Tips for making sure there’s time for an epidural second time around?

Hey, so I’m due my second baby any time now and thought I’d pop into the October group to see if any second (or third or fourth lol) time mums have any tips for securing that epidural 😂 First time round I hated labour so much until I had an epidural and then it was a really nice experience as I was no longer in pain. I really want to try and make sure I can get the epidural again this time. I’m aware that for lots of second (and subsequent) births things go quicker and people are then told it’s too late for an epidural. Any tips out there on trying to make sure I can get it in time?! I’m so much more nervous for labour this time as I know what’s in store. Last time I thought I’d just breath through it, but my pain tolerance is clearly pathetic 😂😂😂😂

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Tell the midwifes, that’s what I did. And as soon as it was painful I was like I ain’t doing this and give me the epidural 🤣 the only thing is my back after was killing me for like a week because I’ve had it for a longer period of time. My second was much more painful than first as well so your pain tolerance changes too 🥴

I had my midwife put a note at the top of my maternity notes to say that if I request an epidural, to do it asap. This was then the first thing the midwives saw in my notes when I turned up at the hospital. Didn’t end up getting it in the end (very short active labour!) but it gave me some peace of mind to know they knew my preferences. Also it is technically never ‘too late’, although a lot of midwives will push back because if you are very close to giving birth it probably won’t have taken full effect in time.

It depends, I think if your first labour was average length then you'll have time. If it was short, not much you can do. My first I'm not sure how long labour was as they didn't believe I was in much pain. By the time I was examined I was 9cm at about 2pm, had baby 4pm so I guess there was time. With my second, waters went 6:15pm, app told me to go to hospital at 7:45pm. Got there 8:10pm had baby 8:50pm so I don't think there would have been time. On the bright side if it's that quick it is over quickly 😂 With the second I laid down to try and stall labour before going to hospital as was waiting for in-laws to pick up toddler.

My second unfortunately I didn’t have time, things happened so quickly there was no time for anything 😅 xx

I only have one baby but just wanted to come on and say your pain tolerance isn't pathetic. Giving birth is a big deal and I hated every minute of it and I also had an epidural. Xxx

You could just ask very early on? For me they thought I’d need the hormone drip a couple of hours into my second labour so I said I wouldn’t have that until an epidural was in place. They got me the epidural and I never ended up actually needing the hormone drip! My second labour was 5 hours start to finish. First was over 24 hours.

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