Everything you need to know about having an epidural during labor. Including the benefits, risks, and possible complications.
On this page.
What Is An Epidural?
Are you thinking about having an epidural injection during your labor? I’m going to give you all the information you will need to make an informed decision about having an epidural during labor. What an epidural is, how it’s done, and the benefits and risks.
Epidural anaesthesia is one of the pain relief options available to you during childbirth. It is an injection of anaesthetic that is put into the epidural space. This is the space outside of the membrane that is around your spinal cord. The anaesthetic will stop pain signals from reaching your brain. Another term for this is epidural block or spinal block.
What Will Happen When You Have An Epidural For Labor Pains
So what is the epidural procedure like? Well the procedure is performed by an anaesthesiologist who will ask you to lie curled up on your side. They will then clean the injection site and use a local anaesthetic to numb the area.
A needle will then be inserted in to your lower back then passes a catheter through the needle. This is usually a pretty painless procedure. The needle is then removed leaving the catheter in place.
At first you will be given a very small dose of the medication to check that there are no problems. If everything is fine the full dose will be administered.
The medicine will begin to relieve pain after about 15 minutes. You will continue to receive the medication through the catheter for the duration of your labor.
Your baby will be monitored throughout your labor as will your blood pressure just to ensure there is no change caused by the medication.
After your baby is born the catheter will be removed which is usually a painless procedure.
The Pro’s And Cons Of Having An Epidural During Labor
The Benefits Of An Epidural
- Epidurals are usually very safe
- They are a very effective form of pain management
- There is no drowsiness from having an epidural like with other forms of pain relief. You will be able to stay alert throughout the labor.
- You are usually still able to move around and feel when it’s time to push
- They are an excellent form of pain relief for a c-section as you can stay awake for the birth
Epidural Risks
- You may lose the ability to pee and may need to have a temporary catheter inserted to drain your bladder
- You may need to be given fluids through a drip into your arm
- Your labor may slow down due to having an epidural
- You might lose feeling in your legs for a short while. There is also a chance you may not be able to feel at the pushing stage. This means there is more chance that you will need an intervention like forceps to enable you to deliver your baby.
Side Effects Of An Epidural
- The medication given in an epidural shot may make you feel nauseous and/or vomit.
- You may have a drop in blood pressure but this is not usually serious.
- You may experience itching after having an epidural injection. Your doctor will usually be able to give you something to relieve the itch.
- About a quarter of all women who have an epidural will experience a fever during labor. It is not known why this happens but is usually nothing to worry about.
- After your baby is born your back may feel quite sore. This usually clears up in a couple of days and you will be able to get pain relief from your doctor.
- There may be an increased risk of vaginal tears during the birth.
More Serious Risks Of An Epidural During Labor
There are some more serious side effects of having an epidural injection but these are usually very rare. However it is important that you know what to look out for.
- If the membrane covering the spinal cord gets pierced by the epidural needle and some spinal fluid leaks out then this will cause a severe headache. This can be treated with fluids and painkillers. If this does not relief the headache a procedure called an epidural blood patch can be performed. This procedure covers up the whole in the membrane with clotted blood. It is usually very effective in relieving the headache.
- Very rarely, medication that has leaked into a vein can cause seizures. The seizure will give you convulsions due to abnormal electrical activity in your brain.
- The epidural could cause breathing problems if the chest muscles are affected. Breathing could be slowed but this is very rare.
- If a nerve is hit during the epidural procedure then this could cause temporary or permanent nerve damage in the lower body. This can result in loss of feeling but is extremely rare.
- There is a very slight risk of infection at the injection site with an epidural. This is rare as sterile needles are used for the procedure. If it does happen there is a small possibility of it spreading to other areas.
So in summary, having an epidural during labor for pain relief is generally safe and effective. However there are a number of side effects to look out for.
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