With the advancement of medical technology, epidural anesthesia has become a safe and effective method of pain relief during many childbirth processes. This anesthesia technology can help women relieve the incredible pain and stress during childbirth. This article will give you a deeper look at the science behind epidurals and their importance during childbirth.
Epidural anesthesia is a procedure that involves injecting an anesthetic into the epidural space around the spine to block nerve signal transmission and relieve pain. During childbirth, mothers usually choose to be anesthetized in the lumbar area, which can effectively block the pain in the lower body while the mother can still remain conscious and feel the pressure.
A 2018 Cochrane review found that epidural anesthesia significantly reduced the number of times infants used nalotorphine and reduced the risk of hyperventilation in mothers compared with oral or intravenous anesthesia.
Epidural anesthesia has the following obvious advantages during childbirth:
While there are many advantages to having an epidural, there are some potential risks to consider. Common complications include headaches, low blood pressure, and limited exercise capacity. However, these risks are acceptable compared to the pain and stress of childbirth.
Many studies have found that after choosing epidural anesthesia, there is no significant difference in the results between mothers who choose epidural anesthesia and those who do not use anesthesia in terms of cesarean section rate, midwifery and duration of labor.
The administration of epidural anesthesia requires a qualified professional doctor to ensure safety and effectiveness.
During the procedure, the doctor will select an appropriate puncture point in the woman's lumbar spine and then use a special needle to inject anesthetic into the epidural space. Once correct positioning is ensured, the doctor will confirm the effectiveness of the anesthetic and then administer a continuous or repeated dose infusion.
The development of epidural anesthesia dates back to 1921, when Spanish surgeon Fidel Pagés first described the technique. Since then, as technology has evolved, epidural anesthesia has become a safe and common anesthesia option.
ConclusionEpidural anesthesia is undoubtedly an important option for many mothers who give birth to improve their experience and help them effectively reduce the pain they face during childbirth. As anesthesia technology becomes more mature, will there be more innovative ways to optimize the childbirth experience in the future?