The injection of a local anesthetic in the epidural space she is in charge of us enjoying a painless childbirth thanks to the blocking of nerve roots.
How will they place it? You must be lying on your side or sitting a “little ball” to facilitate the task. Anesthesia is usually placed first in the lower back to avoid the discomfort of the puncture. Once the needle is placed in the appropriate place, a very thin tube called a catheter is inserted through it. The needle is removed and the tube is left through which the anesthesia is introduced. In the place where it is placed there is no longer a spinal cord, so there is no risk of injury.
There is also no risk for the baby. The dose that reaches the child through the blood is minimal and the impact of anesthesia on the baby is practically nil.
The effect appears around fifteen minutes. In some cases the pain disappears altogether and in others, the contractions become absolutely bearable feeling just a pressure in the belly. Some women believe that anesthesia can hinder the birth process. But it's not like that. It reduces pain, but not the sensitivity or strength in the abdominal muscles, so you can bid to help your child be born. Your doctor will tell you when you are having a contraction to do so.
If it is necessary to perform a cesarean section, the dose of anesthesia can be reinforced through the catheter, making the woman part of the birth and avoiding the frustration of not receiving her child.
In the last stage of pregnancy you will have all the necessary tests to know if you can receive the epidural. Contraindications are few and infrequent, although it should be prevented to fully enjoy the great moment.
Source | Dexeus Institute
