labor and delivery question?

Question

if you opt for a water birth do you have to do it without any anesthesia... namely an epidural?

Answer 1

Yes. An anesthesiologist cannot administer the epidural to a woman in a tub of water. Too many risks. Also, after you have the epidural you have to be monitored which is also impossible if you are submerged under water.

The whole idea of the water birth is to relieve pain so things like epidurals aren't needed.

Answer 2

I haven't heard of an epidural being used in a water birth... Because it's a line directly into your central nervous system, the epidural cording (catheter) needs to be kept really clean so you don't get a deadly infection. Once it's in place, the epidural is taped off with a sterile drape.

Also, an epidural restricts your movement significantly, depending on how good it is. It would be hard to get you in and out of the birth tub with an epidural... and because epidurals require constant monitoring of you and the baby, and there isn't a monitor (other than a handheld one) that would work under water, it's unlikely that medical staff would be willing to let you continue to labor under water.

Most moms that labor in a tub find that they don't need pain medication, because the tub relaxes them so much that labor isn't as difficult to take. I recommend that any mom who wants a natural labor take a good class so she understands the process, though.

Good Luck!