Hello mommy it is better to take epidural in the beginning. However pls discuss with your hospital and gynae about how quickly they will get the anaesthetist to give you the epidural in case you ask for it in the middle of labor. Because I didn't take epidural in the beginning as I wanted to experience the labor pain, I first took the laughing gas (nitrous oxide) but didn't work. Mine was induced labour so I couldn't move about also. My whole labor was 6 hrs and I managed 2 hrs without epidural. Then I requested for it and the anaesthetist came within 15 mins and administered the epidural. Hope you can make the decision based on this.
It depends on your own comfort and pain tolerance. I requested it while being on laughing gas (sister here was high on gas to feel the contractions and epidural injections.) If you take it late, I’d rather you just do without it. The most intense pain is contractions compared to birth, so if you managed to tahan the contractions then just go without epidural. After epidural: Shiverings and vomiting.
Can take it early. Because if you dilate fast, you can’t take epidural anymore. I think the allowance is 5cm or 6cm dilation. You need to check with your gynae. I had non stop shivering after taking epidural. And vomited a lot when baby is coming out.
Its def btr to take it early before its too late haha. My experience was def made easier after taking it but the after effects though :') could not stop shivering and continued vomiting till the next day haha.
No side effects for me at all but i took it only at 7cm coz i was dilating really slowly and the laughing gas was making me feel like crap.
Agree laughing gas is useless, please remember dont consume aspirin if u intend to do epidural. I gave birth without epidural.
it was the best decision that I ever made! my contractions were very strong, couldn't make it without it
I took it at 4-5 cm dilation and had side effects. Very bad shiver :( but better than enduring the pain
Anonymous