Anesthesia
It is important to know that different people have different pain tolerances. This means that what is right for one person may not be right for you. We do not use one type of anesthesia exclusively; it will vary from patient to patient. Remember that you are not required to have any kind of pain medication. The only exception would be an emergency situation. The most commonly used types on anesthesia are listed below:
Intravenous Anesthesia:
This refers to a painkiller that is given through an IV site (a small tube in your vein). Stadol is the most common drug that is used. This type of medicine with not completely stop the pain; however, it will decrease your awareness of it. IV pain medicine can make you sleepy and drowsy, especially between contractions. IV medicine may be withheld near the time of delivery so that there will be minimal to no effect on the baby.
Pudendal Block:
This is often given just prior to the delivery. It is for very short term pain relief around the vaginal opening. Its advantage over a local or IV medication is that it gives a more complete relief of pain for any vaginal repair if necessary.
Epidural:
An epidural blocks the nerves that transmit the pain of uterine contractions. Unlike IV medication, an epidural has no direct affect on your baby. A small needle is temporarily placed in the lower part of your spine. A small plastic catheter (tube) is then left in the back for the duration of labor and the needle is removed. Epidurals are generally very safe and effective. An epidural does not typically "run out" and should last throughout labor and immediately post partum. However, in certain circumstances, an epidural may stop functioning correctly. There are techniques that can be used to adjust your epidural for better pain relief if for some reason it stops functioning correctly. Generally an epidural numbs you from your abdomen to your toes. Your will not be able to walk once you have your epidural. A bladder tube (Foley Catheter) will be placed so you will not have to get up to use the bathroom.
Pain relief is not always complete. Sometimes small nerves are not blocked, and you will have "Hot Spots." Hot Spots are small painful areas on your belly generally less painful that the pain of a contraction. This may be the reason why some of your friends thought their epidural was great, and others did not. There are techniques used to help eliminate these "Hot Spots." In general pain relief is excellent. The epidurals used these days have been proven not to increase your risk of C-section, but may increase the time to delivery of your baby by an hour or two.
It is important to know that different people have different pain tolerances. This means that what is right for one person may not be right for you. We do not use one type of anesthesia exclusively; it will vary from patient to patient. Remember that you are not required to have any kind of pain medication. The only exception would be an emergency situation. The most commonly used types on anesthesia are listed below:
Intravenous Anesthesia:
This refers to a painkiller that is given through an IV site (a small tube in your vein). Stadol is the most common drug that is used. This type of medicine with not completely stop the pain; however, it will decrease your awareness of it. IV pain medicine can make you sleepy and drowsy, especially between contractions. IV medicine may be withheld near the time of delivery so that there will be minimal to no effect on the baby.
Pudendal Block:
This is often given just prior to the delivery. It is for very short term pain relief around the vaginal opening. Its advantage over a local or IV medication is that it gives a more complete relief of pain for any vaginal repair if necessary.
Epidural:
An epidural blocks the nerves that transmit the pain of uterine contractions. Unlike IV medication, an epidural has no direct affect on your baby. A small needle is temporarily placed in the lower part of your spine. A small plastic catheter (tube) is then left in the back for the duration of labor and the needle is removed. Epidurals are generally very safe and effective. An epidural does not typically "run out" and should last throughout labor and immediately post partum. However, in certain circumstances, an epidural may stop functioning correctly. There are techniques that can be used to adjust your epidural for better pain relief if for some reason it stops functioning correctly. Generally an epidural numbs you from your abdomen to your toes. Your will not be able to walk once you have your epidural. A bladder tube (Foley Catheter) will be placed so you will not have to get up to use the bathroom.
Pain relief is not always complete. Sometimes small nerves are not blocked, and you will have "Hot Spots." Hot Spots are small painful areas on your belly generally less painful that the pain of a contraction. This may be the reason why some of your friends thought their epidural was great, and others did not. There are techniques used to help eliminate these "Hot Spots." In general pain relief is excellent. The epidurals used these days have been proven not to increase your risk of C-section, but may increase the time to delivery of your baby by an hour or two.