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had my epidural at 4 cm...and it took 6 hours of labor to get there...they said I had to wait until I was 4 cm before they would give it to me....so you should be fine. ;) Good luck!

Don't feel bad I was positive until today that i wanted an epi (this is my 1st baby) and after hearing horror stories im really changing my mind!! I had a spinal tap go wrong once and lost too much spinal fluid not to mention it hurt like hell-so now I am scared I have a low pain tolerance I know-I'm wondering if I can get thru it maybe with just pain meds instead? Can anyone tell me if just the pain meds would help?

junebaby, pain meds will take the edge off (hopefully) and they just kindof make you not care so much that you are in pain. Myself, I will have another epidural. If you have a low pain tollerance and are worried about the epidural, ask for one and when the anesthesiologist gets there, talk to him and see how you feel after meeting him and asking a few questions. I had no adverse affects from my epidural and was extremely happy to get it. If you know you don't do well with pain (like me), then don't completely rule it out without speaking to the anesthesiologist first. Who knows, you may meet him and feel very comfortable. As well, the administration of the epidural is virtually painless. I told my anesthesiologist that I didn't want a play-by-play of what he was doing, just instruction on what I needed to do allow for proper insertion. If you do decide to go with it, everything will be fine. For me, it allowed me to concentrate on my pushing and not so much on the pain. With the epidural I was able to enjoy the birth of my baby girl, who is now 26 months. I am currently 26 weeks and definitely plan on having an epidural this time too. Good luck to you!

Thank you!

Yes!! The epidural relieves contraction pain but NOT pressure!!!! The pressure in my groin and b___t were WAY intense, unforntuately...it didnt relieve that, whichi is WHAT I WAS COMPLAINING about.. Boo!

I got mine around 7cm because I couldn't take the pain. And to be honest the contractions were so strong I didn't feel the needle and after they inserted it I was able to relax and still push but at the end pushing it him out still hurt. I say do it.

I honestly dont' remember much about it other than I was hurting like hell - at 5cm they got the guy to give me the drugs. I don't remember much except that I was laying on my side and after I had a contraction they stuck me with the needle. I don't recall it hurting or anything - and my labor was fine after that. I was at 9cm 30 minutes after I got the epi too so they took me off the pitocin (I was induced). It really was pretty pleasant and I'm glad I did it! I was very aware and conscious of the whole birth process -minus the pain!:)

when yo do an epidural you diminish your ability to push- have you tried meditation? how can you refocus your mind away from pain and into yourself> Wait until the last possible moment for the epidural, and try not to have it in the same location because it causes scar tissue on your spinal chord.

Okay here is my story:I was induced w/ dd because I was 10 days overdue.The first evening they put the cervidil in,because I wasn't dilated at all.The next morningat 10 a.m.I started having contractions---wow.They were coming every 15 seconds and lasting 2 1/2 minutes,it was really rough.that lasted for 12 hours before they gave me staydol so I could sleep a little.The next day at about 6 a.m.they put me on Pitocin saying that the contractions would be much harder,Well I knew that if they were much harder than they were the day before I couldn't do it.So that afternoon I got the epidural.You have to understand that I never wanted an epi,I was totally against it,but by that time I was so exhausted from the day before I caved and got it.They scrub your back with Iodine?it's orange.and that is a little scratchy.when they put the needle in my back,there was a quick,sharp,achy-tickly feeling it actually made me jump.but after that I didn't feel anything.I was glad to have it because I finally got to rest a little bit,but by the time I started pushing that night I was natural,because they had turned it off.looking back I know I could have done it naturally,because the worst part was the day before,but I'm glad I got it nonetheless,however I do not plan on getting one next time,to be honest I am more afraid of the epi,then I am of labor,it sounds dumb,but I still don't like the idea of having something in my spine.Oh,I would still say the worst part is when they take it out,not the needle itself,but the line was taped up my back and shoulder,and they had to pul it all off,you talk about something hurting!I had just given birth to an 8lb 5oz baby and it still took my breath away.If you can do it w/o an epi go for it!

Had one with all 3...1st and second time around 7 cm; 3rd time i was already 10 and in so much pain contractions on top of each other so he put the epi in while i was contracting...not great but the painless delivery was payoff enough for me...i waited until the epi took some effect to push. some hospitals wont let you get an epi that late though.

wow, I had a pretty uneventful epidural experience. I don't remember it hurting when put in or taken out and it worked great and I pushed my dd out in 30 minutes. It is a bit weird trying to figure out how to push when you can't really feel - but it's like pushing when you are constipated. It really was wonderful since I was induced and it was incredibly painful.

None of my 3 epidurals hurt when they put them in or took them out. They numb you before they put it in with a shot- it stings but it's nothing like the pain of contractions. Then I didn't even know when they took it out.