Epidural

[Siouxzee]

Hi Everyone
Are you able to request an epidural during labour and how forthcoming are they?

[mptopham]

My mother-in-law is a GP in NZ. Last time my wife spoke to her about it (my wife is also a doctor) she said as far as she was aware it was becoming more popular and women were perfectly able to request it.

Some further info here:
http://www.ohbaby.co.nz/pregnancy/la...abour/epidural

[benandclare]

Yes and yes

[KatieBen]

It depends on where you are living. Some hospitals do not have anaesthetists 24/7 and some units are entirely midwife led - in such places epidurals during labour will not be available.

If it's something that is important to you then you will have to make this clear to your lead maternity carer to determine the most appropriate place for you to labour. Many midwives aren't keen on epidurals so find one that will support your choice if you would like one.

Move to Nelson and I'll put one in for you

[Siouxzee]

thanks KatieBen.
Unfortunately we are going to be based in Wellington. So if you have any recommendations there please let me know

[Georgebulldog]

thanks KatieBen.
Unfortunately we are going to be based in Wellington. So if you have any recommendations there please let me know

I'll pm you my midwife, she's South African & was great, not sure how she is on epidurals though, didn't have the time to find out

[BkyMonster]

As far as I know as long as you are giving birth at a hospital equipped to do so they are fairly available based on need. They seem to be really flexible on what they define as need though, so for all intensive purposes want=need.
However, there are primary maternity centres which are one step up in facilities from a home birth (I think they generally have entonox available, but not much else in the way of medical pain relief), and then secondary and tertiary centres which are more medically equipped. Tertiary facilities have epidural capability for sure, but secondary facilities may vary. I think I've got that ranking the right way around. I know ChCh Women's is a tertiary facility and it's a big hospital so...