A saying goes where there’s pain there’s gain, but we at SAAVI would like to differ for labour pain. At SAAVI talk with us about your options. Don’t be afraid to ask for pain relief if you need it. Good control of your pain is an important part of your care. Many women worry that receiving pain relief during labour will somehow make the experience less “natural " . The fact is, no two labours are the same , and no two women have the same amount of pain. Some women need little or no pain relief, and others find that pain relief gives them better control over their labour and delivery.
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. 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 caesarean delivery.
Epidurals block the nerve impulses from the lower spinal segments resulting in decreased sensation. The goal of an epidural is to provide pain relief , rather than complete anesthesia. Hence ,Epidural analgesia is a safe and effective method of pain control.
painless epidural analgesia
IV fluids will be started prior to the procedure of placing the epidural. An anesthesiologist (Dr.) will ask you to arch your back in sitting position. This position is vital for preventing problems and increasing the epidural effectiveness. An antiseptic solution will be used to wipe the area of your mid back to minimize the chance of infection. A small area on your back will be injected with a local anesthetic to numb it. Then a needle will be inserted into the numbed area that surrounds the spinal cord in the lower back. A small catheter is threaded through the needle into the epidural space. The needle is carefully removed leaving the catheter in place so medication can be given through periodic injections or by continuous infusion. The catheter will be taped to your back to prevent it from slipping out. Although an epidural block will make you more comfortable , you still may be aware of your contractions.
Common side effects can include :
1. Shivering
2. Itching or rash
Less frequent side effects may include but are not limited to :
1. Headache
2. Low blood Pressure
3. Failure to relieve pain
4. Temporary paresthesias (No feeling of nerve sensations )
Very rare complications may include :
1. Infection
2. Drug reactions
3. Bleeding into the epidural or spinal space
4. Fetal distress.
Since epidural analgesia involves needle placement in the back , there is a natural tendency to assume that any post-delivery " backache " is due to epidural. However , the majority of backache problems following labour and delivery are commonly due to stretching of the muscles and ligaments , sometimes due to low level of calcium level.
No it’s a myth. It does not increases the CS rate.
In western world this is a routine procedure. In our country - because of few misconceptions this method has lower acceptance. At SAAVI our pts. are taking advantage of this painless method. So go ahead to have a pleasant labour experience.
THE INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE IS OBTAINED THROUGH ONLINE SOURCES AND MEDICAL LITERATURE. IT'S NOT MEANT TO REPLACE AN ACTUAL CONSULTATION WITH A DOCTOR BUT IS A STARTING POINT FOR YOUR OWN RESEARCH.
