Morning ladies!!
Zuen, regarding your query about epidural, yes and no.
Your doctor would have advised you when is the safe window of dilation to get epidural (ie. between 3cm to 5cm, for example). If you requested for epidural (booked prior to admission to hospital), the anaesethtist will be alerted and will be on stand by to give you epidural once you are between 3cm and 5cm, for example.
If you plan to request only on that day (no pre-booking), you will need to constantly ask the medical staff how dilated you are, and then make the decision whether or not to request for epidural. Bear in mind, it takes about 45 minutes for the doctor to come to you and another 15 minutes or so for it so be given, so if your dilation progresses too fast, for example, beyond 5cm, then cannot get the epidural. Sometimes, the medical staff will advise you on when you get an epidural too, based on their experience and your dialation progress.