Epidural information card
This card is a summary. Please discuss anything that is not clear with your anaesthetist.
Setting up your epidural
- You will have an intravenous cannula inserted and will receive an IV infusion. During insertion of the epidural catheter, you will be connected to a monitor, and your blood pressure and oxygen levels will be monitored.
- While the epidural catheter is being inserted under sterile conditions, it is important that you remain still. Please inform the anaesthetist if you feel a contraction coming on.
- Insertion of the epidural catheter usually takes about 20 minutes. It takes a further 15 minutes for the anaesthetic to take effect.
- In some cases, the epidural catheter may not work adequately and may need to be adjusted or replaced.
- After the epidural catheter has been inserted, the frequency of urination will be monitored. If necessary, a urinary catheter may be inserted.
Benefits of an epidural
- Usually provides excellent pain relief.
- The dose and type of local anaesthetic are selected to allow you to mobilise with assistance around the bed (sometimes referred to as a “walking epidural”).
- In general, epidural anaesthesia does not affect your baby.
- If a caesarean section becomes necessary, the anaesthetic can usually be topped up or strengthened through the epidural catheter, provided that the epidural is working well and there are no other contraindications.
Possible problems with your epidural
- Repeated administration of local anaesthetic may temporarily cause your legs to feel weak or heavy and may increase the likelihood of needing an assisted vaginal delivery using forceps or a vacuum extractor.
- Epidural anaesthesia may slightly prolong the second stage of labour.
- Low blood pressure, itching or fever may occur during epidural anaesthesia.
- The area where the needle was inserted may feel sore or tender. This usually resolves after a few days.
- Back pain is NOT caused by epidural anaesthesia and is a common occurrence after pregnancy.
Risks of having an epidural or spinal to reduce labour pain
Type of risk | How often does it happen? | How common is it? |
| Significant drop in blood pressure | 1 in every 50 women | Occasional |
Not working well enough to reduce labour pain so you need to use other ways of lessening the pain
Not working well enough for a caesarean section so you need to have a general anaesthetic | 1 in every 8 women
1 in every 20 vrouwen | Common
Sometimes
|
| Severe headache | 1 in every 100 women (epidural)
1 in every 500 women (spinal) | Uncommon |
Nerve damage (numb patch on a leg or foot, or having a weak leg)
Effects lasting for more than 6 months | Temporary: 1 in every 7000 women*
Permanent: 1 in every 80.000 women * | Rare
Very rare
|
Epidural abscess (infection)
Meningitis
Epidural haematoma (blood clot) | 1 in every 50.000 women
1 in every 145.000 women
*1 in every 360.000 women | Very rare
Very rare
Extremely rare |
| Accidental unconsciousness | 1 in every 100.000 women | Very rare |
| Severe injury, including being paralysed | *1 in every 350.000 women | Extremely rare |
*The information available from the published documents does not give accurate figures for all of these risks. The figures shown above are estimates and may be different in different hospitals.
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