Epidural anaesthesia is quite possibly the most popular pain relief method during labour! If you wish to be as comfortable as possible during your labour and delivery process, an epidural will definitely be brought up in discussion between you and your doctor.
It’s common for mummies-to-be to change their minds about an unmedicated birth and switch to pain relief options during their labour. There’s nothing wrong with changing your mind, as it’s YOUR labour and YOUR child. What you can do is to read up more on epidurals and other methods of pain relief – it’ll help you make a better decision when the time comes to make a choice.
Before we jump into the 5 signs that you should get an epidural, let’s have a short rundown on what an epidural actually is.
Epidurals
It’s a regional anaesthesia that blocks pain in a specific area of the body – take note that it blocks pain instead of completely removing all feeling during labour. It numbs the nerves in your lower spinal segment, resulting in decreased sensation in the lower half of your body.
What happens during an epidural?
Placing the catheter takes around 15 minutes to complete, and it’ll take another 20 minutes for you to feel the full effect of the epidural.
Aside from providing pain relief, an epidural can also help prevent blood pressure from reaching high levels during labour – a worrying condition in women who have pregnancy-induced hypertension.
Side-effects of an epidural
Some women can get shivers, itchiness, nausea, feeling feverish, muscle weakness, and headaches – these side-effects will usually pass after a while. Very rarely will there be any serious complications from an epidural.
Your legs will feel like they’re made of rubber, but you’ll still be able to feel your lower body to a certain extent as you’ll need to push when it’s time for baby to come out!
The 5 Signs
With that said, here are the 5 signs that you’ll be needing an epidural:
1. Going Beyond Your Pain Threshold
If you’ve hit and gone beyond your tolerance for pain, get an epidural. Don’t feel guilty or bad about getting one – everyone has different limits for their pain, and no one should be able to judge your pain as the only person who experiences and knows your pain is you yourself.
The pain definitely doesn’t go away the longer labour goes on, so there isn’t really any advantage in waiting it out. So if you want to be rid of that pain ASAP, get an epidural.
2. To Help You Relax Before Childbirth
The epidural itself won’t make you sleepy, but its numbing properties could help you out with relaxing. Your mental stress could be alleviated, and you might even be able to get a nap before childbirth happens!
3. Natural Methods Of Pain Relief Aren’t Cutting It
Breathing exercises to help you hit that zone of zen not working? Meditation proving a bust as well? Yes these techniques could possibly help clear your mind and loosen up your muscles during labour, but getting there is definitely easier said than done when your contractions feel like you’re getting repeatedly kicked by a horse.
You’re not weak for choosing an epidural. You’re a strong mummy who’s in charge of her own decisions, and if those decisions lead you towards an epidural, you’re not any less of an awesome mummy for choosing so!
4. Caesarean Delivery
Sometimes a C-section birth is the safest method of delivery for both mum and baby. If you’ve planned to have a C-section, you should already be on pain relief (spinal block), but if it’s an emergency C-section, you might have opted to do an epidural beforehand and have everything set up already. Don’t worry, as the doctors will inject stronger medicine through the catheter to help you fully numb your lower body in preparation for a C-section.
5. You Want To Make Your Delivery As Pleasant As Possible
As I’ve said before, this is your delivery and it’s completely up to you on how you want to do it (barring an emergency C-section, touch wood). This will be your own unique experience to go through.
Whether you want to feel everything that goes through labour and delivery, or if you wish to avoid feeling everything, it’s your choice and you shouldn’t feel judged for whatever decision you make.
Pregnancy To Parenthood Seminar Series
If you wish to know more about your journey through pregnancy, as well as detailed explanations of what to expect during labour and delivery, this seminar is for you!
Date: Saturday, 7 July, 2018
Registration: 1:30 pm
Time: 2:00 pm - 6:00pm
Venue: Singapore Expo Max Atria
Room: Peridot 201-203
Find out more about this helpful seminar for mums- and dads-to-be right here:
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