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Although most women have epidurals with no problems, there are some potential side effects they should be aware of when choosing this as a pain relief method:
- Sometimes, an epidural can cause your blood pressure to decrease; this may occasionally cause your baby's heart rate to slow. To decrease this risk, you'll be given fluids through an intravenous line before the drug is injected. Often, just changing your position is all that is necessary to improve blood pressure.
- After delivery, your back may be sore from the injection for a few days. However, an epidural does not cause long-term Back pain.
- If the covering of the spinal cord is pierced, you can get a bad headache, but this only happens about one percent of the time. It does not always cause a headache, but if one occurs, there are effective ways to treat it. If it's not treated, the headache may last for days, but this is rare.
- If the epidural has been given for an extended period of time, or if a lot of medication is given late in labor, it may be hard to feel when to push with a contraction. Your labor nurse can help time your efforts if you have trouble, and you should still be able to push effectively.
Source: http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/ArticlePage.aspx?ID=878fabbc-dd11-45d8-8524-fa7831b485a5&LandingID=fc6eb1da-98e4-43c7-bb9f-09c17e2a005d
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Under what circumstances is epidural therapy performed?
Epidural anesthesia can block most of the pain of labor and birth for vaginal and surgical deliveries. Epidural analgesia is also used after cesarean sections
Is there side effects to the epidural?
can be headaches,stomach upset,back problems,and sometimes walking problems
Where does epidural go?
Epidural Analgesia - Epidural analgesia, sometimes called an epidural block, causes some loss of feeling in the lower areas of your body, yet you remain awake and alert. An epidural block may be given soon after your contractions start, or later as your labor progresses. An epidural block with more or stronger medications (anesthetics, not analgesics) can be used for a cesarean delivery or if vaginal birth requires the help of forceps or vacuum extraction. Your doctors will work with you to determine the proper time to give the epidural.An epidural block is given in the lower back into a small area (the epidural space) below the spinal cord. You will be asked to sit or lie on your side with your back curved outward and to stay this way until the procedure is completed. You can move when it's done, but you may not be allowed to walk around.Source: http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/ArticlePage.aspx?ID=e746e318-69c5-4fef-aa4d-899a827d08c0&LandingID=4f04afc4-4f77-4eff-b20c-01e6e6ede922
What does an epidural help you on?
During labor. Epidural analgesia, sometimes called an epidural block, causes some loss of feeling in the lower areas of your body, yet you remain awake and alert. An epidural block may be given soon after your contractions start, or later as your labor progresses. An epidural block with more or stronger medications (anesthetics, not analgesics) can be used for a cesarean delivery or if vaginal birth requires the help of forceps or vacuum extraction. Your doctors will work with you to determine the proper time to give the epidural.
What is the dilation stage where it is okay to have the epidural?
Women do not have to wait until they are dilated to a certain level before they can ask for, or receive, an epidural. According to the ASA's current guidelines, "patients in early labor should be offered the option of receiving neuraxial analgesia (spinal or epidural) when the service is available, and it should not be withheld to meet arbitrary standards for cervical dilation." If a woman is in active, established labor, and is uncomfortable, epidural analgesia is the most effective method of pain relief. There is no medical reason to wait for a specific dilation target.Source: http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/ArticlePage.aspx?ID=302a85f8-7135-4174-bd4c-2bc4ad7e04c2&LandingID=fc6eb1da-98e4-43c7-bb9f-09c17e2a005d
What is the most dilated you could be to get an epidural?
Women do not have to wait until they are dilated to a certain level before they can ask for, or receive, an epidural. According to the ASA's (American Society of Anesthesiologists) current guidelines, "patients in early labor should be offered the option of receiving neuraxial analgesia (spinal or epidural) when the service is available, and it should not be withheld to meet arbitrary standards for cervical dilation." If a woman is in active, established labor, and is uncomfortable, epidural analgesia is the most effective method of pain relief. There is no medical reason to wait for a specific dilation target. Source: http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/ArticlePage.aspx?ID=302a85f8-7135-4174-bd4c-2bc4ad7e04c2&LandingID=fc6eb1da-98e4-43c7-bb9f-09c17e2a005d In additioin, some places wont give epidural if you are too advanced in the labour as the baby could theoretically be born before the epidural is administered and kicks in so there is little point.
What is multimod?
Multimodal analgesia uses more than one method of pain management. Multiple methods can actually reduce the amount of medications necessary to relieve pain, and can minimize uncomfortable side-effects.
Who created epidural block?
John Bonica was a pioneer and stalwart figure in pain medicine but he did not discover the epidural. Epidural anesthesia and analgesia had been around for many years. It is difficult to pinpoint who 1st described the technique. The 1st use came at the turn of the 20th century when numerous people attempted epidurals for surgical procedures but were met by failure. Over many years articles were published describing "caudal" anesthesia and analgesia which is a cousin to epidurals. Continuous "caudals" were 1st used in the 1940's where the needle would be left in patients for a period of time and a drip of local anesthetic infused into them. Dr. Bonica has many achievements and is credited with the 1st obstetric epidural in the Pacific NW. His wife nearly died in childbirth from open drop ether anesthesia and for the birth of his 2nd child Dr. Bonica placed an epidural into his own wife.
What is multimodality therapy?
Multimodal analgesia uses more than one method of pain management. Multiple methods can actually reduce the amount of medications necessary to relieve pain, and can minimize uncomfortable side-effects.
What is epidural?
Epidural analgesia, sometimes called an epidural block, causes some loss of feeling in the lower areas of your body, yet you remain awake and alert. An epidural block may be given soon after your contractions start, or later as your labor progresses. An epidural block with more or stronger medications (anesthetics, not analgesics) can be used for a cesarean delivery or if vaginal birth requires the help of forceps or vacuum extraction. Your doctors will work with you to determine the proper time to give the epidural.An epidural block is given in the lower back into a small area (the epidural space) below the spinal cord. You will be asked to sit or lie on your side with your back curved outward and to stay this way until the procedure is completed. You can move when it's done, but you may not be allowed to walk around.Source: http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/ArticlePage.aspx?ID=e746e318-69c5-4fef-aa4d-899a827d08c0&LandingID=4f04afc4-4f77-4eff-b20c-01e6e6ede922
What does the term epidural mean?
Epidural analgesia, sometimes called an epidural block, causes some loss of feeling in the lower areas of your body, yet you remain awake and alert. An epidural block may be given soon after your contractions start, or later as your labor progresses. An epidural block with more or stronger medications (anesthetics, not analgesics) can be used for a cesarean delivery or if vaginal birth requires the help of forceps or vacuum extraction. Your doctors will work with you to determine the proper time to give the epidural.An epidural block is given in the lower back into a small area (the epidural space) below the spinal cord. You will be asked to sit or lie on your side with your back curved outward and to stay this way until the procedure is completed. You can move when it's done, but you may not be allowed to walk around.Source: http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/ArticlePage.aspx?ID=e746e318-69c5-4fef-aa4d-899a827d08c0&LandingID=4f04afc4-4f77-4eff-b20c-01e6e6ede922
What has the author Moya Katherine Berry written?
Moya Katherine Berry has written: 'A study to assess whether the information received at parentcraft education classes enables women to make an informed choice regarding epidural analgesia'
