Choosing an Epidural for Labor and Birth
Thursday January 8, 2009
Epidural anesthesia is a very popular form of pain medication for labor and birth. Though given the benefits and the risks, some women are leery about choosing it without knowing more information about how an epidural is used in labor. Choosing an epidural does require some thought and learning before making that choice for yourself. Here are the facts about epidurals in birth, including the answers to all over your questions and how and why epidurals are used.
Related:
- Do you need drugs for birth?
- Epidural Anesthesia Quiz
- Getting the Most Out of an Epidural
- Is it ever too late to get an epidural?
- 7 Reasons You Can't Have an Epidural
- After an Epidural
- IV Pain Medications
- Natural Childbirth Course
Photo Courtesy of iStockPhoto
Comments
The subject of a epidural is one that verys person to person on if they choose it. I just have given birth to my first born. I went to hospital with my mind set to go natural and vaginal. I did my study on all the drugs used during labor. But during my labor my sons heart would drop with each contraction. the doc. said it’s a 50-50 chance that i would had a c-section. she recommend that i have a epidural, so i could be awake during the c-section. i thought for a while, i was 6cm and 4hrs in labor i decide to have it cause i found out the doc history and spoke to him. we talk thought the steps, got it. with in the hour i went the whole 10cm. and had my son vaginal. his heart when back to normal with the epidural. all i say is study the medications, the doc. history, and know you gut feeling is the best. you just don’t what is going to happen during labor. p.s. is labor 4hr and 58 min. it was smooth after the epid. hope the best for your labor too.