What’s An Epidural And Should You Get One?
You’ve probably heard of an epidural as a method of pain relief offered to laboring women in childbirth. You may have even heard women comment on the size of the needle used or how their epidural was an absolute life saver. But what is an epidural exactly and is one right for you? Let’s dive into how epidurals work and their pros and cons so you can decide if this method of pain relief is right for you.
What Is An Epidural?
An epidural is an injection of anesthesia administered into the lower back to help numb the nerves from the waist down. Epidurals are the most common form of pain relief used by pregnant women in labor and delivery. Epidural blocks are performed by anesthesiologists who first give you one shot to numb the area before sticking in a larger needle that contains a catheter. This needle is inserted into the lower spine, where the nerves send pain messages to the brain. Afterwards, the needle is removed so that only the catheter remains. This catheter is flexible, which means that you will be able to lay on your back and move around with minimal discomfort. The pain medication is then administered directly through the catheter, either as a continuous stream or in small doses. Having it administered as a continuous stream may limit your mobility because the tube delivering the anesthesia will need to remain connected to your catheter. If you choose to do doses of anesthesia instead, you are able to move around freely in between dosages.
Benefits Of An Epidural
Only you can decide whether or not an epidural is right for you and there are definitely plenty of pros and cons either way. Some of the benefits of an epidural include: It’s a fast acting method of pain relief that can generally be administered anytime before you reach eight centimeters of dilation. An epidural also gives you some control over the amount of pain relief you need, meaning that you could start with a smaller dosage and increase it as needed. Epidurals also act as a non-drowsy form of pain relief, which means that while your body will be relaxed, you shouldn’t have any issues staying alert and awake.
Disadvantages Of An Epidural
Some of the downsides of getting an epidural includes the potentially limited mobility mentioned earlier if you choose to have a continuous flow of anesthesia. It is rare for complications to take place when getting an epidural, but some women do report experiencing headaches or nausea. There are some variables that need to be in place to get an epidural which may end up being out of your control, such as being at eight or more centimeters of dilation or the anesthesiologist not being available. Epidurals can cause your blood pressure to decrease, which in turn can lower your baby’s heart rate. If you are suffering from low blood pressure, you may not be given an epidural or may need increased monitoring. While the numbing sensation takes away all of the pain from below the waist, it can also make it harder for women to be able to feel their contractions or be able to push effectively during delivery. This can be especially difficult if your baby is not in an ideal position because it will be harder to correct. Sometimes this results in prolonged labor and requires other methods of intervention to help keep labor progressing.
After your epidural is stopped, it will take a few hours for the numbness to wear off and for the tingling sensation to disappear. You will be asked to take it easy and rest in a sitting or lying position until it is certain you have regained full feeling in your lower limbs. So take that time to just relax and enjoy those snuggles with your precious new baby.
You Can Do This!
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