Pitocin before epidural?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there ever a point when it’s too late to get the epidural? My contractions sped up really fast and if I didn’t get the epidural when I did I feel like I would have been able to sit up long or there wouldn’t have been enough time i between contractions to get it in.

You just need to get able to sit still. I got one (begged) and as soon as it was dove they said I could push. I chose to lay there and rehab for 10 minutes first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there ever a point when it’s too late to get the epidural? My contractions sped up really fast and if I didn’t get the epidural when I did I feel like I would have been able to sit up long or there wouldn’t have been enough time i between contractions to get it in.

I’ve heard of many mothers at Arlington hosoysal vding toms it was too late for the epidural. Probabky because they didn’t have anyone to do it.

[Anonymous]

I got an epidural after. I'd been in labor for 10 hours at that point. I didn't know it was an option to get it before the pitocin.

[Anonymous]

First baby, induction with foley bulb, breaking water, and pitocin. I tried to do pitocin with no epidural for like 5 hrs, but the contractions were SO PAINFUL and I was not making any progress. I got the epidural and started to progress right away, maybe because I was more relaxed and not in excruciating pain.

2nd baby, induced again (water broken at home, but no contractions). I either got epidural then pitocin, or epidural very soon after pitocin (can't remember). Didn't feel any contractions. Everything went every well. I labored in bed with a peanut ball between my legs. I progressed pretty quickly and pushed for about 15 mins.

[Anonymous]

I was induced with a misoprostol pill and my contractions picked up and water broke within an hr or two. I then got an epidural an hr or two before pitocin and was ready to push around 10-12 hrs later. Ended up needing a C section because he wasn't progressing after 3 hrs of pushing, but I think that was a combo of his head size and my pelvis size, not related to epidural/pitocin.

On another note, I did get a TON of fluids while on my epidural and my baby was pressing on the connection between my kidney and bladder so I had zero output in my catheter bag for about 18 hrs. I ended up hugely swollen with probably 25 extra lbs of water weight. Also, I think some of that water must have gone to the baby because he ended up going under birth weight so much that they made me supplement. I always wonder if his brith weight was significantly impacted by the extra fluids.

[Anonymous]

I was induced with pitocin and began to dialate quick. They broke my water and the pain was unbearable. After an hour i begged for an epidural. Once I got the epidural labor slowed down.

[Anonymous]

I was induced for both of my pregnancies:

First pregnancy: on pitocin for TWENTY FOUR HOURS and no real progress (also no epidural). Turned off overnight, turned back on in the early morning. When turned back on, strong, painful contractions, with progress. Epidural in late morning, water broke soon after, pushed for 2+hours, 9.5 lb baby finally arrived.

Second pregnancy: cervidil, then cytotec which finally got things moving after 12 hours. Pitocin added, then 5 or 6 hours later, epidural, then water broke in 3 or 4 hours.. Transitioned quickly, pushed once, out popped 10lb+ baby.

So in other words, somehow the epidural has always helped speed up my labor, but has always come after the pitocin was started.

[Anonymous]

I was induced with pitocin but wasn’t in much pain until 7 cm

[Anonymous]

Pitocin at 7am, contractions started at 2pm, baby born at 5:19pm

Epidural before pitocin would have been awful, as there was so much time waiting around for things to happen

[Anonymous]

Only if you’re being induced. I had an epidural well into my labor. They required pitocin a few hours after to get me the last few cm. I had stalled from fatigue, the epidural was a rest break. Pitocin contractions are MUCH more intense. And different, no wave of intensity to ride just contraction on/off. Even if you aren’t feeling the pain it’s different

If you’re planning an epidural anyway I’d get it first.

[Anonymous]

Well for one you're typically given pitocin when you're not having regular contractions so there isn't much if any real pain yet. Plus, there is evidence that epidurals before 4-6cm (active labor) can slow labor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was induced with a misoprostol pill and my contractions picked up and water broke within an hr or two. I then got an epidural an hr or two before pitocin and was ready to push around 10-12 hrs later. Ended up needing a C section because he wasn't progressing after 3 hrs of pushing, but I think that was a combo of his head size and my pelvis size, not related to epidural/pitocin.

On another note, I did get a TON of fluids while on my epidural and my baby was pressing on the connection between my kidney and bladder so I had zero output in my catheter bag for about 18 hrs. I ended up hugely swollen with probably 25 extra lbs of water weight. Also, I think some of that water must have gone to the baby because he ended up going under birth weight so much that they made me supplement. I always wonder if his brith weight was significantly impacted by the extra fluids.

Edema/water retention is a side effect of misoprostol, so that probably contributed. I thought they stopped giving misoprostol pills because they can cause uterine tearing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Remember with the pitocin and epidural you need to get lots of Ivs so you are being pumped full of liquid. I must’ve gained 10 lbs in water weight. You will also need a catheter.

Really? I had pitocin twice but don't remember having a catheter!

[Anonymous]

Epidurals wear off after about 24 hours (ask me how I know!). A lot of women who have to have pitocin will go a lot longer than that. Mine clocked in at around 40 hours on pitocin by the time my kids were born. Epidurals were almost completely gone (I could walk and was screaming) for the worst part. Clearly my days in labor were the most miserable of my life- no sleep, no food and pain relief was gone for most. Also, they start you slow on pitocin but really crank it up near the end. You can get a bolus in the epidural line, but they are sparing with those and you have to really beg.

For my 1st birth I got an epidural 2 hours into pitocins, 2nd birth I got an epidural 12 hours in (still gone at the end), for my 3rd I plan on waiting until I'm dying to get the epidural.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remember with the pitocin and epidural you need to get lots of Ivs so you are being pumped full of liquid. I must’ve gained 10 lbs in water weight. You will also need a catheter.

Really? I had pitocin twice but don't remember having a catheter!

NP. If you have an epidural, you will have a catheter. I too was pumped full of liquid. Bags and bags and bags. I had no swelling when I entered the hospital, but by the time I left, I was like one plump sausage. The massage person after birth joked about how her hands were leaving indents in my body. At home I remember just sweating buckets all night long and peeing like a racehorse. In the morning my eyes were so swollen I could barely open them. Fun times. True story- I weighed more when I came home after delivery, than I did at 42 weeks pregnant with a 9lb 12 oz baby.