when can you get an epidural

Requesting an epidural is an important selection — and choosing it too early or besides late can take consequences. When is too late to get an epidural? Can you asking an epidural at 7 centimeters (cm)? Let's find out.

Kickoff off —who am I, and why do I know this? Hello, I'm Hilary — The Pregnancy Nurse 👩‍⚕️. I have been a nurse since 1997 and I have twenty years of L&D nursing feel, I am also the curly head behind Pulling Curls and The Online Prenatal Class for Couples. 🩺 I've given probably THOUSANDS of epidurals, and seen even more than that at this point — so I'g a expert 1 to reply this question for y'all today.

Are you worried most hurting at nativity? That'south REALLY normal. I would recommend taking a prenatal form from someone who has a lot of feel with many unlike types of nascence. This class goes over all your pain management options, and walks you through the unabridged epidural procedure. You don't want to miss chapter 7. Get ALL the information yous need for your upcoming nascence in one spot (with someone you can trust).

Tin can I Get an Epidural at seven Centimeters?

It's a skillful question. I often had patients ask me when was "too late."

I also have a full video on when I recommend you go the epidural.

What's in This Article (click on an area to jump alee)

What is an epidural?
Why information technology might be "likewise tardily"
Is 7 cm Too Late?
Availability of Epidural by Centimeter

What is an Epidural?

Mod medicine uses analgesia, often saved for the operating room (OR) to help women have a ameliorate nascency experience, and is used very ofttimes in the United States in vaginal births. Information technology is given by an anesthesiologist, not your regular health care provider (midwife or OB).

It is when medication is injected by an epidural needle into the epidural space. They also insert a pocket-size tube (called an epidural catheter) into that infinite It is called epidural anesthesia.

Earlier doing all of that they will put on some local anesthetics into your lower back so y'all simply feel the pressure of the needle (similar to when they numb you lot at the dentist or for stitches).

A lot of women worry that this will paralyze them as it is very close to the spinal cord, but the epidural needle is non in the spinal canal space and that gamble is very minimal (only they volition go through it when the anesthesiologist places your epidural cake).

The epidural analgesia that they inject (and so information technology flows through that tube they place in your back) volition assist numb your spinal nerves, and then you don't feel as much pain during labor.

This should last a long time and it very safe.

However, in that location is the largest run a risk of the epidural placement in significant women is a small-scale amount of spinal fluid leaking, which can cause a astringent headache (chosen a spinal headache). This can be fixed by anesthesia (and it is different from a regular hadache). This happens in only very rare cases (and makes information technology so your positioning is of import during the placement).

You lot might also be at an increased hazard for low blood force per unit area as you relax from all the hurting relief (which is why nosotros will monitor your blood pressure frequently during labor). If this happens, the baby'due south center rate can driblet as well (only once again, we are monitoring it and we accept a medications that tin reverse this) and may require medical intervention.

This can too be a perk for women experiencing high blood pressure during their third trimester (and that relaxation can be good for anyone with preeclampsia as well).

Other common side effects include drowsiness, and itching.

The epidural injection is hateful to accept away about lxxx% of the hurting in your lower body (from well-nigh your rib muzzle downwardly). The lower office of your body will also likely be difficult for you lot to move (and you lot tin't get out of bed).

Alternatives to the epidural would be IV pain medication, nitrous oxide (not in use at all US hospitals yet), local anesthetics or natural pain direction.

The epidural is near often used for vaginal births, and spinal anesthesia is used for cesarean deliveries (I have a whole post on cesarean anesthesia). Just the epidural can be used during an emergent cesarean to assist provide adequate hurting relief also.

If you're interested in more information on the epidural process << I have a whole post on that on my sister site.

Why could it be "Too Late" to go an epidural?

**Please keep in heed that some women with a previous back injury or are on blood thinners may Non be able to get an epidural at all — so check with your healthcare provider almost your specific circumstances.

Well, it is REALLY difficult to sit down all the same if the infant is actually coming out and get the epidural placed.

Also, it would be fairly useless at that point, you lot're in too much pain for it to exist constructive before information technology would be useless. Information technology does take a few minutes for information technology to have full effect.

Plus, the epidural does come with risks along with slap-up pain direction — so, making sure information technology's WORTH the run a risk (especially if it volition only be "in" for a few minutes) is something to discuss with your team.

Risks of Getting an Epidural Too Tardily

The main run a risk is that it just won't have time to have effect as y'all're being "hit" past giant waves of pain. This is why the phase of labour you're in can exist really important to know earlier you place the epidural to aid you with the pain of contractions.

The other risk would be moving during the placement (as you are in so much hurting) and that can take more serious consequences.

So, is 7 cm too tardily to go an epidural?

I don't call up so, but at that place is something to keep in mind — and that'due south what # babe yous're on. BTW, still not sure what this CM'southward are — check out my postal service on vaginal exams on my sister site.

First Babe

First time mothers — vii cm still gives y'all quite a lot of time to enjoy the benefits of the epidural.

7-x cm volition all the same have you 2-3 hours to get through (could be more, could be less), but call up on your first baby — on average — people push for 2 hours — the pushing stage is probable much longer than it will be in subsequent deliveries So, not only will yous go the relief while you're letting babe move down into your pelvis, you'll also have it during pushing.

Ane of the big benefits is that if you were to need an emergency c-section (more likely on your first time) they can dose-upwardly the epidural for that procedure and keep you very comfortable.

Second Birth

If it'due south your second (or more than) baby you lot likely won't get a lot of pain relief from it, just in that location's a good gamble you'll go quite a bit. 7-10 cm (when you can push) usually takes 1-ii hours, so you exercise have time — keeping in mind that'southward the textbook case, your example could exist different.

Volition your nurse help yous become an epidural at 7 cm.

I would hope so, and they should. Honestly, at any point my patient requests an epidural, I try to make it happen. It does have about thirty minutes from when the patient requests it til' anesthesia is in the room prepare to put it in.

But even if y'all're 9 cm and really asking for it, I try to brand it happen. I think nearly nurses practise.

Fifty-fifty 10 centimeters, if you really want it and it is your first baby, they should make it happen. Yous'll nonetheless have that pushing time to savour the hurting relief with information technology.

So, there y'all have information technology. No, 7 cm is non too late to get an epidural. Exist sure to cheque out all my content on labor hurting direction (I have a lot)

Here'south the other centimeters in example you wondered:

Epidural Availability by Centimeter:

Go on in mind your epidural is available with doctor's orders. And then, if your doctor says you can get it at any time, you Tin can go it at any time!

The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecology (ACOG) says that they say a adult female who asks for an epidural during labor should not be deprived of it (which makes me call back information technology should exist made available as soon as the patient is in labor — although, this isn't ever the best choice — equally I'll talk about below).

Epidural in Early Labor

Tin I get an epidural at 1 cm?

Most often this is too early to go an epidural. It would be better if you had your full move to aid your cervix open, only sometimes it is appropriate.

Although, this depends on many factors. If yous are a medically necessary consecration and take been going for days, you might well need ane at ane cm.

Can I go an epidural at 2 cm?

Similar to ane cm, it is frequently as well early to get it. Keep using movement/changes in your positioning to your do good.

Tin can I get an epidural at 3 cm?

This is a chip more likely… Near doctors will order it at 3 cm.

Can I get an epidural at 4 cm?

Most often

Epidural During Active Labor

Can I become an epidural at 5 cm?

Yep, this is a great fourth dimension to get information technology.

Can I get an epidural at half-dozen cm?

Yes, nigh often — although if you lot've had a few babies, this is the function where your labor starts to speed upwardly — so I'd go it soon.

Tin I go an epidural at 8 cm?

If information technology'south your first baby, yes. If it's your 2nd baby it is time to accept a frank discussion with your healthcare team.

Can I go an epidural at 9 cm?

If its your first baby, you lot likely tin can — depending more than on how low the baby is.

If information technology's your 2nd baby, you need to consider if information technology will be in long enough to make it worth information technology.

Tin I get an epidural at x cm?

If information technology's your commencement baby, and infant isn't depression. Almost oftentimes, yes.

If it's your second baby — but button and y'all'll have hurting relief much faster that fashion.

This all being said — your body, your choice. Beyond your medical doctor'southward orders, you lot can ask for what you lot want. Mother nature tin also brand her own choices likewise.

Be sure to grab my hospital packing list to get prepared for your baby:

Well-nigh the Author
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A nurse since 1997, she has worked in diverse fields including pediatrics, elderliness & hospice.

She has 20 years of labor and delivery feel in the San Jose, CA and Phoenix, AZ areas.

She is also the curly head behind the website Pulling Curls and is the creator of The Online Prenatal Class for Couples — the #1 hospital-based prenatal class on the internet.

Source: https://pregnurse.com/epidural-7-cm/

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