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🔸  An epidural is a type of pain relief for women in labour or who are having a caesarean section.

What is an epidural  ?

🔸  An epidural is a procedure that injects a local anaesthetic in to the space around the spinal nerves in your lower back.

🔸  This anaesthetic usually blocks the pain from labour contractions and during the birth very effectively.

🔸   With an epidural you can usually move and can push your baby out when you need to.

🔸   An epidural is usually done by an anaesthetist.

The procedure :

🔸  Before an epidural, you will usually have a drip for fluids put into your arm.

🔸  You can sit up and bend forward over a pillow, or lie on your side curled up into a ball.

🔸  This makes it easier for the needle to be inserted into the right place.

🔸  You will be asked to stay still.

🔸   Your lower back will be washed with cold antiseptic.

🔸  A small amount of local anaesthetic will be injected into the skin of your lower back.

🔸  A needle will be inserted between the bones of your spine into the space around your spinal nerves.

🔸  Your anaesthetist will insert the epidural needle when your contraction stops, so it is important that you tell them when you have a contraction.

🔸  A small soft plastic tube will be inserted and the needle will be removed.

🔸  That tube delivers the anaesthetic that will numb your pain.

🔸  It usually takes between 5 and 30 minutes for your pain to be relieved by the epidural.

🔸  Advantages and disadvantages of an epidural
Epidurals are available at most hospitals but not in birth centres or for home births.

The advantages of an epidural are:

🔸   It is usually very effective
🔸   It is generally very safe
🔸   You can often still move around and push when you need to
🔸  If you’re having a caesarean, you can stay awake and your partner can be there

The disadvantages of an epidural are :

🔸  For medical reasons, not everyone can have an epidural

🔸 You might need to have fluids given to you through a tube in your arm, and will need to have your blood pressure monitored

🔸  You might lose feeling in your bladder and need a catheter (tube) in your bladder to help you pass urine

🔸 You might lose feeling in your legs for a few hours
It might slow down the second stage of labour.

🔸  You might not be able to push and need help to give birth.

🔸  Your baby will need to be closely monitored during your labour.