Oh! Baby!

When it comes down to it, there is no right or wrong answer. There are a number of factors to consider, and your choice should reflect those that you feel are most important to you.

Epidural Pros:
*Compared to other pain relieving drugs given during labor, such as Demerol or Stadol, an epidural will have the least effect on your baby. The medication given through the epidural does not reach baby, as IV medications do. IV medications can cause temporary respiratory depression and/or a lethargic newborn. These symptoms will persevere until the narcotic clears baby's system. Severe reactions of this type would require additional drugs to reverse the narcotic effects.

*Having an epidural can greatly reduce stress and fear for a laboring mother. It enables mom to concentrate entirely on the work to be done (pushing etc.) when the time comes, rather than the pain.

*Reducing pain while allowing mom to remain alert. An epidural should only work from mid-abdomen down, it will not cause sleepiness or sluggishness as narcotics will.

*Greatly assists in allowing the laboring mother to get the rest she needs prior to the exhaustive process of birth.

Epidural Con's:
*Invasive procedure, can lead to additional medical problems such as infection, severe headache if the spinal fluid is accidentally reached, allergic reaction to epidural medications, back problems.

*Placing the epidural requires mom to curl forward as much as possible, and stay as immobile as possible for several minutes. This can be fairly uncomfortable for a pregnant woman, much less one in labor.

*Many women will not be able to feel or move their legs while the medication is working. Not only somewhat disconcerting, but this temporary "paralysis" can impede mom's ability to push during delivery. Many doctors will turn off epidural pumps at the completion of dilatation for this reason.

*An extremely rare complication consists of the epidural medication migrating up above the diaphragm/lungs, essentially precluding the laboring mom's ability to breathe on her own. This complication is easily dealt with by medical personnel, by manually ventilating or "bagging" the mother until the medication wears off-but of course this is very frightening for the patient.

*Some women feel their need for any pain medication, epidural or IV, makes their birth experience a "failure". This is especially true for those who have planned a natural childbirth.

Like any decision in pregnancy, labor, delivery, and later raising your child, the decision to have an epidural is a personal one. Be prepared to be flexible when the time comes. In my experience some women who were sure they would need an epidural sailed through labor and delivery without one. Other times I have seen laboring mom's who were determined to have no drugs at all requesting an epidural fairly early on in labor. No matter what your choice, I wish you a happy, healthy delivery!