Miscarriage In Early Pregnany- Signs, Causes, And Tips To Prevent
6 Min Read
Pregnant women would trade anything in the world to skip labour pains. Once contractions pick up, it is more than hard work for the mother to push her baby out. Gruelling long hours of excruciating pain causes the abdomen and pelvic muscles to become sore and tender to touch. Just after the pre-labour when the cervix dilates to 4cms, an epidural is given to the mother’s spine to relieve her from the pain. Though there are a lot of controversies regarding the use of an epidural, it is still widely used across all maternity homes in every country. Without an epidural, it is impossible for a mother to deliver a baby under such stress.
Many gynaecologists argue that an epidural can be dangerous for the baby and the mother in case of larger doses or if the injection isn’t inserted properly into the spine. Only qualified anaesthetists must be employed to do the job of giving an epidural. It is extremely important for the expecting parents to know details about taking an epidural, how it benefits the mother and the baby and also the potential risks associated with it.
An epidural is given during any time of labour when the mother is not dilating and is unable to take the pain anymore. Painkillers are injected into the spine area with the help of a tiny catheter where the medication works on nerves that carry pain signals to the brain. Shortly, the region is numbed and the mother doesn’t feel any pain. The painkilling drug is either injected continuously or given in the form of top-ups every one or two hours depending upon the intensity of the pain. Most of the epidurals that are used do not numb the abdomen and legs completely. Women can feel their feet and legs and can move about helping the baby descend into the birth canal.