Did anyone struggle to get the epidural they wanted?

[Blackitty]

I absolutely want an epidural. This is my first baby, and I’m scared. There is no way in Hell that I am doing it the natural way, or surviving on just paracetamol and gas and air. Even if I could do it, I wouldn’t want to. I am worried the hospital will be a pain about it as reading posts from other women who say they couldn’t get it as the Labour Ward was too busy, etc. Then there’s articles like this - www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/mar/03/women-in-labour-being-refused-epidurals-official-inquiry-finds which is extremely worrying. There are women who say they were told they were either too late or too early for one, but that’s nonsense as article states they can be given at any time. What was your experience? Will it help if I ask for it as soon as I get there?

I had an epidural with my first birth and no pain relief whatsoever with my second. I am confident that if you state clearly that you want an epidural from the get go you will be given one. I actually never asked for mine, it was pushed on me a bit, not complaining and I did obviously consent to it. I had mine at 10cm and yes they can be given any time as long as you can stay still. Just keep asking. It’s not something I’d worry about, just remember to speak up for yourself. All the best!

I asked as soon as I got there and repeatedly asked (I was on the drip so probably would have been given one anyway)
Maybe discuss it with your midwife at your next appointment if you're worried about not getting one?

Tell them you want one the second you walk through the door. If they end up inducing you and then putting you on a drip (that's what happened to me) then make sure (DEMAND) you get your epidural before they put you on the drip.
I had two naps with my epidural! So worth it! 🤣

I asked for an epidural about an hour after I was in established labour. I was read the paperwork and signed. By the time the anaesthetist came in I was transitioning and I heard the midwife tell the anaesthetist it was too late and he left. I guess that given that I'd gone from 4cm to 10cm in an hour, they thought the baby would be out very shortly. From what I can remember she said I was so close and had done the hard part, did I think I could do it on gas and air. I agreed and did manage on gas and air. But at that point I was not sure what was going on and I was feeling very reliant on the midwife - she left the room a couple of times and I was crying for her to come back 🙈 so I was just agreeing with what she said. To be fair I didn't find the latter part too bad, much more manageable than contractions.

However looking back on it, the midwife wanted a drug free birth. It was my first birth and I'm wondering if I could have still had an epidural at that stage, especially as I spent nearly 2 hours pushing. So while I'm glad I did it without the epidural as I struggled to push my son out, and may have struggled even more if I couldn't feel what I was doing, I do think in a way I was denied an epidural.

My advice would be to stick to your guns and be very insistent from the start if that is what you want. You may feel vulnerable as things progress so making your intentions clear from the beginning avoid this. And make sure your birth partner is very clear about this as well, so if you are struggling to communicate this yourself then they can do it for you.

I was refused epidurals with my first three births but was adamant with my last I was having one. I was induced so for the two long days we were waiting for something to happen I kept asking the midwifes on duty if my notes said epidural as soon as possible

I asked at least 50 times but didn’t get it as was so busy and there were lots of emergencies.

Was so upset at the time but made it through

I asked for one but the anaesthetist was in an emergency surgery so they'd be an hour or so. So I took the morphine with the plan fo getting it later. The morphine was great and I never ended up needing the epidural which I'm really happy about!

I asked for an epidural at 5cm and because of emergencies I waited nearly 2 hours for anaesthetist by which point I was 10cm. They tried to tell me it was too late as by the time it was all set up baby would be out but I just I refused to push unless I had one. Took the anaesthetist 45 minutes to get it in and working but the relief was amazing. I was like a different person afterwards too. I'm glad I pushed for it as I ended up pushing for 2 hours and ended up in theatre with ventouse and episiotomy with a full spinal.

I asked to be moved from the MLU to the labour ward as I wasn't progressing and contractions were the worst pain imaginable. When I got to the labour ward it was sort of assumed that I'd be wanting an epidural and I was more than happy to have it. Ended up having an EMCS, but still the best experience ever IMO.

I was in so much pain at 4cm that the midwife actually said to me you won’t win any medals by not having an epidural, I think you may want to consider one. I was adamant I wasn’t going to have one before I went into labour but when she said that I felt like I needed to have one as the pain was only going to get worse. I received it within half an hour of agreeing. However, it wasn’t the best experience, they laid me more on one side than the other so when the epidural started to wear off I had unbelievable pain in my left leg and I remember being really poorly and sick from the side effects. Yes it helped take away the pain from the contractions but I had no control over pushing the baby out. I realised this more when I had my second child and no pain relief at all...it was the best experience and I felt totally in control of it, difference is by then my body knew what to do so it was a lot easier second time around. Follow your gut - good luck! 🍀

I was induced at about 10pm, and contractions ramped up through the night until my waters broke at approx 6am. They wheeled me to delivery and i asked for an epidural straight away because the pain was already pretty bad. They said i couldn’t have one because they were waiting on the results of some blood tests. At about 10am they said the blood tests were clear and i could have the epidural. I still have no idea what blood tests they were referring to, and wasn’t in a fit state to enquire. Longest 4 hours of my life.

No.

I begged. I was told it was too busy, that I wasn’t a priority, that they were four other women in the queue ahead of me who would be transferred before me to the labour ward, that I wasn’t established enough & that because I wasn’t having regular contractions that were visible on the monitor there would be no point.

Turns out I have a very high pain threshold and all of my contractions were in my back so they wouldn’t come up on the monitor.

Five minutes after telling me it would be five or six hours before going for an epidural and another five before I would deliver, I begged them to examine me as I was getting the urge to push. I was told not to be ridiculous - what do you know, fully dilated.

He wasn’t born until about four hours after that though as the labour ward was so busy and my contractions stopped because I felt like no one believed me.

Turns out I gave birth about 12 hours before most of the queue ahead of me

I had no problems getting an epidural the first time round, although in retrospect I wish I hadn’t had one. Second time round I didn’t need one. Be aware that they don’t work the same way for everyone, I was still in quite a lot of pain after I had mine.

I think it will depend on the situation at the time. All you can do is express from the outset that it's what you really want, but prepare for all eventualities, including one where is doesn't work. Mine didn't.

I wanted to try to deliver as naturally as possible 🙄 silly me. Went in to get induced, waters spontaneously went at 2am and contractions started pretty much around the same time. They didn’t have space for me in the labour ward at that point and I became quite desperate for extra pain relief. I was given codeine and heat packs. I was advised to let them know immediately when I got to labour ward to let them know I wanted an epidural which I did and got one shortly after getting onto labour ward at about 2pm. I got gas and air for a while as well when I eventually got to labour ward which did help a bit.

After all that I ended up with a section. I would just tell them as soon as you arrive you want an epidural. And yes for me it was worth it and did take the pain away about 80%

Hi OP.
I had also heard the horror stories and was worried about pain relief not being around for me when I needed it. Like you I was very pro pain relief!
As it turned out DS was induced, took a long time for anything to happen and they told me that they were giving me and epidural so they could ramp the induction up and break my waters.
I'm not sure what they would have said if I had told them I didn't want one but as it was I was extremely grateful for it. I ended up having a second one because they thought I was headed for ECS, but luckily they did manage to help DS out before that was done.
Because of the mega epidural I had been given, I didn't feel pain afterwards either and felt like I was walking on air. It did all kick in after I was home and I did feel like id just had a baby.
After that long labour I was terrified that DC2 would be the same. I was in established labour when I got to the hospital and I told them I wanted an epidural as soon as I arrived, but because she was a second baby and keener to be in the world, I felt the need to push and she was born in a very blurry 15 minutes!
I would absolutely recommend the epidural but also if you do have a quick labour, if you just puff on the gas and go with it, you may find it's easier, it was as if my body knew what to do and I just had to go along with it.
Take care.

I was like you - scared. I simply could not get my head around the fact people can push a baby out without an epidural.
I turned up at 10cm and pushing and literally exclaimed 'but i wanted an epidural!!' The midwife laughed and told me he was nearly here.
So just for if life doesnt go your way and you dont get an epidural - you will be okay. I survived to tell the tale with only g&a at the ring of fire, and when i have the next baby i now dont want an epidural!

I had no issue getting an epidural but bitterly regret my decision. By the time I was in active labour I couldn’t feel a thing and struggled to push. I ended up with an emergency c section

I was induced and on the drip. I asked for it about 60-90mins after they broke my waters and put the drip on. I expected more of a fight but they just said ok we will call him. About 20mins later the midwife said oh here comes ur knight in shining armour. She was bloody right it was amazing! From being glued to gas and air in agony to pain free in no time.

My friend begged for one all through labour they kept telling her they were busy, wld be here soon. Then telling her oh it won't be long now ur too far gone. Several, several hours later. She had baby without one. I was fuming for her, told her to put in a complaint. She said she wasn't bothered as everything went ok in the end.

I had to wait 2 hours for one then they left me for an hour and a half and it wasn’t working and never worked!

I made it clear from the start I wanted one with DC3. With previous 2 I was given pethidine which I hated. However with dc3 they kept refusing because I wasn't dilated enough despite a very prolonged labour and being in excruciating pain (realized later it's due to baby's positioning).

MW told me I had to be atleast 4cm and in established labour before they would even consider administering it. When they realized I was delirious with pain they decided to set it up, but by then baby's oxygen levels were dangerously low and heartbeat wasn't being picked up. Cue a room full of panicked staff, DP in tears and me being wheeled for an emergency c-section. Luckily baby started crowning in theatre and was born naturally with no tears or stitches (so I must have been fully dilated!)

But I keep thinking maybe all this could have been avoided had they given me an epidural when I asked.

My sister had an epidural, lost all sense of her body and couldn't for the life of her push my nephew out. She had an episiotomy and forceps, she really struggled with the recovery from that. I'm due in May and although I am terrified, I'm making plans for hypnobirthing and hoping for a pool, I don't want to set my heart on anything particularly to be honest because I might panic if I'm told it isn't possible. I do like the idea of an epidural but the thought of not knowing what the hell I'm doing I find equally quite scary.

Just keep asking. Although sometimes there’s no anaesthetist available due to emergencies etc

I had no issues getting an epidural but 2yrs later with daily back pain because of it I so wish they'd been too busy. They tell you that epidurals don't cause long term back pain, I promise they can! When I had my second child I had a c section and a quick scan of my back before the anaesthetic revealed that a standard epidural was not at all suitable. they had to use a different method to numb me, I can't remember the terms now it was all a blur. Not saying you shouldn't have one.. but do make sure you're aware of the risks.. escaping a few hours of pain in labour was so not worth the pain I now endure daily.

I wanted one put in before the drip. I asked and was told they didn't do this and they at least wanted labour to establish first. But now this makes me mad because I've heard so many people get this done.

I got one anyway after 2 hours of contractions so I dont get why I had to go through that when I wanted it from the start! And staying completely still while contracting and they are putting it in your back is one of the hardest things I've done in my life. Next time I will be adamant: no epidural, no drip.