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Our Antenatal and Postnatal Depression forum is a supportive space where you can share your postnatal depression experiences.

Antenatal/postnatal depression

When should I head to the hospital for an epidural?

15 replies

Mummblebee · 02/04/2018 09:50

Hi everyone.

I'm 40w+5d and this is my first pregnancy.
I've been having contractions for the last 5 hours every 8 minutes or so.

I plan to have the epidural. Called the midwife in triage and she said to come in when my contractions are 1-2 minutes apart lasting an hour.. but everything on the internet suggests that that's pretty much pushing stage and would be too far gone to get the epidural!

Can anyone advise when would be the appropriate time to head to the hospital.

Not too early that they send me home.. but not too late that I miss my chance to get epidural as planned!

Thanks xxxx

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Matilda1981 · 02/04/2018 09:55

I wouldn’t get your heart set on an epidural if I were you!! They have to be given at a fairly specific time otherwise it’s too late and who knows how quickly your baby will come when it decides to? I had an epidural with dd1 as she was back to back and it was excruciatingly painful, even tho it was self administer and I didn’t give myself too much as I wanted to be able to feel when to push it will mqde labour quite hard work, when I went in to have dd2 I was having quite long contractions every 5 mins - I had her 20 minutes after arriving at hospital!

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Steeley113 · 02/04/2018 09:55

I was always told it’s contracting 3 in 10 minutes and strong enough that you can’t speak through them. You can always call and say they’re too painful and ask to be seen.

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Babdoc · 02/04/2018 09:56

How long is the journey to hospital? I wouldn’t leave it any later than contractions 4 or 5 mins apart. You need to allow journey time, admission paperwork time, examination, then contacting the on call anaesthetist who may be stuck in theatre with another patient’s Caesarian.
If you definitely want an epidural, it’s no good being virtually in second stage before the anaesthetist arrives!

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ListeningtoBowie · 02/04/2018 09:58

You go to hospital when YOU are ready! You will just know. I got to hospital when I was about 6 cm dilated first time round and 4cm second time round. Both times I got an epidural.

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milkjetmum · 02/04/2018 09:58

I was told to go in when I was having 3 contractions within a 10minute time. Still go sent home for being there too soon!

Have had 2 children and when I got sent home the first time they said to come back when the contractions 'changed'. And I thought wtf does that mean. But then they changed and I understood. Hard to describe but went from being something I could tolerate and breathe through to something more overwhelming.

Basically go in when you want (but be prepared you might be sent home).

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ListeningtoBowie · 02/04/2018 10:00

I personally don't think midwives should say that. People's circumstances are going to be different, i.e. how close you are to the hospital etc, what position baby is in, whether you're consultant led etc.

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strawberrysparkle · 02/04/2018 10:02

I've been told go to the hospital when contractions are 3 in 10 minutes. I want an epidural but haven't got my heart set on one as know that they must be given in a specific time.

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Mummblebee · 02/04/2018 16:04

Hi everyone. Thank you for the advice.

It's been 11 hours now with no change.. contractions every 10 minutes!

No mucus plug or waters.
I have no idea what to expect..
X

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ListeningtoBowie · 02/04/2018 16:12

Wow my labour came on really quickly. If it gets closer together and unable to cope with that is when you should make a move. Good luck.

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MrsJoshDun · 02/04/2018 16:16

You won’t routinely get an epidural until you’re in established labour of 4cm dilated and to get to that point you (usually) need contractions to be at least 3 every ten minutes and to have been 3 every ten minutes for an hour. Not everyone has contractions as frequent as 1-2 minutes apart. But they do need to be fairly regular to act on your cervix.

Once you hit that 4cm mark you will normally have quite a few hours left with your first labour. So you should still have plenty of time. Good luck.

Sounds at the minute like you’re in the latent phase of labour and this can sadly last for days. Obviously if you’re in too much pain ring them back even if still ten mins apart. Or if your waters go then ring them.

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Applesandpears23 · 02/04/2018 20:37

If you can try to rest.

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Mummblebee · 04/04/2018 02:38

Baby girl born 8.30 am yesterday. She is precious.

Showed up at 4 cm dilated.. the anathesiast took an hour to arrive! By which time I was 9 cm dilated and it was time to push. I saw my life flash before my eyes on has and air.

all the same my angel is here safe and sound. What an experience. Lol

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jellyelly · 04/04/2018 02:51

Congratulations! Flowers

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ListeningtoBowie · 04/04/2018 07:15

Well done. Good job.

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Applesandpears23 · 05/04/2018 11:30

Congratulations!

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