Anesthesia of the ancestral process with the help of epidural anesthesia is the most common modern method of anesthesia. This method is effective and painless, therefore won many admirers among physicians and parturient women.
The process of delivery takes place in every woman in different ways. Some experience intolerable pain, others give birth easily and freely. Of course, every future mother would prefer the second option. Epidural anesthesia during childbirth can significantly reduce pain, making births easier. However, every woman should know that epidural anesthesia during childbirth is a medical intervention in a subtle natural process. Therefore, before deciding on this procedure, you should carefully weigh all the advantages and disadvantages of this method.
How is epidural anesthesia performed?
For anesthesia this method uses almost the same drugs as in dentistry - lidocaine or novocaine. An anesthesiologist injects one of these drugs into the space in the region of the spinal canal, which results in the exclusion of pain. The anesthetic is injected into the lumbar region in the position where the mother is sitting.
Epidural anesthesia - pros and cons
Most doctors use epidural anesthesia during childbirth because of its advantages over other analgesics:
- The injected anesthetic allows the mother to rest and relax during labor and labor;
- epidural anesthesia perfectly removes pain;
- epidural anesthesia helps to reduce high blood pressure;
- The method of epidural anesthesia is considered the safest for the health of the mother and child.
Despite all the advantages of epidural anesthesia during childbirth, this method can lead to adverse consequences for the mother and child. Possible consequences of epidural anesthesia:
- prolonged headaches and back pain in the mother;
- decrease in blood pressure, which forces the woman in bed to lie down;
- the need to use obstetric forceps increases during attempts;
- the likelihood of a cesarean section increases;
- the probability of postpartum hemorrhage in the mother increases;
- approximately half of the cases lead to hypoxia in the child;
- often the respiratory function of the newborn is impaired;
- significantly inhibited the physical development of the newborn.
The consequences of epidural anesthesia can be extremely negative for the child. Up to the need for urgent hospitalization. Also, complications after epidural anesthesia are often observed in the mother.
Epidural anesthesia in cesarean section
Epidural anesthesia is considered an ideal method for cesarean delivery. This variant of anesthesia, unlike general anesthesia, allows the woman in labor to observe the process of the operation and at the same time not to feel any pain. Anesthetic only blocks painful impulses that go from the uterus to the brain, while leaving the mother in full consciousness. Epidural anesthesia with caesarean section does not prevent the establishment of the first contact between the mother and the newborn, which is very important.
Epidural anesthesia - contraindications
Despite the fact that many women in labor and doctors prefer this method of anesthesia, epidural anesthesia during childbirth can not be applied in all cases. Contraindications to the use of epidural anesthesia:
- the mother is in an unconscious state;
- the woman in labor suffers from sepsis;
- presence of injuries of the spine and brain in the parturient woman;
- purulent diseases in the parturient woman;
- an allergic reaction to the anesthetic in the parturient woman.
In the presence of any of the above problems in the parturient, epidural anesthesia can lead to serious complications of the disease, up to a lethal outcome.
How much does epidural anesthesia cost for delivery?
The cost of epidural anesthesia during childbirth varies depending on the maternity hospital chosen, the region of the country, the qualification of an anesthesiologist. Epidural anesthesia is free of charge in free offices of state maternity homes. Each woman in childbirth has the right to demand this. In private maternity homes and with a preliminary agreement, the cost of epidural anesthesia ranges from 100 to 800 dollars. To find out how much epidural anesthesia costs during childbirth, you can at the forum devoted to pregnancy and childbirth. At the same forum, you can find feedback from the mothers on this method.
Choosing the method of anesthetic delivery, a woman should not forget that delivery is a natural process, which in more than 80% of cases does not require absolutely any intervention from doctors.