Epidural
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=33047
Printed Date: 22 August 2025 at 12:18am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Epidural
Posted By: Treen
Subject: Epidural
Date Posted: 23 April 2010 at 3:14pm
|
DH has just asked me a question I can't answer (strange but true):
What is the absolute latest possible moment you can have an epidural administered? I'm guessing it's when you're XX cm dialated? One of his friends has just told him that after this point, the pain doubles and he's freaking out (on my behalf). ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Replies:
Posted By: RicKer
Date Posted: 23 April 2010 at 3:36pm
| I was 7cm when i had mine put in but i don't know the cut off point |
Posted By: Jaune
Date Posted: 23 April 2010 at 3:47pm
|
I don't think there is a specific cut off point, it's just that it takes about 20-30mins to sort out, so if you are already fully dilated it's possible that the baby might come before the epidural is administered... ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 23 April 2010 at 3:51pm
|
I was 6cm I think, but have also heard of others fully dilated almost delivering before they have needed one for emergency so I guess it depends on the circumstances and perhaps also the protocol at that hospital
------------- http://lilypie.com] 
http://lilypie.com] 
http://lilypie.com] 
|
Posted By: Treen
Date Posted: 23 April 2010 at 3:59pm
|
Yeah, I can't seem to find any definite answers. I have been warned by at least 3 women not to leave it too late like they did or they won't give it to you (because of the time it takes to administer and start working). But how do I know when I've reached that point? Talk about confusing! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 23 April 2010 at 4:20pm
Yup that's pretty much correct! I asked my mw when in labour as I was considering it, she said you can have it whenever just to let her know about an hour before I thought I might like it so it could be sorted out. I asked for one about 4pm, at 4.30 someone came and saw me and asked a few q's etc then about 20mins later they did the epi. But it wore off by the time it came to start pushing and I didn't bother topping it up! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Mealz79 wrote:Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 23 April 2010 at 4:41pm
|
Generally speaking with a first baby the hospitals tend to not give it from 8cm.... that said there is no actual cut off so it can be different for each person.
Like some else said, they will give you one if you need an emergency section regardless of how dilated you are so it can be done... I swear I asked and was given and it was working all within 30 minutes but my notes say it took about 90 minutes all up.... so it just goes to show you have no concept of time when you are in labour LOL -------------   
|
Posted By: Richie
Date Posted: 24 April 2010 at 12:48pm
|
I was 6cm when I got mine which was at 9.30pm. That was about 3hrs after I'd asked for it (hospital was busy that day and only one anaesthatist on) It was more so because I'd been in labour for about 19hrs and was absolutely knackered and just wanted to rest but didn't want pethadine. Took a while for mine to work. It numbed my legs pretty much straight away but after about 40mins it started numbing my belly. Was great while it worked and I managed to get a few minutes sleep. It wore off by 4am and the anaesthatist was busy all morning with emergencies etc so had no one to come and top it up. In the end I needed a C-Sec anyway so they did a spinal block.
-------------  
|
Posted By: Jess439
Date Posted: 24 April 2010 at 2:13pm
|
I was fully dialated by the time I got to the hospital and my DH asked the MW about me having a epidural just in case, she laughed and said it was waaaay too late! I don't think the contractions get that much worse, just come more often and with shorter breaks. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: _SMS_
Date Posted: 25 April 2010 at 7:34pm
|
I was 9cm when the midwife suggested i get one, which by that time i was all for it. I was 10cm by the time it was administrated. -------------  
|
Posted By: amykt
Date Posted: 25 April 2010 at 9:26pm
I remember asking my midwife the exact same question  She said that there was no cut-off point and I could have one whenever I wanted. As it turns out I had one pretty quickly once I reached the hospital, and had it topped up just before I started pushing which was fab! No pain at all  ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/"> 
|
Posted By: hannibal
Date Posted: 25 April 2010 at 9:30pm
| Mine was done as soon as my waters were broken, and topped up again about an hour later just as I started pushing, absolute BLISS. |
Posted By: TheKelly
Date Posted: 25 April 2010 at 10:32pm
|
both times I asked (read :screamed ) for an epi, both times the mw's said it was too late , interesting that some are given at 10cms !
Well, next time I will know, if they say to me "no , you are too far along " I willl say " I object !!! The epidural thread on Ohbaby says otherwise ! " ------------- 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: amykt
Date Posted: 26 April 2010 at 8:28am
hehe Kelly, your post made me laugh! It may depend on what midwife you have. I'd say mine was on the more liberal side of things and was definitely pro-pain relief - one of my prerequisites when finding my midwife 
Out of interest, how long after requesting the epi were your bubs born? ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/">
|
Posted By: TheKelly
Date Posted: 26 April 2010 at 7:15pm
|
*cough* who was your mw *cough*
C was born about 20 mins after , Ty was born about 20 as well -------------
http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: _SMS_
Date Posted: 26 April 2010 at 7:49pm
|
i was only given the epidural because things wernt progressing. DD was kind of stuck in there so she was born with Forceps.
I remember at my antenatal i was told 8cm is normally the cut off. -------------
|
Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 11:17am
|
I think its up to the midwife - I had mine at 4am, started pushing at 6am and DS was born just after 7am. She said that she wouldnt have left it any longer than that. It also slowed things down quite a bit. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: amykt
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 1:36pm
|
Kelly, my midwife was Jan Baker - loved her to bits! Will definitely be going with her next time around - I loved my pain-free birth - wouldn't want it any other way ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/">
|
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 2:55pm
| I've always assumed, and was told at AN class, that when you are going through the transition phase (7-8cm) is the last time they can do it, except for emergencies. I had one with DS at 5-6cm due to needing to slow the labour down for various reasons and it was horrible - although apparently it was a spinal block as I got booked in for an emergency c-s. |
Posted By: Nutella
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 8:56pm
|
Hmm, I wouldn't compare a spinal with an epidural as the spinal takes effect a lot quicker than epi so I imagine if the midwife thinks you are close to pushing she is probably gonna think an epi is a waste of time.
I didn't get to have any pain relief coz at 7cms dilated had my emergency c sect and I always wonder how much worse it was gonna get lol. ------------- 
 Oct 11
|
Posted By: MumzyWumzy
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 9:01pm
|
I had an epi when I was 8cm dilated, I remember the mw checking me & saying "Ooh you're 8cm dilated are you sure you want the epi?" I shouted back "OF COURSE I WANT A FARKING EPI!!". Oops lol. I was induced & stuck to the bed for 6 hours (bubz heart was being monitored so I couldn't move around) & also having had contractions for over 24hrs, I was just over it! Although when I was given the epi, not long after that I was pushing... ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 9:02pm
|
I think they probably say no if they think you are close to pushing and it won't get done on time IYGWIM? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: TheKelly
Date Posted: 28 April 2010 at 10:47am
|
yeah , with C I was finally at the hospital after being in labor at home and Bethany centre for 24 hours and as soon as I got there I yelled at the MW to "get me my f*cking epidural !"
and she told me it would be a 20 min wait "20 MINUTES!!! I cant wait 20 mins !!!! " "Yes you can ,you've waited 24 hours Kelly , you can do another 20 minutes" "Oh shutup stupid cow , fark whats that !!! I need to push " *checks me* "congratulations Kelly , you're 10 cms dilated " "oh yaaaaaayyy" "but now you can't have an epidural " "over my dead body" * tries to cross legs * -------------
http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 28 April 2010 at 3:20pm
|
Lol Kelly! My friend was like that with her first ! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
|