Epidural anesthesia: identify the timing of administration, benefits, and risks

Every birth mother wants a smooth birth process with as little pain as possible. That is why, currently there are options available so that pregnant women do not feel too sick during the delivery process. One of the procedures is to get anesthesia or epidural injection during childbirth.

Actually, what is an epidural? Now, before deciding the right method for your labor, it is important to understand all things about this anesthesia or epidural anesthesia.

Find out the complete information here, let's!

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What is an epidural?

An epidural is a form of local anesthetic or anesthetic that is used to numb certain parts of the body so that you don't feel pain.

Epidurals will not make you lose consciousness completely because they only function as painkillers (analgesia) in certain areas of the body.

When this anesthesia delivery is administered, the sensory nerve impulses or stimulation of the sensory nerves in the lower spine of your body stop.

Normally, the sensory nerves are responsible for sending various signals to the brain, such as pain or heat.

As a result, the sensation or pain that the mother should feel at the bottom of the torso, more precisely in the uterus, cervix, and upper part of the vagina will be reduced.

However, there's no need to worry because your motor nerves will still work properly.

This is evidenced by the work of the brain which can still send commands to the pelvis and other parts of the body to work as needed.

What are the types of epidural anesthesia?

Before deciding on the use of childbirth anesthesia, make sure the mother has prepared various preparations for labor and delivery supplies in advance.

There are two types of epidurals that are usually offered to mothers giving birth in hospitals or health care centers, citing the American Pregnancy Association.

Doctors and the medical team usually provide the appropriate type for women in labor depending on the dose and combination of drugs that have been given previously.

Types of epidural anesthesia for childbirth are as follows:

1. Ordinary epidural

An ordinary epidural is a type of anesthetic that is injected into the back of the mother.

The epidural injection during childbirth is more precisely given in a small space on the outside of the spinal cord under the back.

Epidural injection or anesthesia during delivery that has entered then flows until it reaches the epidural cavity.

Because it is done in that section, it is possible for the drug to be given repeatedly or continuously as needed.

Launching from the Mayo Clinic, it takes about 1-15 minutes for this anesthetic or epidural drug to start working.

If the effects of the birthing anesthesia begin to wear off within 1-2 hours, the mother may receive the next injection.

2. Combination of spinal epidurals

As the name implies, a combination spinal epidural is a combination of epidural anesthesia and spinal anesthesia.

This drug in combination with spinal epidural anesthesia is usually injected into the membrane that lines the spine until it reaches the epidural cavity.

Then, a tube or catheter will be attached to the line so that it is easier to inject again if the mother needs it.

Women who give birth can still move freely after the catheter is inserted so that it will not interfere with the delivery process.

The spinal epidural combination usually begins to lose its effect after 4-8 hours from the time it was first administered.

When should an epidural be given to women in labor?

An epidural is not a mandatory procedure during labor.

Some pregnant women who want to give birth choose not to use this anesthesia at all and go through the labor process naturally.

However, if you have a low level of tolerance to pain, there is nothing wrong with planning a birth with this anesthetic.

In a normal delivery process, usually an epidural will be given after the mother reaches the cervical or cervical delivery opening of about 4 or 5 centimeters (cm).

If the opening is more than 5 cm, the use of an epidural is not recommended because the baby is about to come out.

The opening of the delivery is one of the signs of childbirth apart from labor contractions and rupture of the amniotic fluid.

This birthing anesthesia is usually performed when pregnant women give birth in a hospital and not at home.

This anesthesia or childbirth anesthesia can also be intended for normal and cesarean delivery procedures.

Meanwhile, for women who are going to undergo a cesarean section, an epidural will be given before the operation begins.

The use of this anesthetic is also not recommended for mothers who experience bleeding or low blood pressure, infections in the back, and use blood thinning oats.

Mothers with fast labor also do not need to use this anesthesia.

Are there any benefits of epidural injections during childbirth?

The reason maternity women choose to use anesthesia or epidural injections during childbirth is to reduce pain.

But actually, that's not all the benefits of epidurals. The various benefits of anesthesia or other epidural anesthesia are as follows:

• The muscles relax, especially the lower pelvic muscles, making the contraction feel lighter.
• When the labor process is long enough, the mother can concentrate more on giving birth and not be too tired because the intensity of the pain decreases.
• For mothers who have high blood pressure, this anesthetic can help lower blood pressure to avoid complications of childbirth.
• For women who are undergoing cesarean section, this anesthetic will not make you unconscious so you can still follow the labor.
• Epidurals can help reduce postoperative pain.
• Because the pain is reduced or completely gone, women who give birth can go through the labor process with a calmer mind and not panic.

This anesthesia is expected to smooth the process of giving birth to one baby or giving birth to twins.

As with the usual delivery process, when the mother is in a normal delivery, there are various normal delivery positions that can be applied according to comfort.

In addition, also apply breathing techniques during childbirth and proper methods of pushing during childbirth.

Are there any risks of this anesthetic during childbirth?

The use of this anesthetic can pose certain risks so that many women who give birth are wondering about the pros and cons of epidurals.

The following are the disadvantages that can occur due to the use of anesthesia or epidural injections during childbirth:

• In certain cases, giving this anesthetic causes numbness so that the mother has difficulty contracting and pushing the baby out. If this happens, you will be given drugs to trigger contractions.
• The side effects of this anesthetic include chills, ringing in the ears, headaches, nausea, and pain in the back or the injection site.
• Epidurals have the risk of lowering blood pressure. If you have low blood pressure, your doctor may give you fluids through an IV to avoid complications.
• Some women who give birth have complained of difficulty urinating because the birth anesthetic risks numbing the bladder.

This risk of giving birth anesthesia may also increase the likelihood that the mother will be assisted by the use of delivery forceps and vacuum extraction.

The mother may also need to undergo vaginal scissors or an episiotomy depending on her condition.

Are there any side effects of epidural anesthesia?

Just like any other medical procedure, this one birth anesthesia carries the risk of side effects.

Possible side effects of anesthesia or epidural injection during childbirth are as follows:

Common side effects

The common side effects of epidural anesthesia are as follows:

• Experiencing numbness, tingling, and feeling weak in the part of the body that received this labor injection
• Lower blood pressure
• Headache

The side effects of epidural injections that make movement weak and numb the body parts usually will disappear slowly as the feeling of immunity wears off.

Until now, there is no treatment for this minor side effect of childbirth anesthesia.

Usually, these side effects will go away on their own in some time.

Serious side effects

It is rare to find serious side effects of this anesthetic during childbirth.

The reason is, this type of injection has been declared safe for mothers who give birth.

However, there are a number of possible epidural risks, such as weakening or paralysis of certain body parts, changes in bowel function, or changes in the work of the bladder.

These side effects are caused by very rare complications, such as bleeding or infection in the back of the back, which causes an abscess (pus buildup).

Pressure from accumulated blood or pus damages the spinal cord and surrounding nerves can also put you at risk of this birth injection.

Possible side effects in babies

Scientific research on the effects of epidural anesthesia on infants has not reached the point of agreement.

The results are still very diverse and can vary, depending on each case studied.

However, in theory whatever enters the mother's bloodstream will also enter the baby's body through the placenta.

Well, even though the delivery anesthesia is inserted into the mother's spinal cord, there will still be a little or a lot of the anesthetic fluid that enters the mother's bloodstream.

The good news is that the baby is not a cause for concern because it does not have any harmful effects on him.

However, it is possible that there are side effects of childbirth anesthesia that may occur in babies even though they are very rare.

Here are the possible side effects of epidural anesthesia in babies:

• Lack of oxygen
• Irregular heartbeat
• Experiencing breathing problems after birth
• Difficult to breastfeed

Although not so many mothers and babies experience it, it is better to consult with a doctor before labor begins.

This is so that you understand well what procedures will be carried out later so that you can consider them more carefully.