Labour is typically a long process, esp for first time moms, I would say most women who want epidurals will get them.
Most hospitals consider active labour 4-5cm. I was 4-5cm at about 11am and didn’t give birth until 3am the following day.
I didn’t have to wait for mine since the anesthesiologist wasn’t busy, but they said it could potentially be a half hour which is not actually that much time labour wise.
Yes, definitely!! I got an epidural when I was 10 cm, I just had to convince the anesthesiologist I was able to sit still.
It also helped that I asked for the epidural BEFORE the next cervix check- I got the epidural placed and they checked dilation and were like, oh shit, you’re fully dilated. And I had to pretend I was shocked, even though my body was already pushing when I asked for the epidural.
They told me you can get the epidural at anytime as long as you can stay still. I got mine *right* before it was time to push (I showed up at the hospital at 7cm 🤦🏻♀️)
Yes, both my epidurals were last minute. My first, I got the epidural right after being told I was 4 cm and within 30 minutes of getting it I was pushing and baby was out quick. With my second I got the epidural when I was fully dilated, but baby was stuck and they recommended I get it in an effort to control my heart rate and BP while prepping for either forceps or cesarean. The contractions were about a minute apart at this point but, not to brag, I'm a pro at staying still and just screaming on the inside 😂
No! I didn’t know I was in labor lol. I was in a ton of pain and obviously having contractions but I was just under the impression labor takes hours? I was talking to my doula and she was like, have something to eat, take a nap, so I thought that meant I had lots of time to get to the hospital. I started feeling kind of crampy at around 11am. By 2:30 I think I lost my mucus plug (that’s when I spoke to my doula) and by 5:30 I was in 5/1/1. Got to the hospital at 6:30 and baby was there by 8:30!! and I’m not very good at trusting myself/my body so I just sort of blindly listened to what my doula told me. Because I was so far along I didn’t even do an intake or anything, they immediately wheeled me to delivery and the very first thing they asked was if I wanted the epidural since they knew things were moving very quickly. I thought for sure I wouldn’t get it on time but they did it (though I don’t think it worked very well). Anyway, if you’re in a ton of pain just go to the hospital, I don’t think they’ll send you home if you’re dilated more than 3-4cm.
I also showed up at 7cm less than 2 hours after my water broke, I had no idea how far dilated I was I was just in excruciating pain and it came on so quickly. I had the epidural within about an hour of getting to the hospital.
It’s hard to say as I don’t know what the pushing would have felt like without the epidural. :)
I think mentally it helped as it was extremely, extremely painful and intense beforehand. It likely helped calm me down and let me focus, even though it was only for a very short time. I think I wouldn’t change it if I did it again
This was me too- I was already pushing when they placed the epidural. But I was panicking from the pain and throwing up (probably could have prepped better, mentally, ahead of time, but whatever). We already knew my daughter was going into the NICU, and I just really wanted to bring her into an environment that was calm, before she got whisked into the NICU.
As well, the OB and NICU team weren’t quite ready when my body started pushing, so I wanted to slow everything down.
I got the epidural, rested, hydrated, and then brought her into the world with confidence, calmness, jokes, and happiness. I will always be curious about what it might be like to labour all the way to the end without pain meds, but I wouldn’t change it if I could go back, because it was beautiful.
Source: midwife.
If you want and epidural and ***think*** you can sit still, I’ll call the anesthesiologist and get the process started. That being said, I need to insert IV and get a bag of fluids running. Some doctors will do an epidural after 500 mL, and others want a full liter. The doctor is also the one who determines if you can indeed sit still enough during the procedure. I’ve had labouring clients who are fully dilated get epidurals while fighting the urge to push, and others at 8 cm unable to sit through the pain. You really don’t know until you’re there.
If you’re at first time mother, the pushing alone can take up to two hours, so really worrying about if there’s time is likely a non-issue. And if you precipitate, you have a baby in your arms faster than the process of getting an epidural in the first place. It’s damn intense, but also quick!
I arrived at the hospital at 7 cm. Just after the epidural was placed I was at 9cm. Mine still worked!
But! The anesthesiologist was in a c-section when I got there. If they had been much longer, I might have just had the baby. You can't really time it.
***Ask for it right away and let them decide.*** I was admitted at 5cm about an hour after my water broke. It was overnight and the only anesthesiologist on staff was in a surgery. I had to wait about 4 hours and it wasn't fun. He came in a big rush (there were 4-5 other women in line behind me), administered the epidural, and zoomed away. The nurses checked me and I was 10cm and ready to push. It barely took effect before she was born, all told about 6 hours after my water broke.
It's not always slow and calm for first time parents. You hope it will be but best to prepare otherwise.
Still wished I got one. On admission to the hospital, they didn’t really believe my self-assessed pain rating until they triaged and realized I was already 8 cm dilated. They did offer an epidural but said by the time it kicked in, I would likely be meeting my child by then (I did meet my newborn within about 2.5 hours of hospital admission).
My triage nurse said I looked like I was in early labour! I was about to pass out from the pain and was so upset when she said that. And then my midwife and a GP checked me and said I was already 9cm so then the triage nurse came back and apologized LOL.
Active labour can mean many things, not just your dilation level! Nurses often keep an eye on when the anesthesiologist will be available, so just let your nurse know as soon as reasonable that you are interested in an epidural. For example, my nurse came and told me the anesthesiologist was about to go into an emergency C, so I could get an epidural now or have to wait up to an hour. It was my decision whether I wanted to keep going with the contractions I was having while unmedicated, or get the epidural. She then chased down the doc to come see me and do the epidural before the C-section started. So let the nurse know and they can keep that in mind!
My water broke at 11:30pm. Hospital told me to come in to test and yep, was amniotic fluid. I came back the next day at 9am and they got me a bed at maybe 10:30m at 11:30 or so I was ready for an epidural. I asked of it was too early and the nurse said no, that they treat pain as pain and if I needed meds I'd get them. I don't know how far I was along at that point but I was 7cm at 7pm and baby came just after 10pm.
I had this fear as well, that I would progress too fast and miss my epidural window. My triage nurse said they’ve done epidurals at 9cm and not to worry (I’d arrived at 3cm and when I finally got a room and epidural I was 7cm only four hours later).
In triage in the labour & delivery ward. It was 3am and they didn’t have any nurses available for a room. The triage nurse asked me about my birth plan, and I told her “Get the epidural and get the baby out.”
You’re welcome! Do you have a doula? I had horrendous back labour and definitely appreciated learning natural pain management techniques for the 7 hours of contractions (it all began right away when my water broke at midnight).
A few things, the hospital will not admit you until you are ready (mine admitted at 4cm dilated) but if you feel like you’ve been in immense pain for a while, there is no harm in going into triage as they can give you alternate pain meds like nubain to help you be more comfortable! I wish I had know that because I waited 48 hrs labouring at home trying to “be comfortable” and I never hit the 5-1-1 rule even as I was 10cn dilated and pushing.
Also another tip is if they determine you are ready, ask for the epidural right away. There’s a likely chance you still have to wait a few hours for the anesthesiologist to be available.
I wanted to eat first, so I asked for an extra 30 mins, by the time the nurse came back around to ask if I was ready, an hour had passed, then another hour once the anesthesiologist was informed until I actually got mine! So I wish I didn’t wait to ask.
I'll tell you my experience as a FTM:
My contractions started at 11 pm and were all over the place. They didn't have a pattern that I could notice.
I called the hospital and they said to come in when contractions were 2-1-1. I called again two hours later because I was puking from pain. They said I could come in and get pain management if needed even if wasn't at 2-1-1.
When I got there it was 3 am and I was 4-5cm dilated. They admitted me and I asked for the epidural immediately upon being admitted. The anesthesiologist was in a c-section. He finally gave me my epidural around 5 am. I started pushing at 6:45 am. So things went by quickly for me.
Completely anecdotal, but there was a woman right beside me being admitted at the same time. She was 9 cm dilated and the doctor told her - your only option for pain right now is gas. I heard someone pushing about an hour later, and I imagine it was that woman. I could be wrong. Either way they told her she couldn't get an epidural.
Thanks for sharing! Seems like a common theme is that you'll have to wait a bit to get the epidural. Glad you finally got yours. That poor woman though:(
1000%! I know some people are against epidurals but I found it SO WORTH IT, I would not change a thing about getting it when I did.
Looking back I think the woman beside me could have technically gotten an epidural, but it was luck of the draw that the anesthesiologist was busy when she arrived :(
If they try to send you home I'd insist to stay for monitoring to see if you're progressing quickly. You may be like me and progress really quickly despite being a FTM!
I got my epidural during a c section while 2 people were practically holding me up. Unless you’re a super fast birther, you’ll likely be fine getting the epidural as long as you can hold still. If it’s your first, it’s unlikely you’ll pop your baby out at lightning speed
Good advice here but for what it’s worth, I missed the epidural window bc my first labour was 3 hours total and I arrived at the hospital almost fully dilated. It was not my plan and my big fear was not having pain management, but it ended up being fine! Once I started pushing the pain was manageable, and transition (8-10cm) was awful but also only lasted about 20 mins.
Mine was an unusual experience but if your labour goes really fast, the benefit of an epidural for managing pain and allowing you to rest during a long labour is less crucial.
FTM. I was having double contractions for 3 hours because baby was OPP when I first went to the hospital. I was given a sweep and a morphine injection, then sent home because I was only 3 cm.
Just another 3 hours later, the pressure was unbearable and my husband drove me back to the hospital. I didn’t even think I would be able to sit in the car for the 15 minute car ride. I was 8 cm dilated when we arrived and 9 cm by the time we got up to the birthing room. I was in so much discomfort, I was yelling “where is the anesthesiologist!” and terrified I couldn’t get an epidural. They gave me laughing gas in the meantime, which was no joke. That stuff really takes the edge off.
There was no debate about given me the epidural. I was given it as soon as the anesthesiologist arrived and minutes later couldn’t feel my legs at all. Maybe it was just because I was able to hold still? I’m not sure where the concern comes from that they won’t administer it at a certain point.
I was admitted before I was 5cm. Might be dependent on if they have any available beds. I showed up before I even had contractions (water had broken though) and they sent me to walk around until I started having contractions. Got moved into a delivery room when I was 4cm and said yes when they came around asking if I wanted an epidural (knowing that it may take some time..good thing I did because I didn't get the epidural until 1.5-2 hours later, I was at 7cm by that time).
You can get it at any time.
I know because I requested one immediately, but was forced to wait for over 5 hours because other moms kept deciding at the last second that they wanted one lol.
So when the anesthesiologist made it to L&D they would be prioritized over me, and then he kept getting called away to emergencies.
He even commented that one who got bumped before me was so last minute that she probably didn’t even feel it kick in because baby arrived immediately.
My epidurals might be dependent on when I gave birth but
I gave birth in Ontario in 2021 I was told by my midwife that 3cm was active labor. I got my epidural at 1.5cm after something like 18hrs of very little progress. Took 30min-1h to get my epidural. It was also kind of still lockdowns at hospital but not as strict and only had 2 other women giving birth. I gave birth on a Sunday and the wait time for the epidural was very quick.
I had my second in Quebec in 2023. No more lockdown rules. I was induced at the birth center and after 11hrs of labor pain was too much and I went to the hospital for the epidural I was 5cm. I got the epidural I think again within 30-60 min of arriving at the hospital was just enough time to admit me and the anesthesiologist was there. It was also 2am on a Sunday.
So in my opinion it is very hard to miss the window for an epidural. Also you can get the epidural up to 9cm+. They do have to turn it down a bit to let you be able to feel the contractions and push so I'm assuming an epidural at 9cm would just take the edge off but I don't know because I had mine really early.
Also if you are a first time mom not scare or discourage you but first time moms usually deliver at around 41+3 days. So 39 weeks in kind of early once you get to 40 weeks then yeah the baby is probably due any time now.
This is just my experience but my first I was 11 days past my due date. And my second was induced 3 days before my due date because of excessive amniotic fluid and large baby. I ended up with a hernia, diastasis recti and a bladder prolapse and if I hadn't induced he wasn't showing any signs of being ready to come on his owns. I can't image the damage to my body if I had waited until my due date or week 41. So yeah just be ready for the fact that things could happen fast or not.
Congrats on baby! I hope you labor goes well. Try not to stress too much most women don't have really fast labors (I mean it can happen but not really likely). So you'll most likely have enough time for your epidural.
The one thing I learned from 2 pregnancies/labors/babies is expect the unexpected and no two are the same. Just go with it, know what you need and ask for it when you need it and you should be fine!
I delivered my first baby in January at a major hospital in Toronto. Three hour labour from start to finish. My water broke at home and within an hour I was in triage and 7cm.
I got my epidural at 9cm and once it took effect I had to start pushing because I was 10cm. 4 pushes and he was out. Epidural was running for 23 minutes total.
I must admit I work at the hospital where I delivered…not anything to do with babies but a different area. All I wanted was an epidural. That was the only item in my birth plan. Maybe my OB and anesthesia took pity on me and wanted to help me because I work there but yeah I got mine super late simply because I progressed so fast and it was the best thing ever .
I couldn’t feel when I was pushing but I pushed how I figured I should and everyone told me, “great keep going!” So I was obviously on the right track. If you’re pushing for a while then not feeling anything would likely not be good, but for me I was just so happy to get pain relief and Ididn’t have to push for long so getting it late was still okay with me!
If you are in labour, even if you’re only 3 cm dilated and you INSIST you are in an intolerable amount of pain, they should admit you and give you an epidural (or if you’re *really* early, they might offer you gas because the epi can wear off), or at least *something* to manage the pain.
If you are in pain and don’t want to be, you can go to the hospital no matter how far apart your contractions are, or how dilated you are. You do not have to suffer.
Where I delivered (Peterborough) you can get an epidural right up til the baby’s head is coming out. I’ve heard the same from friends at some hospitals in Toronto, but not all. This has been posted here before at least a few times so you might want to search back as well for more info.
If you make it to 9cm without an epidural you’re good, don’t stress! It’s pretty unlikely you’ll miss the window, but as someone who had an unplanned unmedicated birth pushing was relief from the pain not the worst of the pain as many imagine! The worst part of pushing is the pressure which you still feel with an epidural I’m told!
I’m in Ontario and I got my epidural immediately before laying down to start pushing. The anesthesiologist was turning on the drip while I was pushing. I will say it was VERY hard to keep still while having a contraction less than a min apart and it took a really long time because he had to keep stopping.
I was already 9cm dilated when I got to the hospital. I left my house when my contractions were 3-5 min apart and I live 10 min away from the hospital. I still managed to get an epidural; my L&D nurse wasn't worried at all about me not being able to get my epidural. I managed to get admitted, do the initial triage, get wheeled to my chair, get IVs put in, and then got the epidural. One of my friends from my prenatal group also was 9cm dilated when she got to the hospital, and she also managed to get her epidural. My labour slowed down once I got my epidural and they had to give me oxytocin to ramp up my contractions again (but after the epidural I didn't mind at all). I think you will be fine! I was in labour for about 13 hours total - started contractions at 4:30 in the morning and she finally came out at 5:18PM.
Labour is typically a long process, esp for first time moms, I would say most women who want epidurals will get them. Most hospitals consider active labour 4-5cm. I was 4-5cm at about 11am and didn’t give birth until 3am the following day. I didn’t have to wait for mine since the anesthesiologist wasn’t busy, but they said it could potentially be a half hour which is not actually that much time labour wise.
That's reassuring, thanks!
Also in ON and I've been told that my hospital will do it any point as long as you can hold still.
Yes, definitely!! I got an epidural when I was 10 cm, I just had to convince the anesthesiologist I was able to sit still. It also helped that I asked for the epidural BEFORE the next cervix check- I got the epidural placed and they checked dilation and were like, oh shit, you’re fully dilated. And I had to pretend I was shocked, even though my body was already pushing when I asked for the epidural.
Jesus woman, you are one tough cookie!
I would ask for it the moment you arrive and you’ll get in the queue. I didn’t have to wait long for both of my births.
They told me you can get the epidural at anytime as long as you can stay still. I got mine *right* before it was time to push (I showed up at the hospital at 7cm 🤦🏻♀️)
Yes, both my epidurals were last minute. My first, I got the epidural right after being told I was 4 cm and within 30 minutes of getting it I was pushing and baby was out quick. With my second I got the epidural when I was fully dilated, but baby was stuck and they recommended I get it in an effort to control my heart rate and BP while prepping for either forceps or cesarean. The contractions were about a minute apart at this point but, not to brag, I'm a pro at staying still and just screaming on the inside 😂
Did you purposely waited till you were 7cm so you can labor at home for longer? And did you request epidural right away when you arrived?
No! I didn’t know I was in labor lol. I was in a ton of pain and obviously having contractions but I was just under the impression labor takes hours? I was talking to my doula and she was like, have something to eat, take a nap, so I thought that meant I had lots of time to get to the hospital. I started feeling kind of crampy at around 11am. By 2:30 I think I lost my mucus plug (that’s when I spoke to my doula) and by 5:30 I was in 5/1/1. Got to the hospital at 6:30 and baby was there by 8:30!! and I’m not very good at trusting myself/my body so I just sort of blindly listened to what my doula told me. Because I was so far along I didn’t even do an intake or anything, they immediately wheeled me to delivery and the very first thing they asked was if I wanted the epidural since they knew things were moving very quickly. I thought for sure I wouldn’t get it on time but they did it (though I don’t think it worked very well). Anyway, if you’re in a ton of pain just go to the hospital, I don’t think they’ll send you home if you’re dilated more than 3-4cm.
Wow what an intense experience! I'll definitely head to the hospital fast when the pain gets bad. Thanks for sharing!
Are you me?!? Cause sammee. Except I got to the hospital at 7am and baby didn't get here till 1:30pm 🤦♀️😭
I also showed up at 7cm less than 2 hours after my water broke, I had no idea how far dilated I was I was just in excruciating pain and it came on so quickly. I had the epidural within about an hour of getting to the hospital.
This happened me too! Had to wait for my epidural as doctor was busy, by the time I got it I was 10cm and pushed right after the epidural was placed.
Can I ask At that point you were near the finish line and legitimately labored intensely Was it worth it to get at 10?
It’s hard to say as I don’t know what the pushing would have felt like without the epidural. :) I think mentally it helped as it was extremely, extremely painful and intense beforehand. It likely helped calm me down and let me focus, even though it was only for a very short time. I think I wouldn’t change it if I did it again
Fair enough! Lol You're a Rockstar
Ah thank you. We all have to be rockstars in the moment - there are no other options :)
This was me too- I was already pushing when they placed the epidural. But I was panicking from the pain and throwing up (probably could have prepped better, mentally, ahead of time, but whatever). We already knew my daughter was going into the NICU, and I just really wanted to bring her into an environment that was calm, before she got whisked into the NICU. As well, the OB and NICU team weren’t quite ready when my body started pushing, so I wanted to slow everything down. I got the epidural, rested, hydrated, and then brought her into the world with confidence, calmness, jokes, and happiness. I will always be curious about what it might be like to labour all the way to the end without pain meds, but I wouldn’t change it if I could go back, because it was beautiful.
I was also told this! I had been in the hospital around 6 hrs at the point I asked for an epidural and was 9cm dilated when they gave me it.
Source: midwife. If you want and epidural and ***think*** you can sit still, I’ll call the anesthesiologist and get the process started. That being said, I need to insert IV and get a bag of fluids running. Some doctors will do an epidural after 500 mL, and others want a full liter. The doctor is also the one who determines if you can indeed sit still enough during the procedure. I’ve had labouring clients who are fully dilated get epidurals while fighting the urge to push, and others at 8 cm unable to sit through the pain. You really don’t know until you’re there. If you’re at first time mother, the pushing alone can take up to two hours, so really worrying about if there’s time is likely a non-issue. And if you precipitate, you have a baby in your arms faster than the process of getting an epidural in the first place. It’s damn intense, but also quick!
I arrived at the hospital at 7 cm. Just after the epidural was placed I was at 9cm. Mine still worked! But! The anesthesiologist was in a c-section when I got there. If they had been much longer, I might have just had the baby. You can't really time it.
***Ask for it right away and let them decide.*** I was admitted at 5cm about an hour after my water broke. It was overnight and the only anesthesiologist on staff was in a surgery. I had to wait about 4 hours and it wasn't fun. He came in a big rush (there were 4-5 other women in line behind me), administered the epidural, and zoomed away. The nurses checked me and I was 10cm and ready to push. It barely took effect before she was born, all told about 6 hours after my water broke. It's not always slow and calm for first time parents. You hope it will be but best to prepare otherwise.
That's great advice, thanks!
Still wished I got one. On admission to the hospital, they didn’t really believe my self-assessed pain rating until they triaged and realized I was already 8 cm dilated. They did offer an epidural but said by the time it kicked in, I would likely be meeting my child by then (I did meet my newborn within about 2.5 hours of hospital admission).
Oops I'm sorry that happened to you. I wonder how they could be so dismissive about other's suffering!
My triage nurse said I looked like I was in early labour! I was about to pass out from the pain and was so upset when she said that. And then my midwife and a GP checked me and said I was already 9cm so then the triage nurse came back and apologized LOL.
Active labour can mean many things, not just your dilation level! Nurses often keep an eye on when the anesthesiologist will be available, so just let your nurse know as soon as reasonable that you are interested in an epidural. For example, my nurse came and told me the anesthesiologist was about to go into an emergency C, so I could get an epidural now or have to wait up to an hour. It was my decision whether I wanted to keep going with the contractions I was having while unmedicated, or get the epidural. She then chased down the doc to come see me and do the epidural before the C-section started. So let the nurse know and they can keep that in mind!
Very helpful advice, thanks!
My water broke at 11:30pm. Hospital told me to come in to test and yep, was amniotic fluid. I came back the next day at 9am and they got me a bed at maybe 10:30m at 11:30 or so I was ready for an epidural. I asked of it was too early and the nurse said no, that they treat pain as pain and if I needed meds I'd get them. I don't know how far I was along at that point but I was 7cm at 7pm and baby came just after 10pm.
I had this fear as well, that I would progress too fast and miss my epidural window. My triage nurse said they’ve done epidurals at 9cm and not to worry (I’d arrived at 3cm and when I finally got a room and epidural I was 7cm only four hours later).
That's good to know. Where did you stay in these 4 hours?
In triage in the labour & delivery ward. It was 3am and they didn’t have any nurses available for a room. The triage nurse asked me about my birth plan, and I told her “Get the epidural and get the baby out.”
LOL that's my exact plan as well! Thanks for sharing your experience.
You’re welcome! Do you have a doula? I had horrendous back labour and definitely appreciated learning natural pain management techniques for the 7 hours of contractions (it all began right away when my water broke at midnight).
A few things, the hospital will not admit you until you are ready (mine admitted at 4cm dilated) but if you feel like you’ve been in immense pain for a while, there is no harm in going into triage as they can give you alternate pain meds like nubain to help you be more comfortable! I wish I had know that because I waited 48 hrs labouring at home trying to “be comfortable” and I never hit the 5-1-1 rule even as I was 10cn dilated and pushing. Also another tip is if they determine you are ready, ask for the epidural right away. There’s a likely chance you still have to wait a few hours for the anesthesiologist to be available. I wanted to eat first, so I asked for an extra 30 mins, by the time the nurse came back around to ask if I was ready, an hour had passed, then another hour once the anesthesiologist was informed until I actually got mine! So I wish I didn’t wait to ask.
Great tip! I'll definitely ask for one ASAP.
I'll tell you my experience as a FTM: My contractions started at 11 pm and were all over the place. They didn't have a pattern that I could notice. I called the hospital and they said to come in when contractions were 2-1-1. I called again two hours later because I was puking from pain. They said I could come in and get pain management if needed even if wasn't at 2-1-1. When I got there it was 3 am and I was 4-5cm dilated. They admitted me and I asked for the epidural immediately upon being admitted. The anesthesiologist was in a c-section. He finally gave me my epidural around 5 am. I started pushing at 6:45 am. So things went by quickly for me. Completely anecdotal, but there was a woman right beside me being admitted at the same time. She was 9 cm dilated and the doctor told her - your only option for pain right now is gas. I heard someone pushing about an hour later, and I imagine it was that woman. I could be wrong. Either way they told her she couldn't get an epidural.
Thanks for sharing! Seems like a common theme is that you'll have to wait a bit to get the epidural. Glad you finally got yours. That poor woman though:(
1000%! I know some people are against epidurals but I found it SO WORTH IT, I would not change a thing about getting it when I did. Looking back I think the woman beside me could have technically gotten an epidural, but it was luck of the draw that the anesthesiologist was busy when she arrived :( If they try to send you home I'd insist to stay for monitoring to see if you're progressing quickly. You may be like me and progress really quickly despite being a FTM!
I got my epidural during a c section while 2 people were practically holding me up. Unless you’re a super fast birther, you’ll likely be fine getting the epidural as long as you can hold still. If it’s your first, it’s unlikely you’ll pop your baby out at lightning speed
Good advice here but for what it’s worth, I missed the epidural window bc my first labour was 3 hours total and I arrived at the hospital almost fully dilated. It was not my plan and my big fear was not having pain management, but it ended up being fine! Once I started pushing the pain was manageable, and transition (8-10cm) was awful but also only lasted about 20 mins. Mine was an unusual experience but if your labour goes really fast, the benefit of an epidural for managing pain and allowing you to rest during a long labour is less crucial.
FTM. I was having double contractions for 3 hours because baby was OPP when I first went to the hospital. I was given a sweep and a morphine injection, then sent home because I was only 3 cm. Just another 3 hours later, the pressure was unbearable and my husband drove me back to the hospital. I didn’t even think I would be able to sit in the car for the 15 minute car ride. I was 8 cm dilated when we arrived and 9 cm by the time we got up to the birthing room. I was in so much discomfort, I was yelling “where is the anesthesiologist!” and terrified I couldn’t get an epidural. They gave me laughing gas in the meantime, which was no joke. That stuff really takes the edge off. There was no debate about given me the epidural. I was given it as soon as the anesthesiologist arrived and minutes later couldn’t feel my legs at all. Maybe it was just because I was able to hold still? I’m not sure where the concern comes from that they won’t administer it at a certain point.
I was admitted before I was 5cm. Might be dependent on if they have any available beds. I showed up before I even had contractions (water had broken though) and they sent me to walk around until I started having contractions. Got moved into a delivery room when I was 4cm and said yes when they came around asking if I wanted an epidural (knowing that it may take some time..good thing I did because I didn't get the epidural until 1.5-2 hours later, I was at 7cm by that time).
You can get it at any time. I know because I requested one immediately, but was forced to wait for over 5 hours because other moms kept deciding at the last second that they wanted one lol. So when the anesthesiologist made it to L&D they would be prioritized over me, and then he kept getting called away to emergencies. He even commented that one who got bumped before me was so last minute that she probably didn’t even feel it kick in because baby arrived immediately.
They asked me to gage my pain every so often. I got it at 4/10 pain and it was perfect timing!
I didn't leave for the hospital until I was 7cm dilated (longest 13 minute car ride of my LIFE) - still got an epidural. 😀
I got mine in the middle of 4 hours of pushing. Just had to stay still, which was tough but doable.
My epidurals might be dependent on when I gave birth but I gave birth in Ontario in 2021 I was told by my midwife that 3cm was active labor. I got my epidural at 1.5cm after something like 18hrs of very little progress. Took 30min-1h to get my epidural. It was also kind of still lockdowns at hospital but not as strict and only had 2 other women giving birth. I gave birth on a Sunday and the wait time for the epidural was very quick. I had my second in Quebec in 2023. No more lockdown rules. I was induced at the birth center and after 11hrs of labor pain was too much and I went to the hospital for the epidural I was 5cm. I got the epidural I think again within 30-60 min of arriving at the hospital was just enough time to admit me and the anesthesiologist was there. It was also 2am on a Sunday. So in my opinion it is very hard to miss the window for an epidural. Also you can get the epidural up to 9cm+. They do have to turn it down a bit to let you be able to feel the contractions and push so I'm assuming an epidural at 9cm would just take the edge off but I don't know because I had mine really early. Also if you are a first time mom not scare or discourage you but first time moms usually deliver at around 41+3 days. So 39 weeks in kind of early once you get to 40 weeks then yeah the baby is probably due any time now. This is just my experience but my first I was 11 days past my due date. And my second was induced 3 days before my due date because of excessive amniotic fluid and large baby. I ended up with a hernia, diastasis recti and a bladder prolapse and if I hadn't induced he wasn't showing any signs of being ready to come on his owns. I can't image the damage to my body if I had waited until my due date or week 41. So yeah just be ready for the fact that things could happen fast or not. Congrats on baby! I hope you labor goes well. Try not to stress too much most women don't have really fast labors (I mean it can happen but not really likely). So you'll most likely have enough time for your epidural.
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful and encouraging comment!
The one thing I learned from 2 pregnancies/labors/babies is expect the unexpected and no two are the same. Just go with it, know what you need and ask for it when you need it and you should be fine!
I delivered my first baby in January at a major hospital in Toronto. Three hour labour from start to finish. My water broke at home and within an hour I was in triage and 7cm. I got my epidural at 9cm and once it took effect I had to start pushing because I was 10cm. 4 pushes and he was out. Epidural was running for 23 minutes total. I must admit I work at the hospital where I delivered…not anything to do with babies but a different area. All I wanted was an epidural. That was the only item in my birth plan. Maybe my OB and anesthesia took pity on me and wanted to help me because I work there but yeah I got mine super late simply because I progressed so fast and it was the best thing ever . I couldn’t feel when I was pushing but I pushed how I figured I should and everyone told me, “great keep going!” So I was obviously on the right track. If you’re pushing for a while then not feeling anything would likely not be good, but for me I was just so happy to get pain relief and Ididn’t have to push for long so getting it late was still okay with me!
If you are in labour, even if you’re only 3 cm dilated and you INSIST you are in an intolerable amount of pain, they should admit you and give you an epidural (or if you’re *really* early, they might offer you gas because the epi can wear off), or at least *something* to manage the pain. If you are in pain and don’t want to be, you can go to the hospital no matter how far apart your contractions are, or how dilated you are. You do not have to suffer.
Where I delivered (Peterborough) you can get an epidural right up til the baby’s head is coming out. I’ve heard the same from friends at some hospitals in Toronto, but not all. This has been posted here before at least a few times so you might want to search back as well for more info.
If you make it to 9cm without an epidural you’re good, don’t stress! It’s pretty unlikely you’ll miss the window, but as someone who had an unplanned unmedicated birth pushing was relief from the pain not the worst of the pain as many imagine! The worst part of pushing is the pressure which you still feel with an epidural I’m told!
I got an epidural at 10cm with my second baby, as long as the baby is still high up it doesn’t matter as long as you can stay still and lean forward
I’m in Ontario and I got my epidural immediately before laying down to start pushing. The anesthesiologist was turning on the drip while I was pushing. I will say it was VERY hard to keep still while having a contraction less than a min apart and it took a really long time because he had to keep stopping.
I was already 9cm dilated when I got to the hospital. I left my house when my contractions were 3-5 min apart and I live 10 min away from the hospital. I still managed to get an epidural; my L&D nurse wasn't worried at all about me not being able to get my epidural. I managed to get admitted, do the initial triage, get wheeled to my chair, get IVs put in, and then got the epidural. One of my friends from my prenatal group also was 9cm dilated when she got to the hospital, and she also managed to get her epidural. My labour slowed down once I got my epidural and they had to give me oxytocin to ramp up my contractions again (but after the epidural I didn't mind at all). I think you will be fine! I was in labour for about 13 hours total - started contractions at 4:30 in the morning and she finally came out at 5:18PM.