When can you not get an epidural during labor?

You won’t be able to have an epidural if you: Have abnormally low blood pressure (because of bleeding or other problems) Have a bleeding disorder. Have a blood infection.

At what dilation can you not get an epidural?

Reality: There’s no specific cervical dilation range to wait for to get an epidural. We can place your epidural at the beginning, middle, or even toward the end of labor – we have safely placed epidurals in women who were dilated to 10cm.

Why would you not get an epidural?

Other potential issues with having an epidural can include: It may not be possible – If you have certain medical conditions, your labor progresses too quickly, or an anesthesiologist isn’t available, you simply may not be able to get an epidural – though other options like nitrous oxide may still be available.

Do they turn off epidural when pushing?

“Fortunately, labor doesn’t usually take that long, so the epidural doesn’t need to last that long,” she points out. Some doctors will request that the epidural be turned off or down during the pushing phase to allow mom to feel the pressure of baby’s head, which creates an urge to push, says G.

Is it painful to give birth without an epidural?

Benefits. The greatest benefit of an epidural is the potential for a painless delivery. While you may still feel contractions, the pain is decreased significantly. During a vaginal delivery, you’re still aware of the birth and can move around.

Why do people refuse an epidural?

Medical errors can happen in the hospital, the epidural could be too dense and you might not be able to move or push, an obstetrician might be trigger happy with C-sections, a lay birth attendant could have you drink too much water in labor at home and you could get water intoxication and have a seizure (seen it happen …

How can I make epidural easier?

The best practice for pushing with an epidural is called laboring down. This means that you won’t push, even when you are completely dilated until your baby is very low in your pelvis. This can help lower the cesarean rate and also saves you from maternal exhaustion. Let your body do the work, you can help at the end.