Although having a baby is a natural process, it can cause significant pain and discomfort. Epidural Analgesia is the most effective way of making childbirth pain free. It is a safe technique for both mother & baby.
The epidural is administered by the anesthetist by means of a very fine catheter inserted into the back, with the help of a special needle. Local Anaesthetic and other pain-relieving drugs are given through catheter to relieve pain
Advantages of an epidural
It provides continuous pain relief for contraction pains without affecting the progress of labor
Patient can walk around between contractions
Stronger drugs can be used through the same epidural catheter it a cesarean section is opened.
Disadvantages
• Forceps or a vacuum extraction may be required to help the baby out sometimes
• Mild heaviness or numbness of legs may occasionally make walking around difficult but improves after the produce
Risk of anepiduralanaesthetic
• Modern Anaesthesia in generally very safe. Every Anaesthetic has a risk of side effects & complications while most of them are usually temporary, some of them may cause long-term problems.
• Risk Generally depends on the presence of some pre-existing illness or personal factors like smocking obesity etc.
Common side effect and complications of epidural technique
• Numbness in lower limbs
• Nausea, Vomiting, Itching, and shivering.
• Fall in Blood pressure
• A headache
• Sometimes the Epidural Only partially works
• Excessive bleeding from the injection site if the patient is on blood thinning agents like aspirin or clopidogrel
Less Common side effect include
• A headache
• Itching or rash
• Temporary Nerve damage
Drug gave through epidural catheter by anesthetist that cross placentas appear to have very little or no effect on the baby
Overall, epidural analgesia is the most effective technique of making childbirth pain free and it is safe for both mother and baby.
Dr Tarun Bhatnagar
MBBS, DA, DNB, FICA
Consultant Anaesthesiologist, Fortis JK Hospital, Shobhagpura, Udaipur
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