2006-10-26 23:34:22 · 11 answers · asked by sexy aoife 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
It's absolute heaven! The needle is only in your back long enough to insert a small tube which is what the medicine flows through. The tube will stay in your back until after the baby is born. It's not as bad as it sounds. When you're in terrible pain and they finally give you the epidural it's like Ahhhhhhhh.....much better!
2006-10-27 01:52:58 · answer #1 · answered by Georgia Girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's drugs that are injected into the fluid surrounding your spinal column. As another poster wrote, it's not without risks to both mother and baby, though many women feel the risks are acceptable in exchange for relief from pain. Some of the risks are indirect and it's not often understood that they were from the epidural. For instance, if the epidural causes a fever, the baby will need to be taken from the mother for observation and testing, including a painful septic workup. All of this interferes with bonding and breastfeeding, which can have potential long-term effects. Another example is that the mother's blood pressure falls from the epidural, and because she's on her back blood flow is reduced to the baby, and this can cause distress in the baby necessitating further interventions that also carry risks. Epidurals increase risk of surgical birth, instrumental birth (forceps), and episiotomy. So in addition to concerns about the baby's health and our ability to bond, I really don't want my abdomen or vagina cut open, thanks very much. I'd rather just deal with the pain for a few hours.
2006-10-27 10:08:27 · answer #2 · answered by blueviolet 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Epidurals and labor medication has come a long way since the golden age of complete unconciousness during labor. However, they still hold the possibility of endagering the mother and baby. An actual epidural is an injection of pain medication into the epidermis, or thin layer in your spine. (a spinal tap goes directly into the spinal fluid itself~which is deeper) {please review links below}This medication is provided by an anesthesiologist during labor and can be benificial in allowing the laboring mother to rest.
The problems that can occur have been proven by the medical industry and should be considered when weighing your options with labor management.
Some problems can happen during labor, some can occur after the baby is born. The potential for the needle t opuncture the spinal cavity and enter into the spinal fluid is very possible, in which case the pain from that would be overwhelming, not to mention very unpreductive.
After labor, when the drugs wear off, there is the potential for spinal headaches. These are akin to migraines- and sadly most migraines are a result of an epidural.
Please understand that many many women have had babies with epidurals and have has little or no side effects from the procedure. The risk is still evident and when it comes down to the safety of you and your baby during labor- educating your self as best you can might be your only defense in protection from a potentially harmful procedure.
All my best~
2006-10-27 06:56:54 · answer #3 · answered by ajbabies3 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
an epidural is when an anestegialogist comes to you and inserts a long needle into your back and it's filled with a pain blocker medicine, and shoots it into your spine, it's a spinal block so as you don't feel any pain from your waiste down. You can't even tell that you are pushing the baby out. There is another procedure just like it but it's called a spinal tap, which is basically the same thing, but it doesn't numb you as long as an epidural does. I did the spinal tap and was well worth it.
2006-10-27 08:13:59 · answer #4 · answered by danielle m 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An epidural is a shot that is given to women who is in painful labor. The shot is injected in the lady's back, that helps to make the pain go away, not completely but better then not having it.
2006-10-27 08:03:59 · answer #5 · answered by Vicky 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes its an anesthesia that is given to you by the doctors, by placing a long needle between ur spine and they inject the meds that way and then ur numb and cant dfeel any pain but theres always a chance (not trying to worry you) that it can couse you to have back problems. when i had mine done they had to place the needle in four times but that was because i was not sitting right so, but i dont regreat it lol.
2006-10-27 06:45:42 · answer #6 · answered by joeya_anthonya 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An epidural is a gift from God. :)
2006-10-27 09:59:41 · answer #7 · answered by brown_iyed_grrl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's an anaesthetic that doctors/nurses give you during childbirth to help ease the pain, and is usually inhaled through a small oxygen mask placed over mouth and nose!
2006-10-27 06:41:49 · answer #8 · answered by sweetangelicnikki 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That's the anesthesia doctors give you to make you numb from the waist down so you can bear w the pain.
2006-10-27 06:39:02 · answer #9 · answered by reviewee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a long needle gets inserted into your spine so you cant feel from your belly button down.
2006-10-27 07:05:17 · answer #10 · answered by synnie69 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋