Epidurals can be used in labour for many reasons. The following is a list of some of the main reasons you might request an epidural, or your caregiver may recommend you have one.
Pain relief
Forceps, ventouse or Caesarean
Long labour
Anxious or concerned
High blood pressure
Twins, premature baby, posterior baby, breech baby and VBAC
Other uses
Pain relief
The most common reason for a woman to request an epidural is for pain relief. Epidurals for this reason are usually given in the active first stage of the labour (when the cervix is opening or dilating past 3 to 5 cms, but before 10 cms).
Some advantages of having an epidural for labour pain relief include:
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The potential to totally relieve the pain (for up to 85% of women). |
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It does not sedate the woman, affecting her consciousness or mental clarity, like narcotics and gas. |
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It can give the woman a rest. |
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For a few women, it helps them to push their baby out, because the pain was lessened. |
An epidural is rarely inserted for pain relief in prelabour or in the early 1st stage of labour, because it is likely to stop or slow down the labour. This means that an
oxytocin drip to
augment the contractions would then be needed. An epidural is also not usually inserted for pain relief after the woman's cervix is fully dilated to 10cms (meaning she is in the 2nd stage or the pushing phase of the labour) as this is likely to inhibit her ability to push her baby out, requiring a 1 to 2 hour delay in the pushing phase or, alternatively, a
ventouse or
forceps birth.
Forceps, ventouse or Caesarean
Your caregiver may recommend an epidural if you need to have a
forceps or
ventouse delivery, or a Caesarean birth.