Struggling to decide whether to get induced (3rd baby, this would be my first induction and potentially first epidural. Can you share if you got induced did you also end up getting an epidural? Was it a positive or negative experience?

Question

Not opposed to pitocin or an epidural but I haven't had either and don't know how my body or baby will react. I loved having both previous babies naturally but this one is measuring big with a massive head and I am worried baby may get stuck or I will tear horribly again (almost a 4th degree tear with my last baby who was 9lb3oz and came out fast with a big head). Anywho, that's why I'm considering being induced but I can't commit 😩.

Answer

My induction was somewhat traumatic. At 9:30am I was completely closed and firm. It was a while between admission and a bed being available in birth suite and by that point I was at a 2 and they were happy to breaks my water and start the induction drugs at 4pm. 2.5 hours from onset of active labour to baby’s arrival. I ended up with an almost 4th degree tear as well. My epidural went in 10 minutes before I started pushing and didn’t take. It did however have a placebo affect as I was in so much pain beforehand that I thought I was going to die and felt as though I could handle the pain and pushing with the epidural. It wasn’t until after baby had arrived and I had to go for surgery to repair the tear that we realised the epidural didn’t take- they tried to use it as a spinal, and ended up putting me under because it was unsuccessful and I could feel everything. 
Crazy experience that I will never go back for. I would do it again for this baby, but if I ever have another, I’m opting for a c-section as recommended after this tear.

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My epidural went perfectly... It was the induction process that was to hard for my body. Ended up with a emergency c section... But I was 37 weeks with Preeclampsia and a FTM!

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I’ve had 2 inductions with an epidural now and both have gone great for me, no issues at all.

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I’ve been induced with and epidural twice now. First time was horrible for me but this time it was so easy and went perfect.

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Epidurals suck for me but it’s literally just random chance. My first there was something wrong with the delivery method of the meds and it ended up not working towards the end of my labor. My second I had a bad reaction that caused lots of shaking and vomiting.

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I was induced due to gestational diabetes. Went in at 1cm and applied a cervix ripening gel. Went home for 5 hours and came back when contractions got consistent. Got admitted, was in the tub for 3 hours with just morphine and gravol. Got out, got checked and was only 2-3cm. Shortly after that my water broke naturally. Got an epidural after being only 2-3cm . I'm glad I did as he ended up being sunny side up and would have been an intense back labour (can even feel it now that he's 2 weeks old) Although the first try the anesthesiologist missed and had to try twice before getting it right. That was probably the worst part. Once it kicked in I was fine though. They gave me pitocin to help contractions along but kept me between 2-6mgs. Started induction at approx. 8:30am, and he was born the next day at almost 6am. 
That being said, if it's an ultrasound they used to determine baby's size they are notoriously inaccurate. My doctor induced me for fear of having a big baby, and he was 7lbs 1oz. The only reason it was a difficult delivery was because of his position.

Struggling to decide whether to get induced (3rd baby, this would be my first induction and potentially first epidural. Can you share if you got induced did you also end up getting an epidural? Was it a positive or negative experience?

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