Contents:
- Medical Video: What are the advantages and disadvantages of an epidural?
- What is an epidural?
- Types of epidurals
- When does the epidural need to be given to the mother?
- Benefits of using an epidural
- Risk of using an epidural
Medical Video: What are the advantages and disadvantages of an epidural?
Image: The Huffington Post
Every maternity wants a smooth birth process, with minimum pain. So now there are many choices for pregnant women to undergo labor that is not too sick. One of them is epidural anesthesia. Before you decide on the right method for your labor, it is important to understand the characteristics and types of anesthesia. Here are the pros and cons of epidurals that you should know.
What is an epidural?
Epidural is one form of local anesthesia that is used to numb certain parts of your body. The epidural will not make you lose consciousness completely, because its function is only to offer pain (analgesia). When you are given an epidural, sensory nerve impulses in your spine will be stopped. The sensory nerve is responsible for sending various signals to the brain, such as pain or heat. As a result, the sensation or pain that you should feel at the bottom of your torso, more precisely in the uterus, cervix, and the upper part of the vagina will decrease. However, your motor nerves will still work properly so the brain can still send commands to the pelvis and other body parts to contract and work as needed.
Types of epidurals
There are two types of epidurals that are usually offered for mothers giving birth in hospitals or health care centers. Usually health workers will provide the type of epidural that is suitable for the mother depending on the dose and combination of drugs that have been given previously.
The first is an ordinary epidural. This common type of epidural is given by being injected into the mother's back to give birth through the back muscle, until the analgesia reaches the epidural cavity. Epidurals usually contain drugs that will strengthen anesthesia, such as fentanyl or morphine. If the epidural effect begins to decrease within one to two hours, the mother will get the next injection.
The second type of epidural is a combination of epidural spinal. In a combination of epidural spinal, anesthesia is usually injected into the membrane that lines the spine to reach the epidural cavity. Then, a hose or catheter will be installed on the path so that it is easier to inject again if the mother needs it. Mothers can also move freely after the catheter is installed so that it will not interfere with labor. The combination of epidural spines will usually begin to lose their effects after four to eight hours.
When does the epidural need to be given to the mother?
Epidurals are not a mandatory procedure during labor. Some women choose not to use epidural anesthesia at all and undergo labor naturally. However, if you have a low tolerance for pain, there is no harm in planning an epidural birth.
For a normal labor, usually an epidural will be given after the mother has reached an opening of 4 or 5 centimeters. If the opening is more than 5 centimeters, epidural use is not recommended because the baby will come out. While for women who will undergo a caesarean section, an epidural will be given before the operation begins.
Epidural use is also not recommended for those of you who experience bleeding or low blood pressure, while there is an infection especially in the back, using blood thinners, the delivery process has proceeded quickly so that there is no time to give an epidural, and if medical personnel cannot determine the location of the cavity your epidural.
Benefits of using an epidural
Some women choose to use an epidural during childbirth to reduce pain. However, that is not all about the benefits of using an epidural.
- The muscles will relax, especially the lower pelvic muscles so that the contraction process will feel lighter.
- If you go through a long labor process, you can be rested because the perceived pain has been suppressed. That way, you can concentrate more easily throughout labor and not be too tired.
- For women who have high blood pressure, an epidural can help lower blood pressure to avoid various complications during labor.
- For women who have a caesarean section, the epidural will not make you unconscious so you can still follow the course of labor. In addition, the epidural that has been given will help reduce the pain that appears after surgery.
- Because the pain is reduced or completely gone, the mother can undergo labor with a calmer mind and not panic. That way, the birth of your baby becomes smoother.
Risk of using an epidural
Epidural use can pose a certain risk so many women who ask questions about the pros and cons of epidurals. The following are losses that can occur due to epidural use during childbirth.
- In certain cases, giving an epidural results in numbness so the mother has difficulty contracting and pushing the baby out. If this happens, you will be given medication to trigger contractions.
- Side effects of the epidural include chills, ringing in the ears, headaches, nausea, and pain in the back or the part that is injected. Only a few mothers experience side effects from the epidural, but you should consult with an obstetrician before labor begins so that in time you can make a good decision.
- Epidurals risk lowering blood pressure so that if you have low blood pressure, you will be given fluids through an IV to avoid complications.
- Some women give birth to complain of difficulty urinating because the epidural risks making the urinary bag numb.
- There has been no evidence or research that has succeeded in determining the impact of epidural administration on infants. In some cases, babies born have breathing problems and a weakened heart rate. However, there are many factors that affect the health condition of babies born so it is difficult to determine exactly the epidural side effects for babies.
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