How long after you go into labor can you get the epidural ?

Stacey - posted on 07/30/2010

I was about a 3 or 4 when I requested it. By the time I finished another full bag of IV (about 30 minutes), which is what I had to do in order to get one,and sat up to get it I shot up to 10. I got whatever he initially injected then they checked me because I told them I felt like I needed to have a bm. It would have been nice if someone had told me that's what it's supposed to feel like. I would have gone without the epidural because I was trying to anyway! I think I got to the hospital around 10:30am and got the epi around 9:00pm and had my daughter at 9:53pm.

Alexis - posted on 07/30/2010

It was offered to me when I hit 2CM, as they had given me the drug to enduce labor. Though I was told they would not put it in right away being that labor can go for many hours.
If you moves around a lot I wouldn't suggest it!
I wouldn't take it, because I can't stay flat on my back.
LMAO at "not freaking soon enough!!!"
I would suggest you talk to your DR as mine would not offer any drugs! except the Epidural... &#*^@*#^!!!!!!! putting it nicely!
I asked if they would prescribe a SLEDGE HAMMER!! put me out! It hurt like all heck! GOOD LUCK

Tascha - posted on 07/30/2010

I was at 3cm when they admitted me, baby was going in to fetal distress and they had to induce. I got my Epi before they induced me. I plan to get it the second they say they are going to keep me with this one. I had no pain with my first, not even with the contractions so I want the same for the DD too :)

Alesia - posted on 07/30/2010

I had my daughter in dec 2009 and they gave it to me when i asked for it. i was at about a 4 and my water had broke so i dont know if that mattered at all.

Dottie Sue - posted on 07/30/2010

I was a long way into my epi but atleast 3 to four hours from having my baby girl. That was at parkview north tho here in Fort Wayne, in

Lakerra - posted on 07/30/2010

i got mine at 3cm and i had been at the hosptial for 2 hrs, and there were no complications for me to get it that early

Shannon - posted on 07/30/2010

You have to be atleast 4cm dialated before they start to offer it. I however had no pain relief with my first and was in labour for 2hrs 45mins

Rebecca - posted on 07/30/2010

I got my epi with my first baby at 6cm, and got one at 9.5cm with my second baby, thank you my lovely MW who got them to give me them. My second labour was only 4 hours so even with a really fast labour you can still get them

Tiffanie - posted on 07/29/2010

AT 4 cm, but you can get it sooner if you or the baby are having high blood presure

Kimberly - posted on 07/29/2010

It's 3cm around here in Wisconsin. I got it at only 1cm with my 1st cuz I was induced and had HORRIBLE back labor and was so uncomfortable.

Mary - posted on 07/29/2010

when u are 4 or 5 cm and sometimes u can ask for it anytime but thats only with some doctors

Michelle - posted on 07/29/2010

it all depends on your doctor and how your coping with the pain. i had a planned induction and my doctor offered me an epidural before induction, before any contractions even started because we had planned to have an epidural. But if you are not getting induced they make sure your in active labour before they give you one which is usually 4-5cms, unless your just not dilating and in too much pain they'll give you an epidural and usually induce you because an epidural can slow labour. hope everything goes smooth and well for you!!

Amanda - posted on 07/29/2010

3-4 cm

Kristy - posted on 07/29/2010

Honestly, it depends on the reasoning for the epidural. For example, if you have medical problem that can hurt the baby (such as cutting off O2 or even stress) they will give to you as soon as possible. I, unfortunatly, had the epidual as soon as I was induced (I was at 1 if that) and had the drip until my son was born. I, not given a choice b/c of circumstances, had the epidural the whole time, which can make it a little harder for delivery when you can not feel a thing and you have to push only when the dr says to because he's watching the monitor for your contractions.

Jamie - posted on 07/29/2010

My doc told me with my second that no matter how dilated I was as long as she wasn't crowning I could have an epidural! With my first I got it about 2 hours in to labor because I was induced so it honestly was more painful then when I went in to natural labor with my 2nd.

Angel - posted on 07/29/2010

I agree i believe its 4cm although every dr can be different under different circumstances

Kerri - posted on 07/29/2010

My dr told me whenever i wanted it i could have it. I was almost 7cm dilated with my first because the anestesiaoligist was in with an emercency csec. With my second child I was 5cm. But i was already a 4 when i was induced.

Nykee - posted on 07/29/2010

Between 3 and 8cm. I got it at 3 with my older daughter. I was induced and not dilating anymore, and they told me the epidural would likely slow things down. I sucked it up for another 45 minutes, but finally decided to go for it. They gave me the epidural, and I dilated to 10 in about 20-25 minutes. She said there are some people who relax enough with the epidural to just dilate quickly, and I guess I'm one of those people. With my second daughter (a year and twenty days later) I got to the hospital too late for an epidural - walked in at 7cm, and by the time they got the IV in, I was 9cm. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be without the epidural, and my recovery time was much faster without it. I'm debating whether I'll be getting one next time or not, but I know I'll definitely get to the hospital faster next time! Haha

Terra - posted on 07/28/2010

I had my daughter 3 1/2 months ago and my doctor gave it to me when i reached 5 cm...but he told me they were only gonna give it to me at 5 cms or if my water had broken, whichever came first

Jessie - posted on 07/28/2010

I was 4 cm and fully dilated when I arrived at the hospital and had been in labor at home for around 15 hours. The nurses did not believe I was in labor and were going to send me home again. (I was sent home the night before also) I had back labor and they couldnt pick up my contractions on the monitors so they thought I was faking it or being a wimp. I even got yelled at for 'tensing up for now reason, it's just your baby sitting on your spine' Yeah by the time I went back to the hospital my contractions were 3 min apart. The doctor finally came and checked me and said I was in labor and that my water was already broken (um, yeah I went to the hospital the night b4 becuz it broke and they sent me home and told me it hadnt) Anyways they wouldnt let me have an epidural because he had his head faced the wrong way (face towards the top instead of towards my butt) and made me do all sorts of movements to get him to turn his face so he would come out easier without help (he did eventually) I did not get an epidural until 7 cm because of this and had been in labor 24 hours at that point. He would have been born within an hour or so but AFTER I started pushing, the doctor left me to go do another womans emergency c-section. She was the only doctor on duty (it was 8 pm by then) and instead of getting another doctor to either deliver me or do the c-section I had to stop pushing and WAIT 2 hours for the doctor to come back. by then my contractions had slowed down due to the meds, I needed a catheter (which I wasnt going to need before I stopped pushing because it was such a short time between the epi and the original pushing) I also had to get pitocin to get my contraction regular again. My son wasn't born until almost midnight when it should have been 9pm at the latest. I am not sure if I will get an epidural with the next kid. If I hadnt had one they wouldn't have been able to make me wait.

Becca - posted on 07/28/2010

I was ready for one at 3cm but I had to wait because of the doc was busy. When I went in the hospital I was only 3cm but my contractions were every 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, and I had really bad back labor. They gave me some staidol (sorry i don't know how to spell it). That stuff made me a little dizzy, and made the time go faster until he came in to do the epidural. I was 5cm when they finally got it in and then I went to 8 in an hour, then to 10 in 30 minutes.
Good luck!!!

Jonelle - posted on 07/28/2010

I had to be at 3cm.

Mandalynn - posted on 07/28/2010

I know its early cause I didnt get to the hospital with my first until I was 8 cm and they told me as fast as I was going that I couldnt have one

Elizabeth - posted on 07/28/2010

for me, I'm getting a walking epidural as soon as I walk in but waiting till I need meds to push the meds. I've been 3cm's since 28wks and am now 33wks so I'm not sure about what the requirements are to get one. Some hospitals will do this and others will not. I just don't want to have an "oops" your to far now for it.

Jenn - posted on 07/28/2010

i was told by my dr that they usually want you dilated at least 4 to 5.. cuz sometimes epidurals can stall labor somewhat.. and the more you're progressed the less the chance is for that happening

Sara - posted on 07/28/2010

I had to wait til I was 5 cm which took awhile I was in Labor technically for 22 hours and the doc didn't want me to get the epi til I had to have it and I could of had it when I went in after 5 hours of contractions....get it asap!

Stacia - posted on 07/28/2010

4cm no more than 7cm dialated to get the epidural..

Cara - posted on 07/27/2010

Most doctors like to wait til at least 4cm before giving an epidural. One reason I was given for the reason they wait til 4 is because they can sometimes slow the labor and dilation process and if given prior to 4cm may slow the process even more.

Liz - posted on 07/27/2010

I'v had both my babies at home and never even had an internal exam our body's are made to give birth! and mine did an awesome job all by it's self. I'm just about to have no 3 and plan no intervention at all.

Jessica - posted on 07/27/2010

they offered me one right away, not sure how dialated i was, but i waited and finally gave in just before it was too late to get one, then I didnt feel a thing the rest of the time, including when i was pushing

Josi - posted on 07/27/2010

You have to be around 5cm I am an expert in this so thats what the requirement it that I know of : ) good luck

Pardeep(Nicki) - posted on 07/27/2010

i was already 10cm when my doc said to give it to me. she said i looked like i was in a lot of pain. i never fot to discuss it with my doc if i wanted to get it or not and if i could have changed that i would have cause now i have a lot of back aches due to that shot it always hurt right where the poked me

Amanda - posted on 07/27/2010

about 3-4 cm is when i got it. but my contractions and labor were progressing very quickly. they usually want to make sure you are well into labor before they give it to you so the it doesn't slow down the progress and cause you to need a c section.

Sarah - posted on 07/27/2010

i had a midwife deliver my daughter but i had to be 4cm but i did not get one i went alnatuaral except for a tylyonal

Trisha - posted on 07/27/2010

I got it at 4cm and within the hour I was 10cm dialated. Same happened my sister!!

Zoe - posted on 07/27/2010

i got mine at 5cmz and im pretty sure mi midwife said i could get it at anytime

Stacy - posted on 07/27/2010

I think it depends bc was wasnt dialating AT ALL like 2cm at the most but had been on pitocin for 12 hrs and started contracting every 60 secs after they broke my water,,, my doc told me going in that I could get the epi whenever the pain got to an untolerable level...... but due to scoliosis the epi wouldnt take so I ended up having a c section with a spinal block

Kristen - posted on 07/27/2010

Some care providers prefer that the mother's labor contraction pattern is well-established and that the mother's cervix has dilated to about 3-4 centimeters prior to an epidural being administered

Samantha - posted on 07/27/2010

My Dr told me that you can get an epidural right away if you are being induced because most labours progress quite fast. But if labour starts on it's own I believe it's 3cm

Tracy - posted on 07/27/2010

You have to be between 3-8cm. Any less or more and you can't get it.

Beckie - posted on 07/27/2010

i had to get it at 1 1/2 cm as i only opened that far in 10 hours

Daisy - posted on 07/27/2010

i think i was about 6 cm dilated when i had mine!! x

Kristiana - posted on 07/27/2010

I was only 1cm dilated when I was offered the epidural.

Of course, my water had already broken, and I ended up on Pitocin anyway to move the labor along, but yeah, it was early.

I had really really thought I was going to try to do without - and then the nurse pointed out that, just because my water broke didn't mean that I would deliver eminently. So I had 12 hours relatively pain-free rather than 12+hours otherwise...

Krystal - posted on 07/27/2010

They recommend 4 cm for sure.

Kaleena - posted on 07/26/2010

you may go too quick with your second so dont count on being able to have it this time round. i only had a 5hr labour with my first so didnt get the chance but wouldnt have it any other way labour doesnt actually hurt that much. if youve ever had period pain that bad that you could not even get out of bed then you should be able to handle it without any medication. you also need to be in the right frame of mind, dont ever tell your self that you cant do it cause guess what....you gotta. but if it is taking to long do take it. also when you go into labour try lying on your side through out the whole thing it will speed up your labour. my son was facing back to back and i was told id have a long labour so i got on my side, he turned and was born 3 hrs later

Michelle - posted on 07/26/2010

It depends on the Doc. I don't think you can get it past 4 or 5, but my Doc was great and he let me get mine. The nurse said I was at an 8 that the Doc wouldn't let me. The Doc said there was still time, but by the time the anesthesiologist got there I was in pushing labor. I was literaly trying to push my son out with that needle in my back. It didn't numb me it just eased the pain. It was awesome! I just wouln't recommend waiting that long. Good Luck!

Jenn - posted on 07/26/2010

Tonya- The reason you were most likely offered the epidural at 2 cm is because one of the side effects of the epidural is that is lowers bp. If your bp is hight a epi is a great way to still achieve a vaginal birth : )

Jennifer - posted on 07/26/2010

Well when i went into the hospital i was 5cm and they made me wait an hour before giving me the epidural...

Martina - posted on 07/26/2010

i had an epeidural very early but it stopped working so have a back up plan

Rachel - posted on 07/26/2010

They typically like you around 3-4 centimeters. However it is up to the hospital and doctors.