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 eipural with first but was denied with second as they were short staffed and you need 1-1 with epidural (Or so I was told)

I had pethidine with 2nd instead and much preferred the birth - I felt more but not actual pain so felt more in control

@secretllama I agree the same thing happened to me, I remember them telling me to keep still and I was like it's a bit fucking hard when you are having contractions every minute! I remember looking at my other half thinking he could mind read that it was taking them so long to do it but he had no idea of course as he wasn't in pain

Be aware epidurals can fail! Nobody told me that! Mine didn’t work at all and by the time the anaesthetist came back to resite it it was too late and I was pushing. My labour was fine in the end but if you’re pinning all your hopes on it just remember that it can fail.