An epidural is a popular pain relief option offered to women during labor.
It is medication (usually a combination of a local anesthetic and a sedative) administered via a thin, flexible hollow tube (a catheter) inserted into the epidural space outside the membrane surrounding the spine.
It delivers pain relief to the entire lower part of the body while the woman remains fully conscious. The amount it decreases the sensation and feelings can vary. Most women say it numbs most of the pain without deadening the feelings.
What does it involve?
An epidural is administered by an anesthesiologist. The woman has to lie curled on her side (or sometimes sits on the side of the hospital bed). The lower spinal area is cleaned and injected to make it numb for the needle and catheter to be inserted. This is often painless but can give a momentary pain as the needle enters.
The needle is removed and the catheter is taped in place so medication can be controlled. Once it is in place the woman can lie on her back again if she wants to.
The numbing effect kicks in after about 10 minutes (sometimes slightly longer).
An epidural will usually be given so that it lasts for the remainder of the labor - so your medical team will probably wait until the woman is at least 4 or 5 centimeters dilated with regular contractions, but it can be requested at any stage.
Women having epidurals will be connected to an IV of fluids to prevent a drop in blood pressure.
Advantages of an epidural
An epidural provides very effective pain relief.
The anesthesiologist can control the epidural's effects by adjusting the type, amount, and strength of the medication.
Mum is still fully awake and alert during the labor and birth and if the contractions are more bearable it may help her conserve some energy for the final push.
Only a tiny amount of medication reaches the baby from an epidural.
Disadvantages of an epidural
The woman has to sit very still while the epidural is administered and then the effect is not felt immediately.
The woman may lose some sensation in her legs and then be unable to stand or move around the labor room. This depends on the amount of medication given.
An epidural can make the final, pushing stage of labor longer as it lessens the woman's bearing-down reflexes. Some women find they have little or no urge to push.
Some woman find that the medication in an epidural causes side effects like itching or nausea.
Some women may need to be catheterized (have a catheter inserted into the urethra) to urinate.
Roughly one percent of women who have an epidural get a headache which lasts for several days. This is caused by a leakage of spinal fluid - which rarely happens if the woman manages to stay very still while the epidural is administered.
Debra Aspinall is an experienced journalist and the editor on Women Health topics, but he is a specialist in Pregnancy information write-ups. Debra writes on various matters such as symptoms of labor, early signs of labor , first signs of labor and etc. He has been appreciated for his quality work by many reputed health magazines.
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