epi or no epi with pitocin?

Socialworkgirl · June 2012

I am being induced on Thursday unless by a miracle I go into labor tonight or tomorrow. Originally, I had planned to try to go without the epidural, but I know that contractions are often worse with pitocin. I was planning to go in planning not to get the epidural even with pitocin, but be open to it if it got too bad. DH thinks that if there is a decent chance I am going to end up wanting the epidural that I should go in planning to get it. His thought is that if I am going to end up getting the epidural anyway, why put myself through trying to go without it for several hours. I wouldn't say that I have a particularly high tolerance for pain, so I am not sure that I can make it without the epidural.

I'd love to hear any thoughts or previous experiences with pitocin with or without an epidural.

Thanks!

diehld@uindy.edu · June 2012

i had to get one due to high bp... so i would go in planning to get one so youre not dissapointed

Samiantha101 · June 2012

I went into the hospital in active labor. I had been contracting for 6 hours. My epi help made my labor and delivery so amazing. I had to wait about an hour for the anastesologist. That hour sucked! Im glad I got an epi early on in my 16 hour labor. Some women worry about not being able to push their babies out with an epi, I'm here to tell you it's absolutely possible. I pushed her out in 26 minutes. I think you know where I'm going with my recommendation. However, maybe for you it won't be the same. If you desire an epi free birth, try for it. You'll never know if you don't try.

ladygeek83 · June 2012

I just had my baby yesterday. My water ended up breaking and my labor was progressing slowly, so to get him out sooner I had cervidil and pitocin. I had the same attitude you appear to have - would like to go natural, but was open to an epi if things got really bad - and I did end up getting the epi when the contractions became unbearably bad. However, I also had back labor and very little sleep the previous two nights, so I was so exhausted I couldn't cope with it anymore. I realized that if labor was going to go on for many more hours, I most likely wouldn't have enough energy to push at the end of it all if I still avoided pain relief. The epidural, for me, ended up being a fantastic decision because I ended up getting a much needed two hour nap during my labor, during which time I progressed from 4 cm to 9 cm. I also didn't feel anything when I pushed him out, which only took about 20 minutes. I had some nurses tell me I may not have progressed that quickly without the epi, and my ultimate goal was to get him out without needing a c-section, and that happened. So I have no regrets about my decision, even though I ideally wanted to go drug-free.

I have a friend who was induced with her first, and was firmly against an epidural and was able to have pitocin and go without one. But I wonder if she most likely had an "easier" time since I'm not sure she had the back labor and lack of sleep.

acbfreire · June 2012

Stay open-minded. At the end of the day what matters is that you and the baby are doing okay. Get the IV and sign the epi forms ahead so if you need it it is all set to go.

EMOmamma · June 2012

I've had both. With my first I had pit after failing to progress (water broken over 24 hours). Baby was in a bad position & I had awful back labor. I was also confined to the bed b/c I needed oxygen so I couldn't move or work through the contractions. I got the epi after 3 hours.

With my second I had to be induced for HELLP I labored on pit for 6 hours before my water broke on its own. After that they turned off the pit since I was in full active labor. I think being able to stand up, sit on the ball, etc made the difference in being able to work through the contractions.

I would say if you don't want the epi don't plan on it but since birth doesn't go as planned allow yourself to get one if you need it. The restrictions from pit (monitoring, IV) make it harder to do without pain meds so don't be upset if you get it.

octwed07 · June 2012

I had one, but the type I had, It basically numbed the sharp pains, but i could definitely still feel pressure, so i was able to feel what i was doing when it was time to push. The hospital that i delivered at with DD offered a patient controlled epidural, where you get a push button that will allow you to get more medicine, but it's regulated so you can't overdose or go beyond the maximum amount. My understanding is that this method has less side effects. Anyway, it worked great for me and it took the edge off. DD had a HUGE head, she was about 8.5 lbs. Her head circum was always at the 90% mark. I pushed for an hour -- i had to get 2 stitches and got hemorrhoids (fun times). I definitely had feeling in my legs -- i was happy with how the dr dosed it. I don't even remember them putting the needle in. I do remember having to sit up, but it wasn't painful.

Asquared · June 2012

didn't have an epi w/ my second, but w/ pitocin and fairly slow progression this time, I got one... 10 minutes before dd was born.

joleine · June 2012

I had pitocin going for about 15 hours before getting the epidural.. I managed to go until about 7/8cm without it but couldn't get over that last hump w/ a sunny side up baby without it. I don't know that having the pitocin made a difference at all. My pitocin contractions weren't really that bad at all.

couliegirl · June 2012

I'd say, do your best, but go in prepared to have the epidural. I ended up having an induced labor with pitocin because my water broke and I didn't go into labor. It was pretty traumatic and I was pretty upset, well still am a little upset that I didn't get to have the kind of birth experience that I wanted. It was the one senerio that I wasn't prepared for. I think if I had had some time to mourn the potential loss of my natural childbirth, that I would have coped with the whole thing alot better.

If you do get the epi, don't feel bad about it. Pitocin contractions are no joke. I know some women don't have a bad experience with them, but I definetly did.

Also, I made it all the way to 9 cm before the epidural. I was going through transition as I was getting it. I'm glad that I labored as hard as I did for as long as I did. It helped me to feel less defeated.

SummerMama12 · June 2012

I needed pitocin to augment my first labor because I never got regular contractions after my water broke. I was able to labor for a number of hours med-free, even with the pitocin, but my body was very tense from trying to manage the pain. I decided to get an epi and went from 2 to 10 in less than 45 minutes. It was the best thing ever because it allowed my body to relax and dilate. My OB thought that, without it, labor would have stalled for sure. So, sometimes the epi actually helps your labor-- don't look at it as a bad thing.

amberlynnr7 · June 2012

I had to have pitocin. I labored for 3 hours through that & took the epi. No shame.

calibroncosfan5968 · June 2012

I had my baby girl on Tuesday the 12th. I was induced at midnight and when they hooked me up to the monitors, I was having contractions 4 minutes apart and never knew it... whoops! They didn't even turn on the pitocin right away and once they did, the contractions were right on top of each other and they had to give me a shot to calm them down. At any rate, I knew I wanted the epidural I just wasn't sure what time I should get it. I didn't want it to wear off and I didn't want to wait too late either. I ended up getting the epidural at about 3:30 and from 3:30am to 12:00 pm. I was in NO pain, I was able to joke around with my husband and family that was in the room with me and my experience was a great one! Now granted I am a BIG baby when it comes to pain so I never questioned whether or not I would have the epidural but I figured if I'm happy, those around me (including nurses and drs) will be happy too! Good luck and I hope you have a great labor experience

thatoneredhead · June 2012

I had to be induced too, and the pitocin made them worse but I handled it for about 3 hours, but I didnt last an hour after my ob broke my water.

I was also tensing up really bad with every contraction. When I got my epi, the contractions smoothed out.

I wouldnt feel bad about getting an epidural! I loved mine and it made me really sick. I would take it any day over the pain I was feeling pre-epi.

liyahc9 · June 2012

I was induced with my first one and have a scheduled induction for this one as well. I simply suggest going into your induction with an open mind that you want to try your best, but it is ok if you cannot take the pain and need an epidural. Sometimes mom's go in with a set plan and when things do not happen that way they get disappointed in themselves and there is no reason for that, we are all strong women who deserve nothing but love for what we go through!!

Keep in mind that an epidural although there is a possibility of it slowing down labor can help you relax and save energy for when the important time comes!! Just be true to yourself and keep an open mind!

oktober1 · June 2012

Had a pain free labor for the first 19 hours with no epi. Once the pitocin was given, the last 2 hours were horrible. If I had to do it again, I would have had the epidural...

desertmouse39 · June 2012

I was just induced last week and had Pitocin - I very much wanted a med/intervention free birth and decided to try to maintain that, despite the induction process. I had hired a doula and my husband and I were prepared for what we could do non-medically from our birthing class. It worked! I don't have anything to compare the labor/contractions experience to (natural vs pit) and it was incredibly intense and painful as I went through transition but also, for me, an amazing experience to hold and look back on now. I would have asked for the epi if my labor ended up being super long, or if it stalled, or if an epi was medically necessary, but in my case everything went great without it.

Want a personalized experience?

epi or no epi with pitocin?

Re: epi or no epi with pitocin?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards