(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- Dr Vandana Rajesh, anaesthesiologist, at Abeer Hospital, Ruwi has discussed painless labour with epidural analgesia.
For most women, the pain of childbirth is the most acute pain they have experienced or will ever experience. Some women however can tolerate a lower level of pain, while others may benefit from some form of pain relief. The most popular and safe relief option is the epidural.
An epidural is an injection given into the lower back. It is the most effective way to relieve labour pains. The feeling of pain is carried to the brain via the nerves in the spinal cord. An epidural injection obstructs this message of pain and you go through a painless labour.
The area where the epidural injection is to be inserted will be numbed prior to performing the procedure with a local anaesthetic injection. You will feel a small prick of this injection but subsequently the procedure will be pain free. Epidurals have an excellent worldwide safety record. As with any procedure however, some patients may experience some minor side effects like shivering, decreased blood pressure, mild itching in labour, headache and persistent pain in some areas. Other complications like epidural or spinal hematoma (accumulation of blood in the skull) may also occur but the incidence is less than 1 in 1,00,000.
While many women are totally pain free after an epidural, some women may have some pain. The intensity of pain in these women however is significantly reduced to keep them relatively comfortable through their labour.
In addition, a properly administered epidural improves blood supply to the baby. Maternal and foetal acidosis (pH balance in the body) are also reduced as the mother doesn't have to go through the stress of a painful labour. The drugs given through the epidural take 15-20 minutes to act. The effect last for up to one and a half hours after which the drugs are continuously topped up through the epidural catheter to keep you pain free throughout your labour.
Sensations are not completely blocked as the patient needs some power to push and participate in labour.
The patient will be able to move her lower body as before the epidural. After the delivery, the pain intensity is much less and is well taken care of by routine analgesics like paracetamol or diclofenac tablets.
Headache after epidural is uncommon. Most headaches respond to conservative management using simple analgesics like paracetamol. Also, minor back problems are common during pregnancy and childbirth, with or without an epidural.
The chances of a normal delivery before or after the procedure are the same. There is sufficient data to prove that an epidural will not lead to an increased rate of C-section.
If a patient has to subsequently undergo a C-section, the same catheter will be used to administer anaesthesia. However the concentration of the drug will be higher to minimise discomfort during surgery.
Epidural is the technique of choice and is highly recommended for mothers with hypertension/heart disease/lung disease. Good pain relief will not only reduce the stress on the heart but will also improve oxygenation of both mother and baby, thus reducing stress on the heart and lungs.
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