Did you get an Epidural?

My husband says I should get one and will probably want one. I’m pretty freaked out by the idea of it.

The advantages of an epidural are:

it is usually very effective

it is generally very safe

you can often still move around and push when you need to

if you’re having a caesarean, you can stay awake and your partner can be there

The disadvantages of an epidural are:

for medical reasons, not everyone can have an epidural

you might need to have fluids given to you through a tube in your arm, and will need to have your blood pressure monitored

you might lose feeling in your bladder and need a catheter (tube) in your bladder to help you pass urine

you might lose feeling in your legs for a few hours

it might slow down the second stage of labour

you might not be able to push and need help to give birth

your baby will need to be closely monitored during your labour

Whether you have an epidural or not makes no difference to the chance of you having a caesarean section.

Risks and side effects

An epidural is effective and fairly safe. But there are some risks.

Some women feel cold or itchy.

A small number of women get little or no pain relief.

Some women get weakness in the legs; it wears off after a few hours.

There is an increased risk of needing forceps or a vacuum to help with the birth.

Some women develop a bad headache 24 to 48 hours after an epidural.

There is a small chance of developing a skin infection.

Very rarely a few women get permanent nerve damage.