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More than 50 percent of women ask for an epidural during delivery, according to the American Pregnancy Association. The purpose of an epidural is to provide localized pain relief as opposed to total anesthesia. An epidural works by blocking the nerve impulses in the lower segments of the spine. Although they are generally safe and quite effective, there are disadvantages associated with epidurals.
Pregnant women have the option during labor and childbirth to receive various forms of pain medications. While some medications take the edge off of the contractions, other forms will enable the mother to labor without feeling any pain. Two of the most common forms of anesthesia during childbirth are the epidural and spinal.
Experience is the only way to really describe labor pain, and no one can properly prepare a woman for it. For decades, there have been countless opinions given, but just like every story is different, so is every woman's tolerance for pain. An epidural is a medication used to decrease the pain associated with labor, and some mothers opt to have the procedure even before their water breaks, while other women are forced to have one.
Since the beginning of time women have been delivering babies, and it never gets any easier. Many different forms of pain relief have come and gone throughout history and, thanks to modern technologies and medicines, women today have an array of options to choose from to aid them in their deliveries. Many women, however, still opt to have their babies with no medicinal relief for a variety of reasons. Here are a few ideas for those considering a medicine-free delivery to discuss with their doctor or midwife.
