Myths and Facts About Anesthetic Epidurals during Labor

Epidural anesthesia is a method of pain relief that is often used in labor. However, there are many myths circulating around this anesthetic that some women are afraid to go through. Let's explore what these myths are and the true facts about epidural anesthesia. Epidural injection is performed in the lower back nerve. This anesthetic will make the area around the injection and half the body area (from the navel to the legs) numb during labor. However, epidural anesthesia is different from general anesthesia because it does not use drugs that make patients sleep. When using an epidural anesthetic the mother will be kept from pain, but remain conscious while undergoing labor.

Myths and Epidural Anesthetic Facts

The following are some myths about epidural injections and their facts:

1. Epidural injection myths can harm the baby

Myth says that epidural anesthesia can cause fetal paralysis or cerebral palsy.

The fact:

Everything that enters your body will affect the fetus, including epidural anesthesia. However, you do not need to worry, because the dose of drugs that reach the fetus is very small, so it does not endanger his health. In addition, this myth has not been proven true. Various studies so far have shown that there is no relationship between the risk of babies exposed to cerebral palsy with the use of epidural anesthesia during maternal labor.

2. Myths of epidural anesthesia can cause permanent back pain Epidural injections are said to cause chronic back pain after childbirth.

The fact:

Yes, epidural injections do cause back pain, especially when the syringe is inserted in the back and an epidural keteter is placed. However, the effect is not permanent, really! The pain is a normal reaction like when getting injections of drugs in general. After the anesthesia is inserted and starts working, the pain will disappear, even during labor. But if you experience annoying symptoms, such as severe back pain, difficulty holding pee or bowel movements, and difficulty walking, after giving birth or during an epidural, consult a doctor immediately.

3. Myths of epidural injections can inhibit labor and increase the risk of caesarean section

One of the many myths about epidural anesthesia that is circulating is that this procedure can inhibit labor and increase the risk of a caesarean section. Some information circulating also says you will experience numbness after the anesthesia is given, making it difficult for you to push the fetus out.

The fact:

There is not enough evidence to suggest that epidural anesthesia can inhibit labor or increase the risk of cesarean section. Caesarean section is only done if there are complications during pregnancy or childbirth that make the delivery process unsafe to be carried out normally. Some of these complications, for example the size of the fetus is too large, labor is too long, or there is fetal distress. You also do not need to worry because the impact of epidural injections is not as bad as imagined, really. The epidural procedure actually helps you to be more relaxed because you don't feel pain, so you are better prepared for the next stage of labor. In addition, low-dose epidural injections only make the feet feel numb, but you are still able to push the fetus out. If you are not strong enough to push, the doctor will help deliver the baby with assistive devices, such as forceps or vacuum.

4. Myths of epidural anesthesia are many dangerous side effects

Myth says that epidural injections can cause a variety of side effects that are harmful to both mother and baby, so they should be avoided. One of these myths is that epidural anesthesia is said to cause permanent numbness.

The fact:

This information is inaccurate because if done correctly and at the right dosage, epidural anesthesia is generally safe and effective for dealing with labor pain. Like most medical procedures, epidural anesthesia also has several side effects, such as:
  • Nauseous vomit
  • Headache
  • Difficult to hold pee
  • Itchy
  • Decreased blood pressure
  • Fever and chills
However, these side effects generally disappear after the use of the epidural anesthetic is stopped and the catheter removed from the spinal cavity. When the drug no longer works, the side effects will disappear by itself. In certain cases, more severe side effects can occur, such as seizures and drug allergies. But these side effects are very rare. Moreover, these side effects do not always occur in every mother who has an epidural anesthesia. This only happens to a handful of women giving birth.

5. The myth of epidural anesthesia is always effective in reducing pain during labor

That said, epidural anesthesia is always effective for relieving or relieving pain during labor.

The fact:

This procedure is indeed considered to be the most popular method of pain relief compared to other procedures. Even so, there are some women who only feel numbness in certain parts of the stomach, so they do not benefit from this method. Epidural anesthesia may also not work properly when doctors find it difficult to find the epidural cavity in the spine to be injected or the anesthetic does not reach the nerve, so it is not effective in reducing pain. If you experience this condition, the doctor will repeat the procedure or recommend other methods of pain relief.

6. Myth All mothers can get epidural injections

According to myths circulating, epidural anesthesia can be performed on all women who want to give birth.

The fact:

Most women can indeed get epidural anesthesia during labor. However, there are some cases which make this procedure impossible. If you have a history of allergies to drugs, blood clotting disorders, problems with your back, being infected, suffering from diabetes, or undergoing certain medications, such as blood-thinning medications, you are not advised to undergo this procedure. In order for the delivery process to go as expected, you are advised to consult with your obstetrician to prepare the things you need before and during the delivery process. If you want to give birth without pain by trying epidural anesthesia, do not hesitate to ask about the benefits and side effects of epidural injections that will be done.

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