Labor Pains

What kinds of risks are associated with epidurals?

When they hear the word "spinal', women are often afraid that they could end up paralyzed or experience spinal cord damage. The chance of that is so rare as to be nonexistent. During my 20 years of personal practice, I've done probably 10,000 deliveries and have never seen anyone paralyzed. What's more common is that your blood pressure can go down, but that's easily treated. Very frequently, women experience itching. This does not indicate an allergic reaction. Itching is just a side effect. Sometimes, women experience soreness in the lower part of their back, especially at the needle site. The issue of back ache has been studied extensively, and women experience the same incidence of it whether they have an epidural or not. It does not indicate back damage. Another risk, especially for first time moms, in a small percentage of cases, is a mild elevation in temperature that is not related to infection. It just seems to affect the way the body handles temperature regulation.

Is there a downside for the baby if the mother gets an epidural?

Anything that is injected into the mother will eventually get to the baby, but it's a very small amount, almost not measurable. There have been a number of well done studies on its effect on babies, in terms of their responses to breast feeding and bonding and other things, and the babies have been unaffected.

Are there any differences in their Apgar tests, the screen babies get right after they are born?

No. There have been many, many studies on that, and the answer is no.