Around 4 in 5 (80%) women who had labour in Australia received pain relief. In 2021, the most common types were nitrous oxide (inhaled) (52%), followed by epidural or caudal analgesic (42%) and systemic opioids (11%).
Finland has the highest rate of the epidural rates by country. Roughly 89% of women giving birth in Finland get an epidural. This very high rate is attributed to the ubiquity of epidurals in Finland. Also, Finnish health guidelines recommend that physicians offer epidurals to most women.
Why is there a shortage of epidurals? In April, one of the leading international manufacturers of epidurals announced a temporary disruption to its supply. This specific supply chain issue relates to the lack of supply of blue dye some manufacturers use to colour the special low-friction plunger-style epidural syringe.
Among first births, 68.1 percent of all women received epidural/spinal anesthesia compared with 57.3 percent of women delivering their second or higher child.
Epidural injections are common. An estimated 10 million to 11 million injections (2.2 million in the Medicare population) are administered annually in the United States.
The potential for a quicker labor, delivery and recovery – For some people, a natural birth may go more quickly. While it depends on several different factors, like how relaxed you may be, in some cases medications can interfere with contractions and prolong labor.
Women having epidurals were 2.5 times more likely to have a cesarean (20% vs. 8%), or put another way, 12 more women per 100 having epidurals had a cesarean (absolute excess), which amounts to 1 additional cesarean for every 8.5 women having an epidural (number needed to harm).
Risks include hypotension or low blood pressure (10-20%), infection (<0.01%), bleeding (<1%), puncture in spinal cord (“wet tap” or Dural puncture) (1%), headache (<1%), allergic reaction (<1%), failed block, and intravascular injection (1%). You and your baby are closely monitored during and after epidural placement.
Epidurals are safe, but as with any medical procedure, there are small risks of side effects and complications. Serious risks—including blood clots inside the spine, infection (around the spine or brain), and nerve damage—are very rare. Other possible complications include low blood pressure, itchy skin, and headaches.
Without pain medication, labor displays the woman's strength and responsibility. Some believe that not experiencing pain during birth hinders bonding between mother and baby. If a Japanese woman would like an epidural during labor, she must give birth at one of the few private and expensive hospitals that provide them.
Concerns About Added Risks
While the really big risks are very rare, they do happen. For some mothers, even the possibility of a smaller risk that is more common, like a drop in her blood pressure isn't worth it. There are others who worry about problems like fetal distress.
Epidurals are associated with a 42% increased risk of needing a vacuum or a forceps delivery. This may be because the numbing impacts the descent of the baby or how well a woman can feel to push. However, if the 2nd stage of labor is taking too long or pushing isn't going well the epidural can always be turned back.
It's normal to worry that you'll still feel some pain even after you've been given an epidural. Most women experience great pain relief with an epidural, but it won't be 100 percent pain-free.
Also, the epidural anesthetic typically requires more skill to place and potentially has more complications. Although both general and regional anesthesia are safe, I encourage my patients to have regional anesthesia when appropriate because I see fewer side effects.
Some people describe the feeling as being like intense period cramps, others say it feels like a tightening or pounding feeling in your uterus or across your belly, others describe the feeling as being like very intense muscle cramps, while still other people describe contractions as being like the sort of wrenching ...
Benefits of laboring in water
A positive birth experience: Women who have labored or given birth in water say they had less pain and a greater sense of control. Less pain medication: Some studies show that women who labor in water need less pain medication and may have a shorter first stage of labor.
Pain During Labor and Delivery
Pain during labor is caused by contractions of the muscles of the uterus and by pressure on the cervix. This pain can be felt as strong cramping in the abdomen, groin, and back, as well as an achy feeling.
Occasionally there are circumstances where women can't get an epidural. Occasionally we see this in women who have a low platelet count. Additionally, women who are taking blood thinners (such as heparin) to prevent a blood clot during pregnancy should not receive an epidural within 12 hours of taking that medication.
Epidurals are usually safe, but there are risks of certain side effects and complications. Although rare, risks and complications that apply to all types of epidural procedures include: Having low blood pressure, which can make you feel lightheaded. Experiencing a severe headache caused by spinal fluid leakage.
If you don't want an epidural, but aren't opposed to other forms of medical pain relief, you might consider trying nitrous oxide. The nonflammable, colorless gas does not actually reduce pain or take away the sensation of a contraction, like an epidural. Instead, it relieves anxiety, which helps you tolerate the pain.
An epidural provides anesthesia that creates a band of numbness from your bellybutton to your upper legs. It allows you to be awake and alert throughout labor, as well as to feel pressure. The ability to feel second-stage labor pressure enables you to push when it's time to give birth to your baby.
You can still feel some pressure of contractions, but you don't have constant pain going through your entire body. Study participants said having an epidural had a positive impact on their birth experience, changing their challenging situations into something manageable and even enjoyable.
Most of the time, you can walk within a half hour or so of your epidural injection. However, you will not necessarily be walking normally at this point. Most clinics and hospitals monitor you for 15 minutes to an hour after an epidural injection. During this time, they will likely ask how you feel.