Birth experiences at EGA at UCLH?Anxious i will be refused epidural?

[raphbec]

Hi there,

I am due to deliver our first baby at the end of October at UCLH. I am 100% sure i will want an epidural as i have a terribly low pain threshold (literally faint every month with bad period pains) but have read so many horror stories of women who have been told they cannot have one until they are over 4cm, or fobbed off until they are then told it is too late! I am so so worried this will happen to me and wondered if anyone has any good / bad experiences with this at UCLH?

Thank you! X

Make sure it is written in your notes that come what may you want an epidural before you go into the last stage of labour. I made it very clear to the midwives that I did not want to feel myself tear. When I arrived I recon firmed that the anaesthetist was available. I went a lot longer than I thought I would and to be honest I probably could have done it without but darn it was a relief!

I got an epidural at UCH at 8cm.

Had 2 babies there and would recommend that hospital.

good luck!

It will probably depend on staffing levels, so more chance you get one durinfg office hours on weekdays unfortunately. Only guaranteed epidural is by going private.

I think if you wait until totally desperate you will be at the mercy of staffing. In my first labour I was kind of going with the flow when I was in a terrible state and clearly not coping I discovered that the only anaesthetist had been called away on an emergency elsewhere. I was pretty hysterical! eventually did get epidural but had to wait quite a while. Decided against with second labour though because of lack of feeling for hours after in first labour. I think they fucked up a bit because I had no feeling in my legs for hours after and this did hinder my ability to look after my baby on post natal ward and led to me falling trying to reach baby during night! I would chat to midwife about it in advance and also be clear from the start about what you want. I really hadn't really researched it before first birth and I thing in retrospect was the reason it went all a bit pear shaped. Good luck

I had my DD at UCLH. I was induced and in terrible pain for hours. I wasn't really opening much and they kept offering me epidural because they saw the state I was in. In the end my DH told me to bloody take the epidural :D and I finally conceded defeat :) I got it within 20 minutes.
Just make sure you tell them from the start that that's what you want. If you wait until you are desperate you find yourself in a situation where there is no one available to administer it. Good luck.

thank you so much for all the responses! Sorry for the delay, ive been away without internet connection - its great to come back to read so much great advice.
Thanks again!