Epidural- how many cm were you when you got one?

[Butterflyrosebud]

Hi all,

38 weeks pregnant and worrying about labour/ pain relief options.

I’ve put in my birth plan that if I don’t feel like I can cope using gas and air etc. then I want to go for an epidural.

I want to avoid labour slowing down and interventions which I know can happen. So how long did you wait before getting an epidural? I was thinking 6cm... although I know you can’t exactly plan these things.

Any advice or input would be put appreciated

I was 6cm but only asked for it because DS turned OP.

It didn't work (my family has a rare resistance to local anaesthetic, which I had warned them about) and took an hour to get the anaesthetist back to give me a stronger dose, which thankfully worked.

Oh, epidurals don’t stop you being able to move, but if they don’t take they are rather pointless (until the anaesiatist resites it). In both my births the epidural didn’t work first time - this time round it worked for a bit, but then I started feeling the contractions again...joy! But once they moved it and tried again it was fine. I could get some SLEEP! First time round I was pushing for 2 hours and needed ventouse and an episiotomy, this time the pushing stage was so much quicker and no intervention (other than stitches to a tear) needed 😊

I was induced and got my waters broken at 4cm. Immediately the pain got so strong and I got the epidural in at 5cm. It worked amazingly well until a few hours later I started to feel contractions and intense back pain. The epidural had failed so it came to the pushing stage and I used no pain relief. I didn't have an assisted delivery, however consultant had to turn my baby's head by hand as he was facing the wrong way. If he hadn't of done this it would have been a forceps delivery. I delivered myself with no tears.

I found the “mobile” epidural wasn’t mobile at all. I actually ended up on the floor

It depends on what kind of epidural you have - some of them do stop you from moving as your bottom half is completely numb.

I wanted to avoid an epidural. The pain got too much and I ended up begging for one. By the time the anaesthetist arrived I was 9cm dilated and baby had been having some heart decelerations. I turned down the epidural and it was the single most heroic thing I have ever done in my life.

(For the record I went on to have ventouse/episiotomy and had some birth injuries so I didn't avoid intervention).

I've read a lot of birth stories on here and every single one is different. I'd recommend that you see how you feel, but always remember that the pain will get worse - so don't gauge by how much you feel at the time, but by how much more you think you can take.

Hi everyone.

Just wanted to post an update for whoever reads this thread.

I now have a beautiful baby girl born early yesterday morning! After a very long ‘early labour’ where it took me 20 hours plus to dilate to 4cm.

Long story short I had pethidine early on and an epidural at around 3/4cm which lasted the whole way through. There was a button I could press to top up so towards the end I could feel when to push but was still pain free. No intervention needed and a few minor stitches.

I would 100% have one again. I felt very calm and relaxed plus in control. When she arrived it was a lovely moment and I was ready for cuddles and feeding straight away.

Thank you for all your kind advice and words.

@Butterflyrosebud
Many many congratulations