Effect of Epidural Needle Injection on Catheter Placement Success During Painless Labour

Inclusion Criteria: * Female patients aged 18-40 years. * ASA physical status II or III. * Singleton pregnancy. * Gestational age ≥37 weeks. * Active labour with cervical dilatation ≥3 cm. * Cephalic presentation. * Requesting epidural analgesia for painless labour. * Ability to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * • Refusal to participate or to sign informed consent. * Age \<18 or \>40 years. * ASA status ≥IV. * Allergy to local anesthetics or saline. * Coagulopathy or platelet count \<100,000/mm³. * Local infection at the insertion site. * Severe spinal deformity (scoliosis, kyphosis). * Multiple pregnancy. * Non-cephalic presentation (breech, transverse). * Antepartum hemorrhage or placenta previa. * Severe preeclampsia or eclampsia. * Signs of fetal distress. * Previous lumbar spine surgery. * Difficult epidural anatomy (on ultrasound or palpation). * BMI \>40 kg/m²