Pregnant Woman: Epidural or Natural Childbirth?

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Epidural versus Natural Childbirth?

How do you decide about epidural versus natural childbirth?

The decision about epidural should depend on your personal beliefs and goals and then on how your labor is going. One way to think this through ahead of time is to consider how you have reacted in other situations. What is the greatest physical challenge that you have faced? If meeting challenges makes you feel good, natural childbirth may be for you. Women have given birth without drugs for millions of years -- you can do it too! And women who meet this challenge often find it to be the most empowering experience of their lives.

What is Epidural?

from Wikipedia:

The term epidural is often short for epidural anesthesia, a form of regional anesthesia involving injection of drugs through a catheter placed into the epidural space. The injection can cause both a loss of sensation (anaesthesia) and a loss of pain (analgesia), by blocking the transmission of pain signals through nerves in or near the spinal cord.

What is the benefit of using Epidural during Childbirth?

When the labor is prolonged, you are able to rest
better childbirth experience because the pain is reduced.
still the best pain control method in childbirth
An epidural may allow help you to rest, relax, get focused and give you the strength to move forward as an active participant in your birth experience.

What is the disadvantages if you use Epidural?

Sudden drop in blood pressure: Therefore, your blood pressure will be routinely checked to make sure there is adequate blood flow to your baby. If this happens you may need to be treated with IV fluids, medications, and oxygen
Severe headache: You may experience a severe headache caused by leakage of spinal fluid. The epidural space in the adult lumbar spine is only 3-5mm deep, which means it is comparatively easy to cross it and accidentally puncture the dura (and arachnoid) with the needle. This may cause cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to leak out into the epidural space, which may in turn cause the post dural puncture headache (PDPH). This can be severe and last several days, and in some cases weeks or months. It is caused by a reduction in CSF pressure and is characterised by postural exacerbation when the patient raises their head above the lying position. If severe it may be successfully treated with a "blood patch" (a small amount of the patient's own blood given into the epidural space via another epidural needle). Most cases resolve spontaneously with time.
Problem Breast Feeding: A 2006 study by the International Breastfeeding Journal concluded that mothers who received an epidural were more likely to experience problems breastfeeding during the first few days after delivery, possibly caused by the fentanyl component of epidurals.Woman who had an epidural containing the drug fentanyl were twice as likely to either not start breast-feeding or they ceased breastfeeding within the first 24 weeks, than women who did not have an epidural. The researchers postulated that as fentanyl crossed the placenta and into the baby it stopped the baby knowing how to instinctively feed.
Back pain: back pain is occasionally reported after epidural insertion, and the epidural may be blamed. However, there is little evidence linking epidural insertion to back pain. In women who have recently given birth, the incidence of back pain in those who

Would Epidural reduce the woman's chances of having vaginal birth?

1. A study in Australia (Roberts, Tracy, Peat, 2000) concluded that having an epidural reduced the woman's chances of having a vaginal birth, without further interventions (such as episiotomy, forceps, ventouse or caesarean section) from 71.4% to 37.8%.

2. Conversely, a 2001 study by researchers at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and a 2002 study by researchers at Cornell University and the University of Ontario demonstrated that epidurals do not increase the likelihood of a caesarean section.

3. In 2005, a meta-analysis of 21 studies also showed that epidurals do not increase the likelihood of caesarean section, but they do increase the chance of a forceps or ventouse delivery by 40% (Anim-Somuah, Cochrane Review, 2005).

4. The COMET Study, published in The Lancet in 2001 (vol358, No9275 p19-23) showed that a combined spinal epidural in labour may speed up the labour process by a few minutes, although those women receiving an epidural had a caesarean rate of 28% and only 35% had a normal birth without instrument assisted delivery.

I would say using epidural will slightly reduce the chances of natural vaginal birth.

More information about Epidural vs Natural Childbirth

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Pregnant Woman: Epidural or Natural Childbirth?

Epidural versus Natural Childbirth?

What is Epidural?

from Wikipedia:

What is the benefit of using Epidural during Childbirth?

What is the disadvantages if you use Epidural?

Would Epidural reduce the woman's chances of having vaginal birth?

More information about Epidural vs Natural Childbirth

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