Mine took about 2hrs from when I asked to it going in, mainly coz it was 12 midnight on new years eve when I asked for it (around 2:30am new years day when i could finally breath calm again!) and the hospital was busy with drunken idiots, and coz my contractions were so close and intense it took ages to take the blood tests before I could have the epidural. My labour went for 7hrs before, 2hrs waiting and another 10hrs after the epidural kicked in so I'm very glad I had it!