Epidural

[Epidural]

Hello, I'm just wondering im trying for a second baby however my first birth was very painful and I had to wait an hour for an epidural. Is there any way if I'm being induced that I can have the epidural before my waters are broken?

Unfortunately... labour is painful. I highly doubt they would allow you an epidural before having your waters broken as it doesn't always start labour immediately. I was petrified of the whole process the first time round. I found labour so much easier second time around, I knew I wasn't going to die and managed without an epidural, it was also a much more relaxed and empowering experience in comparison to my first! good luck OP.

No. They won't give you epidural until you're in established labour / 4 dilated.

Was induced with both babies, both times I had to wait till minimum 4cm

I had one at 3cm

I then slept the rest of the day, fabulous.
I doubt you'll be able to get one before your waters are broken though.
Although my waters went on their own after the pessary, before my contractions started.

If you're being induced then yes you can ask for an epidural early as they're going to be intervening anyway. I'm a midwife and on my last shift I got an epidural for a lady who was 1cm but we knew we were going to be moving things along so made sense to do it whilst she was able to sit still.

Under what other circumstances is pain relief in hospital in hospitals not given? I don't find acute pain empowering at all. I expect an epidural to be given to me when I ask for it not have to wait hours and hours.
They don't tell post surgical patients to wait for pain relief because pain is a natural process do they? Childbirth can be more painful than a lot of surgical procedures, I know because I've had loads of operations and none of them have been as painful as hours of childbirth.
Talk to the midwife and consultant about this and make it quite clear you want pain relief throughout the birth. I'd definitely have an epidural before being induced as that makes contractions much more painful.

It's because of the worry it will slow things down, not because of any moral panic about medicated childbirth.

I think they are a bit ott with it in the UK though, there is no 4cm requirement in other countries. Seems harsh if things are moving on and or it's an induction so there will be intervention anyway.

Yes you absolutely can have an epidural prior to having waters broken. I have advocated for women to have just that, why should you have to endure pain if you’re choosing not to!