Epidural is a procedure of injecting anaesthesia locally into the space around the spinal nerves in the lower back. The anaesthesia relieves labour pain. While blocking the pain sensation in labour contractions, it allows moving and pushing the baby when required.

If you are facing difficult labour, epidural provides not only effective pain relief but also a positive birth experience. During labour, you need to go for an epidural when you are experiencing exhaustion and hypertension; if the cervix is fully dilated, but the baby does not budge; or if you need a non-emergency caesarean delivery.

The common side effects of epidural are loss of bladder control, itchy skin, headache, slow breathing, low blood pressure, temporary nerve damage, feeling sick and inadequate pain relief. The possible long-term side effects of lumbar epidural are localised increase in pain, anxiety, sleeplessness and high blood sugar.

To provide analgesia (pain relief) is the primary aim in epidural. The anaesthesia is not intended to achieve a complete loss of sensation. Epidurals can decrease the sensation in the lower half of the body by blocking the nerve impulses of the spinal segments in that region.

Although labour is less painful and laborious with epidural, it has certain side-effects, such as itchiness, headache and low blood pressure. The other risks associated with epidurals are fever, nausea and vomiting, soreness, difficulty urinating and occasional breathing problems.