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 Roy Pitkin, M.D., is a professor of obstetrics and
gynecology and is the former chair of the ob/gyn
department at the University of California, Los
Angeles School of Medicine. He is a frequent advisor
to national health agencies on women's health issues and has
received numerous international honors for this work.
Q: How soon can I get an epidural during labor and is there any point during labor where it's too late to get one?
A: Most physicians feel that an epidural -- a type of anesthesia injected into the lower back that causes some loss of feeling in the bottom half of the body -- should not be given until labor is well established. This usually means that contractions are strong and occurring every three minutes or so, and that the cervix is at least four centimeters dilated. If the epidural is administered too soon, it can prolong labor. An epidural cannot really be done too late, except that it takes 15 to 20 minutes to be effective, so if it is done immediately before delivery, you may deliver before there is any benefit.
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