In plain words
An epidural is a common form of pain relief in labor. An anesthesiologist places a thin, soft tube in the space around the spinal cord, in your lower back. Medicine flows through the tube and numbs pain from the waist down. You stay awake, and many mothers can still move their legs a little. The effect can be adjusted during labor. Some mothers feel pressure without pain, and some feel very little. Side effects can include lower blood pressure, , and fever. A headache after the procedure can happen but is uncommon. A provider can explain the risks and benefits for a particular birth.
The deeper version
Epidural analgesia is a neuraxial technique using local anesthetic, often with a low-dose opioid, delivered through a catheter in the epidural space. Cochrane reviews (Anim-Somuah et al., 2018) report that epidurals reduce pain and maternal satisfaction is high, with increases in operative vaginal delivery, longer , and maternal fever in some trials. ACOG Practice Bulletin 209 (2019) on obstetric analgesia and anesthesia reviews neuraxial techniques and states that they do not increase the overall rate of . Neuraxial complications include , which affects a small percentage of patients, and rare hematoma or abscess. Whether labor analgesia affects breastfeeding initiation is debated, with mixed observational findings.
Where it comes up
- Pain options: from breathing to epiduralGetting Ready for Birth
- Induction: why, how, and what to askGetting Ready for Birth
- Headaches after birthPostpartum: Your Body
- Back, neck, and shoulder pain from feeding and carryingPostpartum: Your Body
What mothers here say about epidural
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Practice Bulletin 209: Obstetric analgesia and anesthesia, 2019
- Anim-Somuah M et al. — Epidural versus non-epidural or no analgesia for pain management in labour. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018