From Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE,
Your Guide to Pregnancy & Childbirth.
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With an epidural you will continue to have contractions. Though many women will experience a slowing of their labor once the epidural is placed. Many doctors will use a medication known as Pitocin to help augment labor or speed it up. This medication is given in your IV. You may also have your water broken.

If you have been in labor awhile, you may have an opportunity to sleep or rest before it is time to push your baby out.

You will be able to move around in your hospital bed, with the help of others. In fact, continuing to move your body around can help prevent some of the risks of your baby getting in a bad position and staying there. Have your support team or doula remind you to move, even if it's simply from side to side, about every half an hour. Some anesthesiologists also recommend this for better medication coverage. If you are worried about moving with tubes and monitors, ask your labor nurse to help you.

You can choose to use side lying positions, semi-sitting, etc. If you have more movement or feeling in your legs, you may be able to use even more positions. Feel free to use pillows to help hold your body at appropriate angles and to give you support so that you feel and look stable.

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