6 things to know before you consider taking an epidural during labour

Epidural is not for everyone, talk to your doctor to know if you can get one to sail through labour smoothly.

Debjani Arora | Published: January 17, 2018 3:02 pm

Bearing the unbearable labour pain is not a compulsion anymore, thanks to epidural the effective pain management solution that helps women wade through labour and delivery without much problem. Epidural is a kind of anaesthesia injected into the spinal cord of the expectant mother that numbs the nerves and stops the sensation of pain. Most women opt for epidural these days and sail smoothly through labour. But before you opt for one here are few things you need to consider:

#1 You want to go for a vaginal birth

Most women want to have a vaginal delivery, but not everyone can put up with the stress and strains that comes along. Even if you take the epidural, remember the birthing process still remains the same. You will still feel the contractions; lie down in the labour room for quite a few hours to birth your baby. Labour is not only about the pain. There is an entire process that happens within to help you birth your baby. Many women have tokophobia or fear of childbirth, which is mainly concerning labour pains. If labour pain is the concern then epidural can help. However, if you are not ready to take on the stress of vaginal birth then there is no point asking for an epidural. Here are few more things about epidural you need to know.

#2 You know about the pros and cons of epidural

Most people will tell you that there isn’t any side-effect of epidural but that is only half-truth. Every medical procedure, medication or even a pain management technique like epidural there will be some or the other side-effect, even if it is minimal. Talk to your doctor about the possible side-effects. According to Dr Mohamed Mansoor, Consultant, Anaesthesiologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Bengaluru, ‘Some possible side-effects of epidural are shortness of breath, nausea and shivering due to changes in body temperatures.’ However, the good news is it doesn’t affect your baby in any way. Here is what to expect during an epidural.

#3 You have chosen the hospital wisely

Your doctor or the staff might boast about their efficacy and specialities, but you never know what you are in for till you end up in the OT. So, do a quick research about the hospital. Talk to people who have opted for the hospital you have chosen for labour and delivery. Ask them questions on how co-operative the staffs are during labour. Epidural requires constant monitoring of the foetus heart rate, heartbeat, and blood pressure etc. Every five to ten minutes these reading have to be taken to rein control over the situation. Keeping all factors in mind one should choose a hospital wisely. Because epidural is a procedure when anaesthetics require by the side of the patient. Epidural childbirth requires a balance between obstetrician and anaesthetist.

#4 You are sure that epidural is for you

Epidural isn’t for everyone, period. Even if you want an epidural to get through the challenges of a vaginal birth, you might not be given one, ‘if you suffer from back problems, have low blood pressure as it could be life-threatening. Women who are taking a blood thinner should also avoid epidurals as it could lead to clotting of blood during labour. Women who suffer from any kind of blood disorders should not opt for epidurals,’ says Dr Bandita Sinha. Here is when you should not take an epidural.

#5 You know when the epidural will be given

An epidural is not given just at the onset of labour. In fact, you have to dilate around 4 to 5 cm before you can get a shot, which means you have to be in active labour. Some women dilate soon enough to get the epidural for some even the initial dilation takes time. Till then you have to put up with the pains. You need to prepare yourself mentally to go through few hours of pain before you get the epidural. Here is what happens during the active phase of labour.

#6 You are ready with your plan B

One of the side effects of epidural is that it can prolong labour. If that happens and the contraction starts to decrease with time, then it might be difficult to push the baby out of the womb. Prolonged labour can also make the baby’s heartbeat or heart rate drop; if such a situation arises the doctors might have to take a prompt decision to perform a C-section. So always keep your choices open.

Image source: Shutterstock

Published: January 17, 2018 3:02 pm

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