The Epidural Debate: Here’s What You Need To Know

1. The Epidural Debate: Here’s What You Need to Know Get in touch: (305) 615-6147info@miamiobgyns.com www.miamiobgyns.com

2. Introduction Preparing for a birth, especially a first birth, is important. This is why many first time parents attend classes, read books and brace themselves with the knowledge of what to expect before heading into the delivery room.

3. Birth Plan Many soon-to-be parents go into the delivery room with their minds set about the big E. But things happen… parents who had planned on a “drug-free” delivery find themselves in a situation where getting one is a medical necessity.

4. Birth Plan Or a woman who had planned on getting one can show up to delivery already too far along to receive it.

5. Birth Plan So before you continue, know that, while educating yourself and creating a birth plan is important, the safety of both mother and baby trumps all.

6. Safety of Epidurals Statistically speaking, epidurals are safe for mother and baby. Permanent injuries, such as paraplegia or long-term back pain, are as rare as they are extreme: In 2009, the British Journal of Anesthesia concluded the risk was one per twenty thousand, or lower.

7. Safety of Epidurals Most complications, such as headaches, or lower back aches, are relieved within a few days after the birth.

8. Reason for an Epidural The reason women take an epidural during labor is to relieve the pain of contractions. Once the epidural kicks in, the mother can benefit from some R & R as her cervix continues to dilate in preparation for the birth.

9. Reason for an Epidural Ideally, the epidural wears off enough in time for the pushing stage, and the mother has enough feeling in her pelvis and legs to purposefully push her baby out to be born.

10. Reason for an Epidural That having been said, there are a few caveats: • Epidurals do not necessarily relieve all of the pain • It’s impossible to plan the timing precisely for pushing. Therefore, when accepting an epidural, keep in mind realistic expectations.

11. Natural Means of Relieving Pain Women who choose to forgo the epidural are usually able to do so because they use natural means to relieve contraction intensity.

12. Natural Means of Relieving Pain Coping mechanisms include: • Relaxing the body with comfortable positioning • Hot water bottles • Warm showers • Massage • Vocalizing/singing • Hypnosis • Dim lighting

13. Natural Means of Relieving Pain Coping mechanisms include: • Smiling • Hearing encouraging messages from others • Lowering the shoulders • Releasing the jaw • Softening the cheeks • Leaving the fingers open instead of clenching them

14. Natural Means of Relieving Pain But these natural-pain-relief techniques are not for everyone. More than half of birthing women use an epidural for contraction relief.

15. Do Your Research Every woman can weigh the decision about an epidural for herself. Do your research, and prepare for the type of birth you prefer.

16. Do Your Research If it’s not what you intended, take everything into consideration and for sure give yourself huge kudos because no matter how the birth transpired, you. gave. birth. You went through a lot to have a baby. That’s your story, and that’s amazing. And if you want to plan differently for a consequent birth, you can.

17. Get in touch: (305) 615-6147 info@miamiobgyns.com www.miamiobgyns.com