How is giving birth with an epidural

Learn more about labour complications. An assisted delivery, sometimes called an 'instrumental delivery', is when your doctor will help in the birthing process. A retained placenta is when part or all of the placenta is not delivered after the baby is born. It can lead to serious infection or blood loss. Choosing your own positions for labour and giving birth can help you feel in control, reduce pain and open your pelvis to help the baby come out.

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Please enter your name Please enter your email Your email is invalid. Please check and try again Please enter recipient's email Recipient's email is invalid. Please check and try again Agree to Terms required. Thank you for sharing our content. And before that happens, your doctor will numb the area with a local anesthetic.

Most women report feeling a pinch or a sting for about seconds, and then pressure—not pain—when the epidural is actually administered. Looking for the best items for your growing family?

Add all your favorite baby products to ONE registry with Babylist. An epidural usually takes about minutes to take effect and, because the medication can be continuously administered via the catheter as needed, it can last throughout labor. So the not-so-great news: sometimes, labor can last a long time. The really great news: so can the pain relief from an epidural. Cons: A few things you may want to consider when making to the decision to get an epidural during labor include:.

Risks and side effects can include maternal hypotension a sudden drop in blood pressure , shivering, nausea, soreness or bruising around the injection site, and, very rarely, permanent nerve damage in the area where the catheter was injected. According to Dr. And what about epidural effects on baby? A mixture of anaesthetic and an opioid like fentanyl is then injected through the catheter.

There are essentially two kinds of epidurals. A low-dose epidural means there is a low-dose constant infusion, which the patient controls by pushing a button to increase the dose whenever they feel they need it, up to a preprogrammed maximum. The second type of epidural is a spinal anaesthetic that is delivered in one shot, designed to wear off over time. This is used mainly for planned surgery, like a C-section.

An epidural has the ability to completely erase pain, while other forms of pain management do just that—they help you manage or dial down the pain. During labour, practitioners often talk about pain levels on a scale of one to Some options, like having nitrous oxide or soaking in a hot bath, just subtly take the edge off, bumping you from a nine to an eight, for example. An epidural, on the other hand, can take things from a nine to a zero, though there is still some sensation, which allows you to push.

Giving moms a chance to rest can be really important, especially during a long labour. Another plus: The pushing stage may be more controlled with an epidural, which can result in less tearing. Picking the right moment to ask for an epidural can be tricky.

For one thing, accessing the anaesthesiologist may take a while: There may be only one on call, they might not be on-site, or they could be too busy to get to you right away. Ideally, an epidural is started when the woman is at least four centimetres dilated and in active labour having strong and regular contractions.

Contractions that are too strong or frequent can pose a problem, because the anaesthesiologist needs the woman to sit on the edge of the bed without moving a muscle in order to insert the needle—a near impossible feat if the pain is very intense. Both Bacon and Dy say that, in their experience, the pushing stage is typically longer with an epidural. It was thought that if an epidural was placed before 4 centimeters dilated, it would cause a woman to need a C-section for delivery.

Recent randomized studies over the past few years have not found the epidural to be correlated with the mother needing a C-section. These studies were so profound that it encouraged The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ACOG to change their guidelines in to reflect these findings.

If labor does slow down after your epidural, you may be given Pitocin , a synthetic version of oxytocin which is a natural hormone that helps your uterus contract during labor. Speak with your doctor about your different options for epidural medication and your dosage.

However, an epidural does change the game when it comes to pushing. This is where the nursing staff can help. Epidurals can last for several hours after delivery. Depending on the dosage and type of epidural, the lower half of your body may still be numb after birth.