silver_penny
triandem nursing 3 and pg
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What are the benefits of epidural anesthesia?
Allows you to rest if your labor is prolonged
Relieving the discomfort of childbirth can help some woman have a more positive birth experience
Most of the time an epidural will allow you to remain alert and be an active participant in your birth
If you deliver by cesarean, an epidural anesthesia will allow you to stay awake and also provide effective pain relief during recovery
When other types of coping mechanisms are not helping any longer, an epidural may be what you need to move through exhaustion, irritability, and fatigue. An epidural may allow you to rest, relax, get focused and give you the strength to move forward as an active participant in your birth experience.
The use of epidural anesthesia during childbirth is continually being perfected and much of its success depends on the care in which it is administered.
What are the Disadvantages of epidural anesthesia?
Epidurals may cause your blood pressure to suddenly drop. For this reason your blood pressure will be routinely checked to make sure there is adequate blood flow to your baby. If this happens you may need to be treated with IV fluids, medications, and oxygen
You may experience a severe headache caused by leakage of spinal fluid. Less than 1% of women experience this side effect from epidural use. If symptoms persist, a special procedure called a “blood patch”, an injection of your blood into the epidural space, can be done to relieve the headache
After your epidural is placed, you will need to alternate from lying on one side to the other in bed and have continuous monitoring for changes in fetal heart rate. Lying in one position can sometimes cause labor to slow down or stop
You may experience the following side effects: shivering, ringing of the ears, backache, soreness where the needle is inserted, nausea, or difficulty urinating
You may find that your epidural makes pushing more difficult and additional interventions such as Pitocin, forceps, vacuum extraction or cesarean may become necessary
For a few hours after birth the lower half of your body may feel numb which will require you to walk with assistance
In rare instances, permanent nerve damage may result in the area where the catheter was inserted.
Though research is somewhat ambiguous, most studies suggest some babies will have trouble "latching on" which can lead to breastfeeding difficulties. Other studies suggest that the baby may experience respiratory depression, fetal malpositioning; and an increase in fetal heart rate variability, which may increase the need for forceps, vacuum, cesarean deliveries and episiotomies.
Just a little bit on epidurals. Yes, they have their place in medicine, however I personally don't believe they should be offered to everyone in blanket fashion.
Here is my take on epidurals and drugs during labor: You have spent the last nine months worrying about what to and what not to put in your body in case it has an effect on the baby. You are cautious not to drink alcohol, not to smoke, not to take a tylenol, not to eat too much fish, not to change the cat's litter box, etc. The risks are too high, not matter how small the actual risk is. Then comes labour day. Some people go into the hospital "knowing" that they will need an epidural and can't wait to have it. Maybe they never knew there were risks involved, they were never informed. However, some do, and yet they opt for it anyways. The doctor's know the risk, and they have you sign a waiver releasing them from liability before they give you the epidural. There are risks involved, no matter how little.
I'm not having a go at those who have had an epidural out of necessity. It is there for a reason, and is great in emergencies. I just don't see how a woman can not trust her body enough to make the decision to have an epidural before they have even felt a contraction.
You endured the headache, the backache, the hip pain, or what have you without the Tylenol to do what was in the best interest of your baby. This was pain caused by something wrong with your body.Why try to prevent the discomfort during labor, which is pain with a purpose? It is something going right with your body, its doing its job to birth your baby.
I'm not saying this to women who have had epidurals for a medical reason, as stated before. I am not trying to start an arguement or saying that you are worse parents for it. You did what you thought was best for your babies and your selves. Your love for them shines through for them, for what you did to get them safely into this world.