For an induced labor...when should pain relief be administered?

Question

I have heard that the contractions come on suddenly and painfully when the labor is induced. Should I ask for pain relief before the labor induction begins?

Answer 1

If you’re feeling a little nervous about the process of giving birth, you’re not alone. On top of that, you’ve probably heard a few labor-room horror stories. So who wouldn’t be anxious? Yet it’s important that you face labor with a calm assurance that all will go well. It is very important to be relaxed during labor, because if you are relaxed the process is much faster (the labor). If you have a low tolerance to pain then I would ask for the pain medication. This is something that you can talk over with your health care provider before you go into labor, seeing what option is better for you.

For example: Systemic painkillers such as narcotics dull your pain but don't completely eliminate it. You may also be given a tranquilizer — alone or in combination with a narcotic — to reduce anxiety or nausea, or to relax you. Systemic drugs are either delivered through an IV line to your bloodstream or injected into a muscle, and they affect your entire body rather than concentrating pain relief in the uterus and pelvic area. They may make you feel sleepy, but unlike the general anesthesia that's often given for surgery, they won't make you unconscious.

An epidural delivers continuous pain relief to the lower part of your body while allowing you to remain fully conscious. Medication is delivered through a catheter, a very thin, flexible, hollow tube that's inserted into the epidural space just outside the membrane that surrounds your spine. The medication is usually a combination of a local anesthetic and a narcotic. Local anesthetics block sensations of pain, touch, movement, and temperature, and narcotics blunt pain without affecting your ability to move your legs. Used together, they provide good pain relief with less loss of sensation in your legs and at a lower total dose than you'd need with just one or the other.

A spinal differs from an epidural in two ways: It's delivered directly into the spinal fluid (and not into the space surrounding your spine), and it's a one-time injection rather than a continuous feed through a catheter. As a result, relief is rapid and complete but lasts only a few hours. Your practitioner may order a spinal block if you decide you want pain relief late in labor or if you're progressing so rapidly that delivery is likely to be sooner rather than later and you can't wait for an epidural.

A combined spinal/epidural block is a newer technique that offers the rapid pain relief of a spinal and the continuous relief of the epidural. In early labor, this technique can work like a walking epidural because you rely primarily on the narcotics in the spinal injection for pain relief for the first hour or two (which allows you to continue to walk around). Then you have the epidural to fall back on once the spinal starts to wear off. In more active labor, you may opt for a combined spinal/epidural so you get immediate relief from the spinal while you're waiting for the epidural to work.

Answer 2

Usually, pain relief is not administered until you're at least past 3. If you get an epidural at this point, it can slow the labor even if you're being induced, not to mention cause changes in your blood pressure and fever, etc. You may ask for pain relief, but you may not even need it. Try hiring a doula; she can help you through some of those tough contractions. Your own endorphins will also kick in to aid in pain relief, which is much gentler than the narcotics or epi in the hospital. In any event, good luck!

Answer 3

I was induced. It took a while for me to start feeling the contractions. But I do remember them giving me pain meds right of the bat. When the really bad contractions started they gave me an epidural. I was in labor for 13 hours. The epidural wore of in the last 2-3 hours so they have be another smaller does. I would say not to worry about it let things just happen as they come. The thoughts of having the baby were a lot worse than it really was. I can honestly say it was that bad.

Answer 4

NO. labor induction can happen hours befor pain starts. You will probably be induced at around 5 in the morning, then they will monitor you for hours. Probably around 10 in the morning, then mabey at around 3 or so you will have the baby. It takes forever. (most the time) But as soon as you feel pain they can give you some pain meds. Then when you want your epidural, if you want one, then you can get it. good luck. (the wait is worse then the pain.)

Answer 5

NO!!! It can wear off. Ask for the medication when you just cant stand the pain anymore also the med can slow labor down sometimes. Yes it can happen suddenly but you will not die before the epi gets there I promise. I was induced with both my girls. Good Luck!!

Answer 6

no. you cant ask for pain relief even if your induced. the docs will wait till your contractions are regular and powerful. unfortunetly there are times when labour is harder if it is induced.but the best way is to be relaxed and concentrate of your contractions.if you feel that they are good 5 min apart after induction, ask the doctor to check and then ask them if they can give you a pain relief

Answer 7

the contractions you have with an induction tend to become stronger at a faster pace...as opposed tohaving hours and hours to get used to them. you can still follow the usual path and have paracetamol then entonox(gas and air) etc as things get tougher!
with and induction they give you a gel or pessary to start things and some people this is enough to kick start labour... then things progress as usual. it is only if you need the drip in your hand that the speed can be quite fast. just relax and take it as it comes your body will tell you when (or if) you need painkillers. trust yourself and you will be fine.. the most important thing is to relax!! good luck

Answer 8

you should have pain relief when u feel u need it, u may be able to go all the way with just a little gas and air or u may need everything lol u wont know till u get there and feel for ureself!! good luck xx

Answer 9

they should give you that option you shouldnt have to ask that and if you do then thats wrong
i would take it befor being induced

Answer 10

i sure would.