at 1am and i labored med free on my left side (no option since the BP was high) and my son was born at 6:41am

vermont7 · March 2012

My water broke and we waited all night without any contractions. Midwife had us go to the hospital in the morning and start a small dose of pitocin. It can definitely be done without an epi. I was committed to having a natural birth. I spent most of my labor on a birthing ball with my husband rubbing my back doing my breathing exercises. She was posterior and born sunny side up.

becketts · March 2012

I was induced at 34w2d because of pre-e. They started Pitocin at 6am and my OB broke my water at 9am. I didn't start to get uncomfortable until 2-3pm and DD was born at 5:30pm. I was confined to the bed because of my blood pressure but DH helped a lot with back massage. It can be done!

kris_kelsey · March 2012

I was 37.5 weeks and induced for low amniotic fluid. had cytotec for cervical ripening at night (10pm and again at 2am). In the AM doc encouraged starting pitocin but I didn't want it as I was already contracting every 2-3 minutes (though they were mild). She broke my water instead at 8:30 and said she would re-evaulate for pit at noon. I had my baby (no iv meds or epidural) at 11:41AM.

tikilove81 · March 2012

I was induced with my first, and had no epi. It was a lil more intense but I think it was because my water was broken. I went natural all 3 times. It was actually my quickest labor!

PrimReaper · March 2012

I was induced with prostaglandin gel (I think the brand name is Cervadil) and laboured 3 hours of hard contractions and pushed for nearly an hour with no meds. I ended up with an epi due to c/s though - I wasn't willing to go through that med-free.

mamigee · March 2012

torture. i was induced with my son at 38 weeks. i was 6cm dilated so all they did was break my water, contractions started within 5 minutes and he was born 1 hour and 27 minutes later. yes, it was super fast but the entire time I wished I had an epidural. the pain was intense to the point I thought I was going to die. lol Of course I didn't, but that's the way I felt. we all know it can be done. I had an epidural with my last at the last minute....enjoyed every moment of it.

Webbie3 · March 2012

I was induced with DD. We started out with Pitocin and then the MW broke my water. No epi. Pitocin was started around 5 or 6 am and I had DD at 9:26 pm. It took forever for me to feel any contractions, although the nurses said I was having them, and things didn't really get moving until my water was broken in the afternoon.

sbost0118 · March 2012

With my first, I was induced on my due date and didn't get an epidural. From the time they started the pit to delivery was betweeen 12-13 hours. The first 8 hours or so wasn't too bad. I could breathe my way through the contractions even when they started getting stronger. Around hour 9 they started getting pretty sharp. I really didn't want an epi - I was scared of the needle in my back. I asked them for "something" to take the edge off. They ended up giving me a dose of Demerol which let me doze off for a couple of hours. When I woke up, the contractions were really strong and I was almost ready to go. I guess I dealt with about an hour of really bad contractions (think crowbar prying your hip bones apart) then it was time to push. There was definitely a "ring of fire" during pushing. My doc gave me a local and did an episiotomy and baby was born. He was 9 lbs 1.5oz.

I opted for the epidural during my next induction.

gekeler6 · March 2012

I had Pit and no epi. It was a rough 12 hours and I was exhausted but it can be done. I don't choose to do it again, but that is me. I also had pit and chose to get an epi and for me I handled the labor much better the second time. Just because you are getting pit doesn't mean you have to have an epi. I cannot relax enough during contractions to let my body do what it needs to and when I got the epi my body was able to relax and dilation was MUCH faster.