epidural?

Question

Is it true it's better to wait to get the epidural until the last minute? I'm planning on a vbac and I'm very nervous about what to do when the day comes.

Answer

I got mine at 6cm, the anesthesiologist told me she didn't like doing them at past 7cm because it makes it harder. When I got mine I also had a button connected to the meds and I could press it every 15 min as needed. It didn't run out while I used it, but if it would've my nurse told me they would've re-filled it for me. Once I hit 10 cm and they were waiting for my son to finish dropping into position they told me not to press the button though because I wouldn't be able to feel when to push. So when the time came I felt tons of pressure and knew exactly when to push but wasn't in any pain. They even stitched me up and I barely felt a thing

Answer

Probably depends on the individual labor. I don't think they like to do it last minute because pushing is too complicated. I had one with a little button to press and I didn't use it anymore when it got close to pushing so I could feel it better. So doing it really late would probably be a waste

Answer

Out of 3 deliveries I only got the epidural once for my third baby. I got it at 6cm after being stuck there for hours. Personally I like to wait a long as I can,  twice I made without meds, once I didnt. You can't tell how it'll go until you're actually in labor.  Get it whenever you're ready.  You'll know when that is.

Answer

I got induced and actually got mine at 2cm because of how much pain I was in. My labor lasted only 11 hours and my epidural didn't run out. It wasn't as strong towards the end but that was good because I had a little more feeling and movement for pushing but no pain

Answer

It's hard. Because if you wait too long, it may not kick in.

But if you start receiving too soon, and use all your meds from it, you're SOL.

Not from experience, but friends and whatnot.

Answer

I heard to wait until at least 6-7 cm. I waited until 7, but still ended up having to have a C-section. One of my friends waited until 9 cm and it didn't work. Then another got hers at 3 cm, but maxed out before she had her baby and felt everything. I'd wait until at least 6.

Answer

If you get it before you're 4cm, your chances of a c section double. BUT I've heard of many women who hold out and then are at the point of no return and waited to long to get it.  Those women are often in transition when that happens

Answer

I had horrible back labor so I got the epidural pretty early. I don't remember exactly but I think I was 4 cm. I was able to get some sleep and they woke me up to tell me it was time to start pushing.

epidural?

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