How to get a doctor to give you an epidural sooner than 6cm dialation?

[azalia78]

I was at my doctor's the other day and they said as long as I'm 6cm dialated they would give me an epidural.  Isn't that a bit far into the labor??  My first labor was very very short, 2.5 hours from start to finish and second labor was 3 hours, start to finish.  I would like to get an epidural around 3cm or 4cm so I don't miss my chance, plus the pain gets almost intolerable soon into my labors. How can I convince my doctor without being rude or demanding?

[marisol_jose1]

Hi I was given the epidural at 2cm because I was in a lot of pain but it didn't slow down anything actually I was only in labor for a total of 10 hours and that's from begin to end. I had a very easy labor thank GOD.

[mrsreeder2be]

My Dr gave me one at 1 cm.... But I also wasn't dilating for many hours and my contractions were off the chart!

[stacey10]

If your labours are that quick I'm not sure why you would bother with an epidural as they would just get it in and it would just about be time to push ! :) but they usually dont put them in until at least 5cm as the previous post said, because they can actually slow labour down

[Lesley27]

here its pretty standard to wait till 4 cm... It could be because its a different set up but for my epideral i had a button to press every 10 minutes if needed to "top off" my epideral so it doesnt wear off?  but 6cm is pretty far along to have to get to? thats crazy! i would be upset too!

[loumat09]

It took me 24 hrs to get to 2 cm them more hrs up to 5cm had an epidural at 5 cms and 2 hrs later I was fully dialated x

[Carly1306]

They say this because sometimes if they give you the epidural too soon it can slow down your contractions and the epidural wears off by the time you're in transition and ready to give birth - and that;s the time where you'll need it most.

if you have short labours then they'll monitor and check you and when they think you're far enough along then they'll give you the epidural. If you want to chance having it before, then all you can do is sit down with your doctor adn explain it all the him/her and your fears.