What are some things that can happen if you get an epidural?

Answer 1

The epidural carries risks, and should be considered carefully.

Maternal risks include increase in blood pressure, difficulty breathing, allergic reactions (either minor, like rash...or major like respitory distress, convulsions etc), hemmorage, epidural headache (where the needle is not placed properly, and some fluid from around the mothers brain is displaced, thus causing a chronic headache which can persist for up to a week after delivery), and nerve damage.

Fetal risks include low heartrate, poor blood oxygenation and after birth, difficulties breastfeeding, delayed reaction times and lower Apgar scores.

During labor, the epidural can be the "gateway" to further degrees of intervention. Most notably, the need for oxygen therapy, artificial labor stimulation (drugs to speed and intensify contractions) episiotomy and assisted delivery (by way of the forceps or vaccum). The chances of c-section also increase once an epidural has been administered. The rate of c-section in the United States currently hovers around 30% (1 in every 3 women).

Answer 2

Serious complications from an epidural procedure are extremely rare. The biggest risk that faces most patients is that the epidural will not work as effectively as desired. The anesthesiologists can administer more medication or make other adjustments in such cases.

Source: http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/ArticlePage.aspx?ID=302a85f8-7135-4174-bd4c-2bc4ad7e04c2&LandingID=fc6eb1da-98e4-43c7-bb9f-09c17e2a005d

Answer 3

Infection

miss-placement of cath

overdose (or underdose) of drug

puncture of artery or vein

puncture of cord (nerves)

reaction to the drug

Usually the worst complication is paralysis, but a few cases are known where the effect went too high and the patient stopped breathing (and in some cases died).

Answer 4

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.

Serious complications are very rare:

• If the drug enters a vein, you could get dizzy or light-headed. In extremely rare circumstances this may cause a brief seizure.
• If anesthetic enters your spinal fluid, it can affect your chest muscles and make it hard for you to breathe.
• When obstetric pain management is performed by a trained anesthesiologist, serious complications such as these rarely occur and are readily managed if they should.

Source: http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/ArticlePage.aspx?ID=878fabbc-dd11-45d8-8524-fa7831b485a5&LandingID=fc6eb1da-98e4-43c7-bb9f-09c17e2a005d

Answer 5

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

Answer 6

Serious complications from an epidural procedure are extremely rare. The biggest risk that faces most patients is that the epidural will not work as effectively as desired. The anesthesiologists can administer more medication or make other adjustments in such cases.

Source: http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/ArticlePage.aspx?ID=302a85f8-7135-4174-bd4c-2bc4ad7e04c2&LandingID=fc6eb1da-98e4-43c7-bb9f-09c17e2a005d

Answer 7

toxic reactions evident by decreased level of consciousness, slurred speech, loss of coordination, drowsiness, nervousness, and anxiety.