window of opportunity..

klrrat

how long is the window when you can get an epidural?

SmittyPants

I'm pretty sure you can get one right up until you're fully dilated, but don't quote me on that. Your doc will know for sure. 

Eleni&Josh

It really depends on your hospital.  At ours they say that they have a barn door instead of a window.  If you're not about to push, they'll do it any time.

jineau

it depends on the effectiveness. if you wait too late it might not work in time. or if you get it too early on t might not last. if it's a long labor your only allowed to get 2. As for when the optimal timing is I'm not sure.

Jessiree

At our birthing class, they said at our hospital you have to be at 4 cm or past, in active labor (using the 5-1-1 rule) and you can get one up until you are ready to push, so depending on your labor, it could be a long window or a short one!

jineau

what's the 5-1-1 rule?

Jessiree

jineau:

what's the 5-1-1 rule?

Contractions five minutes apart, a minute in duration, for at least one hour. 

babyboymama11

What Jessiree said is what my understanding is too.

SoonToBeMsP

BoBride28:

I was told that you can have one up until you are ready to push, as long as you are able to stay still to get the epidural. Not a good idea to get it too early though (I think before 4cm) because it possibly could slow things down.

This is what I heard. An RN at our classes told us you can get an epidural after 4cm since that is considered a "no going back point" for most women. As a FTM, I am not sure how quickly the windows closes though!