I def want an epidural this time - do they have to give it to me and can I get it from the beginning

[yellowflowers]

I had an epidural last time and it was great. For various reasons I def want one this time too. Not looking for people telling me not to, but any advice on getting one helpful. I don't want to wait and see and I am really not interested in a 'natural' birth. I know I want an epidural. Can I demand one from the beginning? Do they have to give me one? Do I have to wait until I am a certain amount dilated? Also someone told me I can always request the drip put in at the beginning and they hold off on the drugs until I want them - is that so?

i had an epidural ...they gave it to me at 4 cm...it took me 24 hours of labour to get to that then another four...never felt baby come out but could still push ...it was fab

Often it depends on anaesethics cover, if one is available. our local hospital report that their target is no longer than 30mins from request. for example if its the middle of the night and several emergencies are in, you will have to wait etc.

its worth discussing local policy with your midwife and going from there. our local birth centre/mlu can't do an epidural.

To receive an epidural there needs to be a delivery room available on your consultant unit, a midwife to give you one to one care, an anaesthetist to site it and and most units will want you to be in established labour.
In most cases, you will be able to get as soon as, or soon after, you request it. Sometimes you may have to wait until they are available.
Sometimes, you may not make it to the hospital on time for them to place an epidural (2nd babies can come very quickly) or sometimes you may give birth whilst waiting for one.

Do you mean placing the epidural catheter without giving you the pain relief?

Baddayattheorifice's advice is spot on in terms of how the process works.

You may (read: are highly likely to), also encounter midwives and/or doctors who want to persuade you to not have the epidural so you will need to be prepared for this and have strategies/responses to deal with it if you are keen for an epidural from the outset. Detail it in your birthplan, brief your partner. Make sure you discuss it with a midwife now so that you already have information on risks etc.

I was zero cm dilated when I got mine but had been in unrelenting pain for 7 hours. I was in such a state I was screaming "No, no, no Oh my God" every minute or so and smacking myself on the head to try to knock myself out (this wasn't a try-on BTW but a genuine response to the pain I was in.) Suggesting that you scream and shout and make a huge fuss goes down really badly here on MN but if on the day you've tried everything else to no avail and are still determined to get your epidural it's worth bearing this in mind.

Can I just say, if you are being denied an epidural, its highly unlikely that its 'just because' the mw doesn't want you to have one and far more likely that it would be unsafe for you at that time as they do not have the space/staffing available to make it so, so screaming and shouting in this instance will not be effective at all, I'm afraid.

Well, it certainly worked for one poster.

We tried another strategy when initially denied an epi.

When we got the anticipated denial (hospital was notorious), we said, ok we're going to be making a full complaint, time, place, request, and send it both the director of the Trust, head of Obs, Head of Midwifery and everyone else we can copy it to. A bit of aggro then ensued but....suddenly,we got the epi and like the OP it was fantastic,

Nothing like being supported in your choices though! That said the hospital we went to were really bad and I know most aren't like that.

Another trick to watch is that they don't remove the epi at the end so leaving you in unendurable pain when you most need it. Again, that was tried on.

I was then asked by the midwife if I had any regrets that I had not 'achieved' a 'normal' birth.

I would have loved to have a worn an 'epidural and proud of it' t-shirt as I left.

Good luck!

In an NHS hospital (or even private I'd imagine) you are not guaranteed an epidural when you ask for it - its totally dependent on how busy the ward is and where the consultant and anaesthetist is. You can request one and end up waiting hours (- waited 6 hours for mine).

In theory you should be able to have one when you want one but it doesn't always work like that.... When I met with my consultant for this pregnancy asking for a c section due to birth trauma he tried to tell me I could have an early epidural as soon as I got to the hospital. I said to him "so if the anaethetist is busy he's going to be called away to come and do it for me?" (Being sarcastic) and he looked a bit sheepish.... He then proceeded to book me in for my c section as he knew he couldn't guarantee it at all.