Labour Epidural

Labour Epidural 

Patient Information

Department of Anaesthetics

Author ID:           AV/NP

Leaflet Ref:         Ana 006

Version:              1

Leaflet title:         Labor Epidural

Date Produced:   August 2024

Expiry Date:        August 2026

Introduction

This is a summary. Please discuss anything that is not clear with your anaesthetist. There is more information available at https://www.labourpains.org/ 

Setting up your epidural

• You will need to have an intravenous cannula and maybe a drip.
• While the epidural is being put in, it is important that you keep still and let the anaesthetist know if you are having a contraction.
• The ideal position during the placement of the epidural is shown overleaf.
• The epidural takes 20 minutes to set up and 20 minutes to work.
• Some epidurals do not work fully and need to be adjusted or replaced.

Advantages of epidural

• An epidural usually provides excellent pain relief.
• The dose or type of local anaesthetic can sometimes be altered, to allow you to move around the bed. This is low-dose or mobile epidural.
• In general, epidurals do not affect your baby.
• Epidurals can be topped up for caesarean section if required.
• Sometimes a spinal anaesthetic can be given for quicker effect.

Possible problems with your epidural

• Repeated top-ups with stronger local anaesthetic may cause temporary leg weakness and might increase the risk of forceps or ventouse delivery.
• The epidural may slow down the second stage of labour slightly.
• You may develop low blood pressure, itching or a mild fever.
• The epidural site may be tender for a few days. Backache is NOT caused by epidurals but is common after any pregnancy.

Ideal position during epidural

Risks of having an epidural to reduce labour pain

These details have been taken from https://www.labourpains.org/ website. The figures shown on this page are estimates and may be different in different hospitals.