Spinal Vs. Epidural Anesthesia
Pregnant women have the option during labor and childbirth to receive various forms of pain medications. While some medications take the edge off of the contractions, other forms will enable the mother to labor without feeling any pain. Two of the most common forms of anesthesia during childbirth are the epidural and spinal.
Epidural
Epidurals are administered by anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists. Hospitals and doctors vary on their stance of when an epidural can be placed though a common guideline is 4 cm of dilation. According to the American Pregnancy Association, there are two types of epidurals: regular epidural and walking epidural.
Administration
According to the American Pregnancy Association, with the woman lying on her side or sitting in a hunched over position, the anesthesiologist will locate the proper spinal placement and deaden the area. The needle is inserted and a catheter is inserted through the needle into the back. The catheter is taped to the back and remains in place until after delivery. This allows a consistent flow of pain medication through a pump or to be administered by medical personnel. The epidural will provide pain relief and generally a numb feeling from the waist down. Women who receive an epidural must stay in the bed for the duration of the labor. The difference with the walking epidural is the placement of the catheter. It provides pain relief but not the relative numbness that is received from the regular epidural allowing the patient to move around after placement.
Spinal
The American Pregnancy Association states that a spinal or spinal block can also be used during labor and childbirth though it is most commonly used for a caesarean delivery if the pregnant woman has not already been administered an epidural. The spinal generally only lasts for two hours.
Administration
The spinal is administered in much the same way as the epidural with the pregnant woman lying on her side or sitting in a hunched over position. The needle is inserted into the spinal fluid and the pain medication is administered. Unlike the epidural, which involves a constant stream of medication, the spinal is one injection and then the needle is removed from the back. The spinal is more commonly used for short term pain relief.
Considerations
Talk to your physician as well as the anesthesiologist about the risks involved with anesthesia. Be informed about the limitations of the anesthesia as well as when you must ask for one to ensure that pain relief is delivered as you wish. Every hospital has different policies on administering spinal and epidural anesthesia. Some will allow women to receive pain relief until the baby is crowning whereas others may not allow pain relief beyond 8 cm of dilation. Familiarize with policies before labor begins.
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