Everything you need to know about the epidural

Whether you are already considering an epidural for your birth, or whether you are set on a completely natural, unassisted delivery… it is still important to find out about your options. And the epidural is one of them! In France, 80% of women choose to give birth with one! So, what exactly is an epidural? How does it work and are there any risks? We tell you all about it right now!

Everything you need to know about the epidural!

Also known as a peridural, it is a local anaesthetic that aims to numb the lower half of the body. It requires the involvement of an anaesthetist, who will inject an anaesthetic agent through a catheter. This type of needle is inserted into the back, between two vertebrae. An epidural is offered to all pregnant women. However, it is worth knowing that it is administered between 3cm and 6cm of cervical dilation — very rarely after that. This is because the medication would not have enough time to take effect beyond that point.

How the epidural works

The anaesthetist appointment

The compulsory pre-anaesthetic appointment takes place in the 8th month of pregnancy. It is compulsory, but contrary to popular belief, it does not oblige you in any way to have an epidural: you will of course be free to choose whether or not to have an epidural when the time comes to give birth!

Even when a pregnancy is progressing well and you have chosen to give birth without an epidural, labour can unfortunately not always go as planned. Complications can arise, and emergency anaesthesia may need to be administered. The purpose of the appointment is therefore to anticipate any potential complications around the birth.

The anaesthetist will therefore examine your back to ensure that an epidural could be administered if needed, even if you do not want one. Indeed, an epidural reduces the risk of complications compared with a general anaesthetic in the event of a caesarean section.

How is an epidural administered?

The epidural is administered during labour. It can be given sitting up or lying on your side. The anaesthetist will first disinfect the area. They can then insert the catheter between two vertebrae and tape it to the patient's back. The anaesthetic agent is then delivered through this plastic tube and injected into the body to significantly reduce the pain caused by contractions. It takes between 10 and 15 minutes to take effect once in place.

The advantages and disadvantages of the epidural

The epidural significantly reduces the pain of contractions whilst still allowing you to feel them. It also helps to limit post-operative complications following a caesarean section. On the other hand, it tends to slow down labour. It is also noted that mothers who give birth with an epidural tend to push less effectively. As a result, the use of forceps or a ventouse is more common. That said, it is now possible to control the epidural dosage yourself using a small pump. You will therefore be able to find the right dose for you, should you choose to give birth with an epidural!

Is it dangerous?

Well, this is quite a thorny question. Some advocates of natural birth will say yes. And other health professionals will assure you otherwise. In any case, it does involve an injected dose whose purpose is to help you manage pain. It is therefore not something to take lightly. There are accounts from some women who report back pain following this anaesthetic. The more serious complications, which are rarer, remain thankfully extremely rare.