What’s it really like to go through labor induction without an epidural? You may be wondering “should I get an epidural?” I will share my personal experience with you here and maybe it can help you make your choice.
Choosing to get an epidural or not is a deeply personal decision for every woman and the choice is yours. My plan was not to get one, even though I left myself open for that plan to change on delivery day, as they sometimes do.
Was it painful? Yes. For me it was. I’m not going to tell you it wasn’t. But more importantly, you might be wondering…was it a positive experience? Yes to that too.
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So before you make the deeply personal choice of whether or not going epidural-free is right for you, consider it from all angles. Things may or may not go according to your expectations, just like your birth plan might go right out the window because every birth is unique, and sometimes plans change.
I almost changed my mind on the fly but I made it through my induction and delivery without the epidural.
And always remember, your body, your choice! Having to be induced may not be by choice, but your pain management protocol definitely is.
Disclaimer: This post is based on my personal experience of giving birth along with research. I’m a regular woman, not a doctor and this article is not intended to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your doctor.
This post will, however, give you an idea of what the experience of induction without an epidural may be like. Information from real-life moms, including myself, who have done it. I’ve also included a short Q&A with my OB at the end of the article.
What Is Labor Induction?
So basically, the short definition according to the Mayo Clinic is ” the stimulation of uterine contractions during pregnancy before natural labor begins to achieve vaginal delivery.” Your doctor will give you medications or use other methods to make your labor start.
Medical Reasons To Induce Labor
Why do doctors induce labor anyway? Primarily and most important is the safety of your baby. If your obstetrician believes that it is safer for your baby to be born sooner for any reason, they will recommend induction.
In my case, there were two reasons. My doc said that because I had an IVF pregnancy, I would be induced around week 39. One reason being that there is a possibility of problems arising with the placenta (like placental abruption) after 40 weeks. Along with that possibility comes the risk of the placenta not doing its job properly (ie. feeding your baby). The other reason was that I was an older mom, over 40.
“For older mothers, your midwife or doctor is advised to be more conservative. Given that the risk of having a stillbirth in women age 40-44 at 39 weeks gestation is about the same as the risk of stillbirth in women age 25-29 at 42 weeks, there are real reasons why they might be quicker to suggest inducing labor in a pregnancy that has gone past term.
” Ref : Leduc et al. 2013. Induction of Labour. JOGC Clinical Practice Guideline, 296:35(9) Accessed Jan. 25, 2020.
Some other reasons your OB might induce labor include gestational diabetes, preeclampsia (high blood pressure brought on by pregnancy), baby measuring below expected growth rate, your water breaking early which can bring on infection, low amniotic fluid, or just the fact that you are two weeks overdue.
Being Induced: What Can I Expect?
There are several techniques that your health care provider may perform. These include:
- Stripping the membranes. Also called a cervical sweep. This involves your doctor sweeping their (gloved) finger between the thin membranes of the amniotic sac in your uterus.
- Foley bulb (or transcervical Foley balloon). I had this done and I didn’t find it painful. Felt a little weird and uncomfortable going in and having the tube taped to the inside of my thigh for 3 days (3 days because the hospital had a busy week with 2 sets of twins and a set of triplets in the 2 days after I had my Foley put in) was strange but overall, no big deal. The doctor inserts a Foley catheter into the cervix to help it dilate. I wasn’t even at 1 cm dilated when I got the Foley and when I was admitted I was at 4.
- A Foley catheter is a “long, rubber tube with an inflatable balloon on one end that a doctor can fill with air or sterile water. When the balloon inflates inside the cervix, it puts pressure on the cervical cells, helping it dilate and increasing the tissue’s response to oxytocin and prostaglandins”. Ref: Medical News Today.
- Breaking the amniotic sac can jump start, or speed up labor.
- Putting cervical ripening drugs (prostaglandins) in the vagina next to the cervix can start mild contractions.
- You may be given oral misoprostal for induction of labor.
- Oxytocin (Pitocin is the brand name) given intravenously, can cause contractions to start. The doctor broke my water at 10 am and then the Pitocin drip was started. Hard labor started around 2 and I delivered my baby at 5 pm.
Expect The Unexpected
Remember, every woman is different and will react differently to these methods. Some of us are more sensitive to these medications and labor can happen much more quickly, but it is impossible to predict.
In my case, they ended up slowing down my Pitocin drip from 8 to 4 and eventually turned it off because my body had clearly taken over.
Therefore, my best advice is to expect it to be unpredictable. And as far as your pain threshold, only you know what you can handle. Often, labor doesn’t turn out the way you expect, so be sure to keep an open mind!
Sure my goal was to get through my induction without an epidural but most importantly was the safe delivery of my son.
Is Labor Induction With Pitocin More Painful Than Natural Labor? Why?
“It is painful I will not lie. In transition, I was almost begging for relief but at that point, you know you are close to the end. Concentration on breathing can get you through. I truly believe not having an epidural made my labor faster. My daughter was born 1 hr 15 mins after the Pitocin contractions started. So yes it was intense but so quick to get the best reward”. ~May G.
Here’s the thing, pain is definitely subjective and we all have different tolerance levels. But what I do know from my personal experience is that once the contractions get hot and heavy, they don’t let up. And for me, that was what I remember most…the fact that there was really no break in between contractions. I think the longest break I had was 1-2 minutes between, but most breaks were under a minute long. It was super intense, to say the least.
There’s also the fact that with natural labor there is a build-up of intensity and your body releases its own oxytocins. It’s completely different from the artificial stimulation of Pitocin, which to me, felt like jumping in an Indy Car and flooring it.
When I was preparing for labor, doing my hypnobirthing meditations and such, I remember they said things like ride the wave, let it crest and fall and then relax and breathe in the moment, breathe your baby down. I so wanted to do it!
But honestly, my waves were just on top of each other so I rode them the best I could. In true sailor fashion, I swore a lot.
I’ve heard some women say that the nurses were pushing them towards the epidural when the pain got really bad, but I personally didn’t have this experience. My team of nurses always left the decision entirely up to me.
How To Prepare For Labor Induction
Jessy A. -L&D nurse has this advice, “If you have the support of your partner, and the mindset to get through it, you can totally do it without one! It’s definitely a mental game. It also helps if you make your wishes known to your nurses. Then they will be able to support you as well. Be mobile, as much as possible. You will likely have to be on the monitor, but that doesn’t mean you can’t change positions or even stand at the bedside. Your nurse should work with you to achieve that! I say that as an L&D nurse. It is definitely more work for us, but it’s part of our job. Going through induction without an epidural will likely be harder, but doable!”
- Ask your doctor questions and be informed. It’s so important to be your own best advocate for yourself and your baby. You might feel like you are annoying the doctor or nurses by asking about the state of your cervix or any other question you can think of but don’t worry about that. You have the right to ask any damn thing you want, no matter if you think it is a stupid question or not!
- It’s normal to be a little scared of the unknown. So, address any fears you may have by being informed, remember knowledge is power.
- People may call you crazy for wanting to go through your induction with no epidural. Let them.
- One of the positives about being induced is that you know when (roughly anyway) you will be headed to the hospital. I already had my hospital bag pack 3 weeks prior, but I was able to have a lovely bath, shave and lotion that day. You can even schedule a mani-pedi the day before because you know, your feet (along with everything else!) are exposed for all to see.
- Sorry about this one but, go to the bathroom before you head to the hospital. It was nice to not have to worry about pooping during pushing. Again, sorry but it’s a good, solid tip.
- Bring a good book, headphones (I love these Bluetooth ones) to listen to your favorite music, an audiobook, or meditation soundtracks, do some knitting, crocheting, or whatever floats your boat to pass the time. Just because you are being induced doesn’t mean you won’t have time to kill. Also if you have a birthing ball or an exercise ball bring that just in case L&D is busy that day and they run short.
- Have your support system in place. Whether it is your husband, birth partner or doula, having people supporting you mentally and physically though your induction is paramount. When it gets intense you may feel like telling them to hit the road but that’s pretty normal. Hurt feelings will mend afterward, don’t worry if you say something mean.
- Once you are at the hospital and the induction process has started, stay mobile as long as you can. I was able to walk around with the IV and find different positions to help combat the pain in the earlier stages of labor.
- Keep an open mind. As I said earlier, expect the unexpected. Adopting a “go with the flow” attitude will be a great help in your quest for induction without an epidural. Maybe you will change your mind and get the epidural, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! You may have to have a C-section for some reason. It’s literally impossible to predict. Remember the only thing that matters is a safe delivery.
- Also, it is impossible to predict how long it will take for you to have your baby after a labor induction. There are a million stories in the naked city as they say. My labor was only 7 hours start to finish so I’d say I’m one of the lucky ones. I was scared that it would stall if I got the epidural and I just wanted the baby to get here already! That’s the main reason I pushed through. Not because it was painless, trust me. But if all goes well, you can do it.
Can I Have A Natural Birth After Induction?
"I was induced at 38 weeks with my second baby because my water broke and contractions still didn’t start 24 hours later. I was able to deliver without any pain medication, but I will definitely say that the pain came harder and faster than it did in my first non-medicated labor. It’s doable for sure but it will likely be a lot more challenging, to be honest."~Carolyn B.
Absolutely you can. I'm not delving into the whole "what is a natural birth" debate because I believe that all births are natural. "Drug-free" makes me think of pain management drugs like morphine, not labor-inducing drugs. So in this context, what I mean by "natural" is epidural-free and no morphine, just to clarify.
Women all over the world go through labor induction without an epidural, and if this is the path you'd like to travel, you can absolutely go for it.
Related: A Natural Birth Story To Inspire You
Dr. Victory Says...
My doctor, Dr. Rahi Victory was kind enough to help me out with a few FAQ's. He is is a board-certified Obstetrician, Gynecologist and Infertility specialist dedicated to helping improve the reproductive health of men and women. He is fully licensed in both Canada and the U.S. and welcomes patients from all backgrounds to his state-of-the-art clinic.
BSC, MD, FRCSC, FACOG
OBGYN, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Specialist
Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery
What is the main reason you recommend induction in IVF patients? "As Rice trial just recently demonstrated, it reduced fetal and maternal complications including a lower cesarean section rate for uncomplicated women delivering first time with elective induction at 39 weeks vs waiting till after 40. I always believed this to be true so I was already doing it for infertility patients. Waiting simply increases the risks of preeclampsia and stillbirth without any benefit."
What is the Bishop score and what does it predict? "Bishop score is a cervical assessment score that very weakly predicts success of induction. We don't really use it as we ripen non-favourable cervixes prior to induction."
Once I am induced or my water is broken, does that put a time limit on my labour? "Rupture of membranes does not limit duration. Although there is good evidence that after 18 hours even in women who are GBS negative, the risk of chorioamnionitis increases. So we can't wait too long but if mom and baby are well, rupture does not necessarily alter timelines or options."
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Your Story Belongs To You
Your birth story will be unique to you and as far as the epidural, you have your own reasons for wanting to avoid it. Perhaps like me, the thought of a needle in your spine is off-putting (terrifying, actually). Or maybe the thought of your newborn being bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with no drugs in his system is your reason.
You will feel everything, and I mean everything. For me, the contractions were way worse than transition and pushing. The memory of the pain fades just like everyone says it does, but the memory of that feeling when the baby's shoulders released, the feeling of exhilaration and sheer joy will never leave me.
Afraid your labor will take way longer if you get the epidural? Yep, that was me. Would it have? We'll never know. Would I do it differently? Probably not because I can be pretty stubborn. Your birth story will play out the way it plays out, and in the end, you will have your lovely, squishy little one and it will all be worth it.
So, if you're hoping to make it through your scheduled induction with no epidural, know that it is possible. Your birth plan may not always go according to plan but if your goal is to have an unmedicated birth, it is definitely worth pursuing.
Keep an open mind to all possible scenarios and take it one breath at a time. Have your own story about induction without an epidural? We'd love to hear from you in the comments!
Peace, Kelly
Kelly Blakely is the founder and creative force behind Just Our View From Here. As a first-time mom over 40, she brings a fresh perspective to parenting and family life on her blog. Kelly also explores a wide range of lifestyle topics in her writing, including fashion, beauty, self-care, and well-being.
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