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Epidurals
Epidural anesthesia is one of the most popular ways to relieve pain during labor. A needle is inserted into the region that surrounds the spinal cord in the lower back. is threaded through the needle into the epidural space to block pain in that particular region.
167 Questions
What are the socio-economic demographics for women having cesarean section?
Women of higher socioeconomic status are more likely to have a c-section, 22.9%, compared to 13.2% of women who live in low-income families.
How long shouls a cervical epidural last?
Anepidural is time released meds and it can last as long as your anesthesiologist sets it to, from a few hours to a few days. I had complications with my C-Section, and they left my epidural in for almost 3 days. That is rare, but it was easier to deliver my meds that way since it was already in place, and the easiest way to relieve my pain after the surgery. They hook you up to a little box that is programed to release little amounts of pain relief at a time. When the box is about to run out of meds, a little alarm sounds, and a nurse will "refill it" with more meds.
What does an epidural feel like?
Some people experience pain with an epidural. I personally did not have any. The anesthesiologist numbs the site before placing the epidural catheter.
Everyone's different, but I did feel it. My anesthesiologist didn't numb the area beforehand, though. They had me sit on the edge of the bed, bend over (as much as is possible at this point!) and during the height of a contraction, inserted the needle quickly. Someone held me in a full nelson, so I couldn't move, even if I wanted to. With this technique, you are experiencing pain in a different area already, and since your brain can't fully focus on one pain only, the new pain, which is the epidural, isn't really felt because you are already focusing on the contraction, so both pains seem to be dulled. Kind of a sensory overload. If you are asking this question because you are afraid of what pain will come with child birth, fear not! Usually by the time they give you the epidural, your contractions are so painful that you will actually beg for the epidural. Not to scare you, but anesthesiologists seem to be in very high demand, so if you want one, I would ask slightly before you feel you need it. You might find you won't need it-- every woman's different. As soon as you get that piece of heaven, also known as an epidural, ALL pain is gone, and you can rest before you need to push. If you opt not to have the epidural, it has been my experience that the pain goes away entirely when you begin to push. Maybe it's the endorphins; I don't know. But I DO know that I am a big crybaby when it comes to pain, and the epidural sounds scarier than it really is. I have had a few kids, and with my second, contractions never got painful at all, and even though I ended up needing a c-section, when they gave my the epidural, it didn't hurt, only a quick pinch. If you have ever had a needle from the dentist, then you've gone through worse! Oh, and after, make sure they remove the tape and the catheter slowly so they don't pull off a layer of skin. The adhesive tends to be a little strong! You'll have enough to deal with after the baby is born; you don't need a scraped up back on top of it. Good luck, you will do great, and you won't even remember it after.
There is no evidence that lower back tattoos cause harm in this situation. Initiating an epidural through the ink of a lower back tattoo will not cause ink to enter the blood stream or the spinal canal, or cause further complications for the mother or baby.
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It is an injection of pain relief directly into the spine. It numbs your legs and lower torso but still enables you to push. It is a shot right into your spine.. I have had one and my suggestion is if you are thinking of having one go ahead with the epidural that way it stays in and you dont have to go through the pain of later getting another shot in your spine..with the epidural they can regulate how much pain medicine you need through the whole delivery An epidural will alleviate ALL PAIN during labor! Pushing is a bit tricky because you are numb from the waist down. You are given the epidural and a "top-up" button to continue pumping in pain relief. I kept this up for ten hours, until it was time to push, then I stopped topping up. By the time my son was born, about two hours later, the numbness had worn off a bit, but still not much pain. I highly recommend the epidural- having pain relief doesn't make you less of a woman or mother or any such nonsense! No pain= no pain!!!! I have been a midwife for 26 years and if a woman wants a natural childbirth I will support her all the way. However some women don't or are advised not to. The epidural shot does not actually go into the spinal cord but into the space around it and most of the time it works very well. Sometimes it can be balanced so you can be painfree but still be able to move. If it is possible that you may need an emergency C-section it just needs to be topped-up. I had an epidural for both my labours because I had high blood pressure. The first time I had a big baby in an awkward position who took a lot of pushing, but I had a normal delivery. The second time with twins I was quite ill but as they were smaller I had a very quick easy labour.
Do you have two pulse in your neck during pregnancy?
NO, you only feel your pulse in your wrist, the baby's pulse can be heard when you visit the doctor's office, using special equipment.
Where do epidural opioids work?
The anesthetic agents that are infused through the small catheter block spinal nerve roots in the epidural space and the sympathetic nerve fibers adjacent to them.
Why is the epidural space absent in the brain?
In the spine, the epidural space (also known as "extradural space" or "peridural space") is the outermost part of the spinal canal. It is the space within the canal (formed by the surrounding vertebrae) lying outside the dura mater (which encloses the arachnoid mater, subarachnoid space, the cerebrospinal fluid, and the spinal cord). In humans the epidural space contains lymphatics, spinal nerve roots, loose fatty tissue, small arteries, and a network of large, thin-walled blood vessels called the epidural venous plexus.
The upper limit of the epidural space is the foramen magnum, which is the point where the spine meets the base of the skull. The lower limit is at the tip of the sacrum, at the sacrococcygeal membrane.
In the head, the dura is continuous with the periosteum, the tough fibrous lining of the inside of the skull. This means that, in the head, the epidural space is known as a potential space, which means that normally it does not exist. In rare circumstances, a torn artery (e.g. the middle meningeal artery) may cause bleeding which is sufficient to separate both the dura and periosteum from the bone; this is an epidural hematoma.
The space between the dura and the arachnoid (in both head and spine), the subdural space, is also a potential space. Bleeding may also occur here.
reference: wikipedia
Where is the epidural space located?
In humans the epidural space contains lymphatics, spinal nerve roots, loose fatty tissue, small arteries, and a network of large, thin-walled blood vessels called the epidural venous plexus.
It depends on what you're having the epidural for generally. If you're having a baby, they insert a needle with a plastic sheath (catheter), and then they withdrawl the needle leaving the catheter in place. The correct placement is important in how well it will work, it must be in the epidural space around the nerves of the spine. They then run medication into it just like they do an IV. It is important that you do exactly as your anesthesiologist says in order to help him/her get the best placement. The medication is similar to what you get when the dentist numbs your mouth for a filling. They can control how much medications you get, from completely numb to slightly numb. If you're having an epidural for back pain, they generally inject steroids and numbing agents into the space and then withdraw the whole thing immediately. Some can keep the catheter like for childbirth if the pain is really bad (think Cancer). There are all different kinds of spinal nerve anesthesia with some being placed in different locations for different areas they're targeting.
What is the best time 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 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.
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How long cannot drive after epidural?
After 12 hours of being in labor I decided to get an epidural. I got it when I was at a 7 shortly after I was at a 10 I pushed for 2 hours then I had my baby right after I had him I was walking just make sure a nurse or someone is close incase you feel dizzy.
What was the tattoo on Aaliyah's back?
Yes.. Her Ears Were Pierce, In The "One In A Million" Video Her Belly Button/ Navel Had A Jewelry In It... But Idk If It Was Real.. I've Neva Seen Pics.
Aaliyah Dana Haughton
Jan.16 1979-Aug.25 2001
Aaliyah All Dai.!! Yah Dig.? -TBreezy
Why are parathyroid scans not recommended during pregnancy?
Parathyroid scans are not recommended for pregnant women because of the potential harm to the developing fetus.
List two routine maintenance procedures that should be carried out in a computing environment?
Two examples of routine maintenance that should be carried out on your computer
How deep in an electromyography needle inserted?
The recording and interpretation of graphic records of the electrical activity of contracting muscles.
Do you get tingling post caesarean epidural after several days?
It has been over three months since my wife's C-section, and she's now experiencing tingling in different places over her body, the same tingling you might get if your leg fell asleep.
First I'd thought.. maybe she has poor circulation, needs to work on cardio, have a more balanced diet, etc., but then I remembered the epidural she'd taken months before. I wonder if the drug can lie dormant in the spine and escape, causing numbness afterward.
Because you are very lucky! All women are different. Some dilate to higher numbers and 100% effaced and don't feel a thing. Just luck of the draw. It doesn't mean anything is wrong or that the labor will be better or worse in later stages. It just means that you are having a very easy labor up to now.
i had 5 kids and my labour all were diffnert.u can be in labour and not fell much pain at all. i know women had only bad pain for three hours then baby was born.
How successful is the epidural technique?
an epideral is awesome i had it when i was in labor with my first child, first u will feel a pinch then a sting, then u might feel the capita go in but 5 min after it is done u will go threw pregnancy as a pro. you will thank me.<3 jenn<3
How offen to take epidural injection?
Epidural injections can be done 1 time or multiple times, depending on the drug, as well as an continuous drip. Examples of a 1 time epidural injection would be as a woman has entered an active stage of labor. An epidural injection will be made AFTER a catheter is placed in the epidural space. This catheter usually remains till after birth, or in the case the person needs surgery, the previously placed catheter will allow another dose or even a continuous drip of medication to be administered. Also there are medications other than narcotics that can be a 1 or multiple time injection. Examples of this would be steroids, antibiotics, and intrathecal chemotherapy. In these cases the cathether may or may not be left in place. Any catheter left in place is cared for with strict sterile procedures as it can be a conduit for infection.
Epidural is a common term used by lay persons to describe any sort of injection into the spinal area...however there is a difference in medical terminology related to the different anatomical spaces of the spinal area that is more descriptive to the medical person. The level of the injection will determine to a great deal as to effectiveness of the treatments, for example, if placed too high before an abdominal surgery, you can get respiratory depression, so placement is critical.
How do you minimize labor pain?
Each woman's labor is unique …
The amount of pain a woman feels during labor may differ from that felt by another woman. Pain depends on many factors, such as the size and position of the baby and the strength of contractions.
Some women take classes to learn breathing and relaxation techniques to help cope with pain during childbirth. Others may find it helpful to use these techniques along with pain medications.
Some women need little or no pain relief, and others find that pain relief gives them better control over their labor and delivery. Talk with your doctor about your options.
Types of Pain Relief
There are two types of pain-relieving drugs - analgesics and anesthetics. Analgesia is the relief of pain without total loss of feeling or muscle movement. Analgesics do not always stop pain completely, but they do lessen it.
Anesthesia is blockage of all feeling, including pain. Some forms of anesthesia, such as general anesthesia, cause you to lose consciousness. Other forms, such as regional anesthesia, remove all feeling of pain from parts of the body while you stay conscious. In most cases, analgesia is offered to women in labor or after surgery or delivery, whereas anesthesia is used during a surgical procedure such as cesarean delivery.
Not all hospitals are able to offer all types of pain relief medications. However, at most hospitals, an anesthesiologist will work with your health care team to pick the best method for you.
Systemic Analgesics
Systemic analgesics are often given as injections into a muscle or vein. They lessen pain but will not cause you to lose consciousness. They act on the whole nervous system rather than a specific area. Sometimes other drugs are given with analgesics to relieve the tension or nausea that may be caused by these types of pain relief.
Like other types of drugs, this pain medicine can have side effects. Most are minor, such as nausea, feeling drowsy or having trouble concentrating. Systemic analgesics are not given right before delivery because they may slow the baby's reflexes and breathing at birth.
Local Anesthesia
Local anesthesia provides numbness or loss of sensation in a small area. It does not, however, lessen the pain of contractions.
A procedure called an episiotomy may be done by your doctor before delivery. Local anesthesia is helpful when an episiotomy needs to be done or when any vaginal tears that happened during birth are repaired.
Local anesthesia rarely affects the baby. There usually are no side effects after the local anesthetic has worn off.
Regional Analgesia
Regional analgesia tends to be the most effective method of pain relief during labor and causes few side effects. Epidural analgesia, spinal blocks and combined spinal-epidural blocks are all types of regional analgesia that are used to decrease labor pain.
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.
Spinal Block - A spinal block-like an epidural block-is an injection in the lower back. While you sit or lie on your side in bed, a small amount of medication is injected into the spinal fluid to numb the lower half of the body. It brings good relief from pain and starts working fast, but it lasts only an hour or two.
A spinal block can be given using a much thinner needle in the same place on the back where an epidural block is placed. The spinal block uses a much smaller dose of the drug, and it is injected into the sac of spinal fluid below the level of the spinal cord. Once this drug is injected, pain relief occurs right away.
A spinal block usually is given only once during labor, so it is best suited for pain relief during delivery. A spinal block with a much stronger medication (anesthetic, not analgesic) is often used for a cesarean delivery. It also can be used in a vaginal birth if the baby needs to be helped out of the birth canal with forceps or by vacuum extraction. Spinal block can cause the same side effects as epidural block, and these side effects are treated in the same way.
Combined Spinal-Epidural Block - A combined spinal-epidural block has the benefits of both types of pain relief. The spinal part helps provide pain relief right away. Drugs given through the epidural provide pain relief throughout labor. This type of pain relief is injected into the spinal fluid and into the space below the spinal cord. Some women may be able to walk around after the block is in place. For this reason this method sometimes is called the "walking epidural." In some cases, other methods, such as an epidural or a spinal block, also can be used to allow a woman to walk during labor.
General Anesthesia
General anesthetics are medications that put you to sleep (make you lose consciousness). If you have general anesthesia, you are not awake and you feel no pain. General anesthesia often is used when a regional block anesthetic is not possible or is not the best choice for medical or other reasons. It can be started quickly and causes a rapid loss of consciousness. Therefore, it is often used when an urgent cesarean delivery is needed.
Anesthesia for Cesarean Births
Whether you have general, spinal or epidural anesthesia for a cesarean birth will depend on your health and that of your baby. It also depends on why the cesarean delivery is being done. In emergencies or when bleeding occurs, general anesthesia may be needed.
If you already have an epidural catheter in place and then need a cesarean delivery, most of the time your anesthesiologist will be able to inject a much stronger drug through the same catheter to increase your pain relief. This will numb the entire abdomen for the surgery. Although there is no pain, there may be a feeling of pressure.
Methods with no drugs:
Learning the proper way to control your breathing can help tremendously to lessen the pain. The increase in oxygen helps, but it also helps to calm you, which is another way proper breathing helps. The calmer you can remain, the more it will help to alleviate stress, and the labor pains.
Many women have also chosen the underwater method of delivery. During labor and delivery, the woman lies back in a tub of warm water, which relaxes her, and also the pressure of the water helps with the pain, as well. The baby is delivered directly into the water, which some believe helps the baby's transition from the womb to the outside, promoting a much less stressful delivery for both baby and mother.
What are the alternatives to an epidural?
There are several pain management options available in most facilities. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Some, such as receiving medications through an intravenous catheter, can be administered by a labor nurse. Others, such as the basic types of anesthesia used during the labor and delivery process, require a professional trained in administering anesthesia and monitoring the effects of the medication. These include: epidurals, spinal blocks, a combination of both the epidural and spinal block as well as, if needed, general anesthesia. Each has its benefits and women should work closely with their anesthesiologists to determine the most appropriate response to the individual case.
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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.
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Where in the spine do the insert the needle for an epidural?
I think the needle will be inserted in lumbar 3 and 4 for epidural.
