Were you given an epidural?

[sarahb083]

I've heard lots of stories of women being denied an epidural and I'm really worried it will happen to me. I'm not sure how common this issue is - if you've given birth before and asked for an epidural, were you given one? Do you have any tips to make sure you do get one?

Yes, at 7cm. Baby was OP (back to back) and I had an unbearable urge to push despite not being ready. Got out the pool, waddled round the corner to delivery suite (was in the birth centre), had an epidural shortly afterwards.

In my professional life (as a midwife) the only reasons I haven’t been able to facilitate an epidural have been if there are emergencies in theatre and there just isn’t an anaesthetist available, if the woman physically can’t stay in the correct position (usually because she’s about to have a baby anyway), or if I know the woman is going to deliver very quickly and getting her an epidural is actually going to delay things (although if she insists we’ll still do our best).

I had one as a last ditch attempt to get my blood pressure to come down. It didn’t work (for the BP issue) but had an emergency section 10 minutes after having it so it made that side of things very speedy indeed

Yes - I had one for my first birth and after I asked it all happened very quickly. Sod giving birth without pain relief - it’s there for the use of and god knows you don’t get a medal for giving birth!

I was denied one but I was 8cm when I asked (they hadn't examined me again since I was 3cm) and probably bordering on hysterical at the time. And my birth plan said I wanted to avoid one unless it was specifically to undergo an assisted delivery, but I was in a state, in severe pain and severely anxious. They said they didn't think I could sit still for safe siting and recommended diamorphine instead. I was reluctant but agreed and it did work really well for me. My only issue is that I ended up having a ventouse delivery with an episiotomy with stitches to repair it, all with no pain relief but a pudendal block which didn't work (as the diamorphine had worn off by then). Excruciatingly painful and gave me PTSD. If I'd had the epidural I wouldn't have ended up with PTSD as wouldn't have had to go through that pain.

Yes. Needed to be induced and requested one prior to drip starting - no problems. Ended up in theatre anyway with full spinal block.

Yes, within 10 minutes of asking for one, both times. Although the second time I pushed the baby out whilst the anaesthetist was trying to site it!

Yes. But I had been in labour for 24hours at that point with no sign of baby (only 2cm) so nobody argued with me when I said 'I can't do this any more!).
I think it's quite tricky to get the needle in the right place first time (my pregnancy back fat probably didn't help - haha!) Took two attempts with me too.

Yes. Within 5 minutes of me asking the epidural was in my back.

The speed of the staff was astonishing and it's just one of the highly positive things I remember about my birth.

I felt listened to and very respected

Yes but they said I had to wait 2 hours because the anaesthetist was in theatre then they realised I had taken a blood thinner the night before and you have to wait 12 hours. I was furious with DH who had pestered me to take it. I got one as soon as it was safe though

I was "denied" one because stupid hypnobirthing got me to 8cm dilated on 2 paracetamol before I freaked out and started screaming, "but I wanted an epidural!" Waaay too late for that.

I had one - specialist anaesthetist and it was a mobile epidural so that I could still walk around and sleep with no pain. All was going well until my leg went spongy when I went to the loo and I told the midwife - she made me stay on the bed after that.

No, but only because I progressed stupidly fast (3-10cm in 30mins). The anaesthetist was there and explaining the procedure when I started to push .

With my first I was heavily encouraged to have one, in retrospect I think they new/suspected it might become an EMCS (which it did), so wanted the needle in place in case they needed it.

I had one. Once I convinced them I was actually in labour I was asked if I still wanted one and given it withIn minutes.

Having said that I had a consultant led/high risk pregnancy. We’d already discussed the fact I wanted an epidural - and had my X-rays checked to see if it was possible (pre existing spinal damage). I was in premature labour and they suspected the baby was bum down. And I ended up with an emergency C-section.

Yes. As soon as I found out I was over 4cm (I was actually 6cm because it took a while to get anyone to check me....but that’s another story). It might have taken about 30 mins for the anaesthetist to show up as he was busy doing other women too, I don’t really know, time was hard to judge. It was amazing when I did get it though, instant relief.

I laughed at the earlier references to mooing. I was mooing at 6cm! And felt the need to push. I don’t know if that helped me get the epidural or not, as it was too early for me to be pushing and I think they wanted to stop that.

This time my birth plan has one word - EPIDURAL and I will be advocating very strongly for it.

Wanted one with the 1st. They didn't have it available in the hospital between 9pm and 6am. I gave birth at 4.11am..2nd I was too far gone. 3rd one. The aesthetic arrived in the room to promptly run out as an RTA had arrived. 4th. Given one after 4 days in labour. Hallelujah. Best thing ever. 5th. Given it after 3 days in labour but didn't work as baby born too quick.

I asked for one with all four of mine but it was always too late, I would have offered up one of my kidneys at the time to have one

Yes I did after 48 hrs in labour. Good job I did as I needed an emergency CS 12 hrs later

I have CFS so it was on my birth plan and everyone was v much in agreement it was the right thing for me to have

I was induced, didn't progress so when they were discussing putting me on a drip it was brought up by them that they would give me the epidural at the same time

Def had no vibe at all that they wanted to deny it. Had full support