Epidural Anesthesia during Pregnancy
By: Tsou JinyeuTotal Views: 184, Word Count: 596,
Epidural anesthesia is the most popular way for pain relief during labor. In fact, more women request for an epidural by name than any other method for pain relief. Over 50% women at hospitals use epidural anesthesia during pregnancy. It’s vital to understand the benefits and possible risks that an epidural might have when you’re deciding if this option is right for you.
Epidural anesthesia uses frequent doses of a local anesthetic in the epidural space which surrounds the spinal cord in the lower back. The nerves from the uterus to the birth passage are anesthetized without stopping labor. The aim of an epidural anesthesia during pregnancy is to provide an almost pain free labor experience, while still permitting you to feel the pressure of a contraction and the need to push.
How is an Epidural Anesthesia Given?
Before active labor begins and prior to the process of placing the epidural, intravenous (IV) fluids would be started. You could expect to receive 1 to 2 liters of IV fluids throughout labor and delivery. An anesthesiologist, a physician who specializes in anesthesia would oversee your epidural. The position you should be in for the epidural to be given might be uncomfortable, but you would not have to stay in that position for too long.
You could be asked to lie on your left side or sit up with your chin on your chest and your knees close to your stomach. An antiseptic solution would be used to wipe your waistline area of your mid back to reduce the chance of infection. A small area on your back would be injected with a local anesthetic to numb it. A needle would then be inserted into the numbed area which surrounds the spinal cord in the lower back. A small tube or catheter is passed through the needle into the epidural space and the needle is vigilantly removed leaving the catheter in place, so that medication could be injected as needed. The catheter would then be taped to your back to prevent it from slipping out.
Benefits of Epidural Anesthesia
- It allows you to rest if your labor is extended
- Empowers you to deal with the discomfort of childbirth, so that you could have a more positive birth experience.
- Unlike some drugs, an epidural wouldn’t make you sleepy before or after birth, and little medication reaches your baby.
- If you deliver you baby through cesarean section, an epidural anesthesia would allow you to stay awake and also provide efficient pain relief during revival.
- Epidural anesthesia could relieve pain in case your baby should be turned using forceps.
- The use of this anesthesia during child birth has been well researched and proven safe in most cases.
Although every woman has a desire to give birth to her baby naturally, some methods work wonder when pain becomes intolerable and epidural anesthesia during pregnancy is one of them. It’s a subjective choice of every woman whether to go for it or not as epidurals has some benefits as well as drawbacks.
About the Author
John Sterling is a professional Weight Management specialist. He is based in Sydney and provides private consultation to pregnant women, obese men, women, children, and also those who want to stay fit with regular exercising.
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