In many hospitals worldwide, the use of epidurals is high and increasing. In fact, in many regions the epidural rate hovers between 50-90%. Perhaps one good reason for the epidural's popularity is that it offers excellent pain relief. Are there other benefits to using an epidural?
Epidurals Can Help Mothers Conserve Energy in a Long Labor
Some mothers will have long labors. In fact, women tend to have longer labors when it is their first baby, when they are being induced or when the baby is posterior. When labors become particularly long, it can be hard for laboring moms to have the energy to keep going.
In some cases, expectant mothers with a long labor can conserve their energy by using an epidural rather than working hard through every contraction.
One Benefit of Epidurals is to Allow Mothers to Sleep
If a mother is going into labor in the middle of the night with little sleep under her belt, or if she has spend more than 24 hours in labor, sleep will often become all she can think about. In some cases, laboring women complain more about needing a break from contractions more than not being able to manage the pain.
When a mother gets an epidural, she may be able to get some of the rest she is lacking. It is common to see mothers with an epidural being able to "cat nap" periodically. However remember that your body will still be in labor. It is typical for moms to be aware of sensations like pressure and to notice that labor contractions are coming when they have an epidural. Getting a full 8 hour's sleep during labor with an epidural is not something moms should expect.
Laboring Down May be Easier with an Epidural
One of the benefits to using an epidural is that moms may be more comfortable waiting longer during the second stage of labor before beginning to push, known as laboring down. Not only is this a benefit to using an epidural, it is vital that mothers wait as long as possible before they begin pushing.
Research continues to indicate that epidurals lengthen the mother's pushing time. So for that reason, it is even more important for laboring mothers to request to labor down so that their contractions can bring their baby down significantly before they being to push.
Do Benefits of Epidurals Outweigh Disadvantages?
Even though epidurals undoubtedly provide many benefits including pain relief and rest, there are disadvantages to using an epidural.
One disadvantage is that once a woman gets an epidural, her mobility is limited to the bed. Epidurals also tend to lengthen mom's pushing time as well as making it harder to know how to push effectively. Epidurals are more likely to require the use of pitocin in order to strengthen contractions. Research also shows that epidurals can make it harder for a posterior baby to rotate, known as persistent posterior. Some studies have found that epidurals may increase the mother's risk of cesarean.
There are always pluses and minuses with each decision regarding pain relief during labor, so expectant mothers should consider all of the benefits of using an epidural as well as the disadvantages before they decide to get one.
Brenda Lane - Brenda Lane is a published author, Lamaze certified childbirth educator, DONA certified birth doula and approved birth doula trainer.
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