What questions do I want to ask the anaesthetist re. epidural during my appt. today?

[SubOptiMum]

Hello,
As some of you know I am contemplating a VB in a few weeks after horrific VB with O2 very ill baby last time (currently down to ELCS). Am 35 weeks pregnant.

Anyhow my lovely hospital have arranged an appointment with a consultant anaesthetist to discuss epidural options if I do decided to VB (as plan would be an early epidural and see how we go). That is at 1pm today.

I have a few questions I want to ask but any ideas for any others?

So far I have:
-Going through previous notes

• My first epidural failed but the second one worked 5hours later- is there any way of trying to minimise chance of that happening again?

-Best epidural type for me? I heard this hospsital does a continuous infusion epidural with patient controlled top ups- is this something that would be suitable for me? (if I end up needing a CS is this epidural a type that can be changed?) -What position to push in while I be able to achieve? -When is best to get my epidural? Delivery suite suggesting early epidural for me to keep me calm given history of tokophobia but what about effects of prolonged analgesia on the pushing stage? -How often are women not able to get an epidural?

Anything else I should ask?
(I already am fairly aware of the risks of epidurals but its a non-negotiable!)

Do they do mobile epidurals so that you can move about to a degree, and stand (supported if necessary) so that you're not stuck lying on the bed which might help baby move down?

I had my epi turned down when I was fully dilated, then wasn't allowed to push for two hours. By the time the two hours were up, I was able to feel enough of what was going on to know when and how to push, but it wasn't horribly painful - I actually found the pushing stage fascinating, more than anything, and no intervention was necessary, I pushed her out myself in 45 minutes with no intervention. You could ask about that for you, if the idea appeals?

Back from hospital- really really positive.

Their standard is a woman gets an epidural within 30mins of request and most of time they meet that.

They do a continuous infusion epidural with patient controlled top ups every 15mins (so I can set my level of comfort especially for the pushing stage)

They assured me they wouldn't leave until sure epidural was working (last time first anaethetist buggered off - but it hadnt worked so next one took a few hours to get).

I can have my epidural from 3cm dilated.

I can be in whatever position I want to push in on the bed including all fours but they don't want me using my legs- see next point.

In terms of mobile epidurals apparently studies have now showed that they actually have no effect on outcomes of labours/interventions levels because they may not in actual fact make any difference to the baby moving down because of the moving around etc. So I might as well put my feet up ;)

So think I am going for a VB with early epidural. Which if you had suggested to me 30weeks ago I would have told you to fuck right off!
Wowsers.

Excellent news