how soon would you get to hospital if you were hoping for an epidural[2nd child]

[bigboydiditandranaway]

Just wondered if you have been in this boat and any tips!

How long was your last labour? I think it's a four hour rule now isn't it? If it's likely to take more than four hours then you can have one but after that they will laughingly offer you two paracetamols.

Something to do with the dilation equation (which would be umm under six centimetres) - I think - I may be completely wrong though, just something I remember being said to my SiL.

Oh and don't forget you've got to add time to check in and FIND the anaesthesiologist and hope there isn't a queue.

i had a fairly quick birth with ds, was examined at7am and told i wasn't to go home but can't remember how many cm dilated but waters had broken at 5am, ds born at 1pm.

So your first labour about 8 hours which means you dilated pretty quickly and 2nd labours are thought to be much quicker. Can you remember how far apart your contractions were when you went in the first time? Have you asked your mw on the timing for an epidural?

Given you went in after a few hours and they didn't let you leave, I would assume you'd need to move pretty sharpish in order to get the epidural. Have you been told how likely it is you'll get one?

My hospital has low rates of epidural but mine was guaranteed day or night; the longest I was told I would have to wait was 45mins if it was at night. In the end I was induced so had a epidural almost immediately. My first labour (no pain relief) 9 hours, my 2nd labour with epidural, which is meant to slow things down a bit, 5 hours (so god knows how quick without!)

a lot depends on if the anesthatist is available and how far along you are

there are other options for pain relief especially when things are going quick

At my antenatal class we were told that once you got to 8cm and everything was Ok you would not be given an epidural as you would be almost ready to push? They also said it would depend on the availabilty of the anaesatist (spelling?) I was in a big London hospital so there were 2 dedicated to the mat ward but when my sister had her DD, there was one for the whole hospital. Got my epidural immediately but then i was 7cm dilated on arrival.

During ds labour, i had G&A, vacume and forceps, so really want an epidural next time but obvioiusly can't plan how labour will be so need to be flexible if i can't have one and would consider anything else that helps!

epidural can increase the likelihood of you needing an instrumental delivery

water, TENS, pethidine, massage are all good ways to relieve pain, being mobile is very helpful too

With DD2, I didn't get there fast enough!

I had an epidural with DD1 and whilst I'm glad I did because I was in terrible pain - she was face up and hand cupping her head above the ear, I never knew what it felt like to be really close to giving birth.

24 hours in labour with DD1.

About 4 hours total in DD2, and because I didn't realise how close I was getting and was at home waiting for community midwife to phone me back until MIL - who had two drug free births - took one look at me and insisted DH take me to hospital, I was 9cm upon arrival.

DD2 was born about 25 minutes later.

I was told at my nct classes that you can't have an epidural once you are 8 cm dilated. i asked (begged!) for one at 5 cms but then the anaesthatist (sp) was called to an emergency and so had to deliver "naturally" which was not what i wanted! i got the epidural after the birth though as my placenta wouldn't come out, but not until i had endured another hour of contractions to try and get the placenta out. I would go to hospital as soon as you think you're in labour and refuse to budge until they give you the drugs. thats what i plan to do next time. if there is a next time!

good idea MM, will be doing the same as you!!

I went into labour before my booked elective c section and went in. Had all the kerfuffle of trying to fit me in to have the section and in the end they told me that I would be going in about an hour. I was in excruciating pain by then and said ok fine but I want my epidural now am not waiting an hour for it. They tried to talk me out of out it saying its just an hour etc and I just kept saying over and over I want my epidural now, I want my epidural now. I think they got so fed up with me that they bumped someone else and took me to theatre within ten minutes. So just keep on saying it till they give you one. My DH also stood at the door asking everyone who went by when it was happening. Like moodymammy says dont budge.

my friend was given an epidural at 9 cms, she did end up with a ventouse and episiotomy though. as she couldnt push properly. id go in as soon as your having regular contractions and start asking for one.

My second labour was actually longer than my firsy.

Please don't try and go to hospital early just to get an epidural. Go when you feel the need for pain relief. You may surprise yourself. I have seen many women absolutely delighted that they birthed without an epidural. I have also seen women have epidural in the latter stages of labour. All depends onm a multitude of factors, not just how dilated you are, whether there is time for an epidural.

Go with the flow...