Women choosing epidural anesthesia for the birth of their babies now have a new option in many hospitals. Across the country and around the world hospitals are beginning to offer patient controlled epidural anesthesia.
In traditional epidurals, the pain medication is administered automatically through the epidural. With patient controlled anesthesia, the woman pushes a button to increase the pain medicine. When you feel you need more relief, push the button. It is not possible to take too much, as it is set not to go past the maximum safe dosage.
There are several benefits to this method, compared to the traditional anesthesia. Studies have shown women tend to use less medicine when they are in control of the dose. The result is fewer side effects, such as the drop in blood pressure that often happens with epidurals.
Since less medicine is used, the need for interventions during the birth as a result of the epidural may be reduced. In some cases, women have trouble pushing due to the epidural removing the sensation of needing to push when it comes time for the baby to be born. Sometimes this contributes to the need for forceps, vacuum extraction or c section.
As the pushing stage approaches, the woman can decide to use less medicine. Sensation will begin to return and the woman may feel the urge to push when she otherwise would not. The result is more effective pushing and a lower chance of needing help to get the baby out.
The risks associated with traditional, continuous epidural anesthesia also apply to patient controlled epidurals. These risks include a drop in blood pressure, fetal distress, infection, nausea and headache. Look for a blog later this weekend that will address the risks of epidurals in greater detail.
If you are aware of the risks and understand that natural birth is safer for both mom and baby, but still want the epidural, talk to your health care provider about patient controlled anesthesia. Find out if it is available in your hospital. If so, you can get the pain relief benefits of the epidural with a lower dose of the medication by administering it yourself.
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