Epidural Risks and Benefits

This is a very frequently asked question so I thought I would put it all together here! This info comes from Evidence Based Birth. I also want to note that I am not anti epidural! They can be helpful for many. It is important to weigh the risks and benefits and make the decision that feels right for you. I will support you no matter what you choose 🥰

Main Benefits- 

-Extremely effective in managing pain during labor. Most people using epidurals report their pain relief to be excellent or very good. (This is the obvious main benefit ☺️)

-If you are unprepared for a non medicated birth and your body is tense during contractions, epidurals can help you rest and relax, and get some much needed sleep 

-If an emergency Cesarean is necessary and the laboring person already has a functioning epidural in place, the existing epidural can be used for the surgery 

Main Risks-

-More likely to experience low blood pressure, which can make you feel lightheaded or nauseous. A drop in the mother’s blood pressure can also compromise the oxygen status of the baby. 

-There is an increased risk of needing a cesarean for signs of fetal distress

-More likely to have a fever during labor, lose bladder control and not be able to urinate

-More likely to have a longer second stage of labor, the pushing phase

-It has been proven that anything given to mother will get to baby within minutes- the epidural is a mixture of narcotics and opioids.

-Risk of tearing increases 

-About one in a 100 mothers reports a spinal headache. 

*It’s also important to note that if you have an epidural evidence shows you are more likely to need continuous blood pressure monitoring, extra IV fluids, Pitocin to help augment or speed up your labor, catheter in your bladder, continuous fetal monitoring, contraction monitoring, and vacuum or forceps delivery.