Has anyone been induced and not had an epidural?

[Tiger63]

I know there is a similar question for induction on here but i'm wondering if anyone has not had an epidural after being induced? My biggest fear of being induced is that it will be more painful and i will have no choice but to have an epidural or a ceasar. I know it may sound stupid but i don't want an epidural because i'm terrified of needles.

Thanks in advance. I am being induced wed morn at 8am and i will be 10 days overdue

[martikadragoon]

my mom's water broke naturally with my youngest brother (she had 3 csections, and he was her 4th and a VBAC at that!)
HOwever she wasn't contracting like they wanted so they augmented labor with pitocen and she went all natural, including an episiotomy (sp?)

[sweetangel7]

Just wanted to let you know that I actually had a true phobia of needles...I would cry and scream so bad (and sometimes hyperventilate, get light headed and pass out!) over a blood draw (even at the age of 20!) or a simple shot!  It has taken YEARS to overcome it-although I am still sooooooooo squeamish, I was able to handle the epi...if I can do it, anyone can ;)  

BUT you might have a higher pain threshold... We are all different!

Don't fear the epi or the induction!

[babyblurb]

hi! i was induced with my last daughter and i had no epidural no pain meds at all. It was painful.

[Quinns momma]

I was induced with my daughter and ended up doing it natural even tho I was screaming at the top of my lungs for an epid.  I progressed from 5cm to 10 cm in 15 mins! There was no time for any pain relief.   This time around I was an epid the moment I walk into the hospital. LOL ;)

[jenkaye21]

I was induced with my first and did not have an epidural.  I am terrified of needles, too. : )

I just had #4 on Thursday, and had the other naturally.  I didn't have an epi with any of them.  To be honest, I feel like my first --being induced-- was my easiest labor.

Good luck, and try to think positive.  It really helps!!

[Whitneylauren]

I was induced with my second and did not have an epidural. From my experience it was just as painful as my first labor (done naturally as well). I think people say it is more painful because the contractions come on really strong super fast instead of slowly building like a regular labor. My first baby came in just 45 minutes so the contractions came on strong very quickly so maybe that why my induction felt like it did with my first baby.

[nickieb85]

I hope you go into labor tomorrow and don't have to be induced. With my first baby I had no epideral and needed a whole bunch of meds to progress and I was in the worst pain of my life. I was crazy I was in so much pain! Good luck!

[AngellaHas2]

Hello, I can only comment on my own experance. And it was not by choice. When I had my first child. It was an experance I would never wish on any woman.

I was induced on a monday night, I went into the doctors, and about 9 years back, they gave you a pill to get the cervix to open. But the stuff they have today. Well I took two little pills, and well about 8 hour later they gave me patosin. I know I spelled that wrong, Well at about 6pm the next day which was tuesday, I was sent home. Because the doctor said it didnt work. Well not only did he send me home, I was bleeding, and well about 6 hours later, I was back in the hospital. In pain and feeling everything. the next day, the doctor came in and broke my water, and well like most woman, I got the epidural. And it didnt work. I felt everything. Ever contraction, every inch of my child coming out of me. And let me be the first to tell you. The only thing I kept thinking of was please don't let me die. Well now 9 years later I have a young lady who is my world.  But the pain sucked, and I think the contractions where worse because of the medication.

But every woman is diffrent.So please remember thaat..

And this last pregnancy, I was induced the way they induce now, with the cervic medication, and nothing in a drip. And I would do it over and over a million times. And this time I had the epidural, and it worked, and I injoyed giving birth.

[Tiger63]

aly79 and jdamico: thanks for your experiences.

JoyRenee: i know i don't have to have an epidural but all i have heard for labours being induced is horror stories and labour is stronger and faster and your body doesn't cope with the pain therefore leading to epidural or ceasar as the baby gets too distressed. so just wondering if there were any successful inductions that didn't lead to epidural or ceasar. Everyone is different i guess and i know i just have to wait to see what happens!

[JoyRenee]

You do not have to have an epidural.

[jdamico]

iwas induced for all three of  my  kids and  did  have an epidural  for all of them  it  all depends on how u  tolerance for   pain is .    Mylabors were long  so i got the epidural  due to  being so tired i needed to  rest ( and i am  scared of  needles to  whichi is funny   cause i am  phlebotomist  and draw  blood  for a living ) . My last   baby  in  Feb  of 09  my epi wasnt in  long  enough  for  it to take effect  when i was ready to  deliver and actually it  wasnt as bad as i though it was going tobe   i felt better  after not  having the  epidural work .  They have other pain  meds u can  use that will help take the  edge of   pain during labor. Good  luck with  things and congrats and the  new baby  coming

[aly79]

i have been induced 3 times and never asked or wanted an epidural i used newbain(sp) for pain and thats it and i plan the same for this one