How to Ask For and Get an Epidural

Do you want to make sure you get the pain relief you need during labor? Here’s an simple guide to getting an epidural while in labor.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• A cooperative physician
• A birth plan
• A supportive and persistent coach

1. Make sure you find a physician who is supportive of anesthesia use in labor. Ask him what his policies and views are regarding epidurals and other forms of pain relief. A supportive physician will go a long way toward getting you an easy epidural when the time comes.
2. Review the pros and cons of an epidural to make sure it’s the right choice for you. Discuss them with your doctor. You certainly don’t have to decide now but it’s good to develop an idea of where you stand on the issue.
3. Add your desire for an epidural to your birth plan along with specific instructions for when to administer it (consult your doctor about what point in dilation he prefers to have epidurals administered). Make sure that you give the new nurse a copy if you’re laboring during shift change.
4. Tell your nurse (or have your coach do it) right away when you decide you want an epidural. Most hospitals and doctors won't administer an epidural before you're dialated to 3cm or after you dialate to 7. Unfortunately this leaves you a very small window in which to get your relief
5. Don’t be put off. Rest assured that if you order your epidural when you’re dilated to 3cm you’ll probably get it just in time.
6. Don’t be out off! Yes this bears repeating. Many members of hospital staff will try to delay you with suggestions that you ‘wait a while and see if it gets better’ or claims that ‘there’s no one to do it’ and other hold ups. Remember that you only have a small window in which to get your pain relief. This is where your coach comes in, he needs to be politely forceful in requesting and if necessary re-requesting your epidural. Unless the hospital staff can give you a solid medical reason for the delay don’t be deterred. Request a meeting with the head nurse or hospital administrator if necessary. Have your doctor re-issue the order if necessary.