• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Pregnancy Logo 2018

Pregnancy Magazine

Pregnancy and infancy news, tips, and reviews

“Great
  • Pregnancy
  • Labor & Delivery
  • Baby
  • Breastfeeding
  • Buyer’s Guide
  • mom

Epidurals: Pros and cons

by Pregnancy Editors Leave a Comment

When it comes to labor and delivery, few things are more welcome – or more controversial – than an epidural. Thanks to advances in modern medical technology, women can have pain-relieving drugs injected directly into their spines, numbing them from the waist down and easing those famously heinous labor pains. But before you opt for an epidural, make sure that you understand the pros and cons of this medication.

Pros
Epidurals relieve the pain of labor, which is enough of a pro for many women to start screaming for the medication as soon as they're able to receive it. They're extremely safe, with millions of pregnant women opting for them every year with no adverse side effects. Plus, they give expectant moms a little time to rest so they're ready to give it their all when it comes time to push.

Cons
For some women, receiving an epidural can actually make the labor process longer because it slows down the body's ability to progress naturally – which leads to an increased incidence of Cesarean sections. Additionally, if women can't feel their contractions, knowing when to push – and how hard to push – becomes much more difficult. Finally, many women like to get up and walk around during labor, which is impossible once you're numb from the waist down. An epidural also limits you to the lying-down position while you're pushing, which is one of the most inefficient positions for pregnant women to labor in. (Squatting is much more natural and helps to open the birth canal, making it easier for your baby to join the world).

Before you decide whether or not to receive an epidural, speak with your doctor about the advantages, the drawbacks and your own unique risk factors.

Filed Under: Pregnancy

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe

Peaceful Discipline by Sarah Moore

More to See

parent coaching

Parent Coaching: 3 Ways to Create a More Joyful Home

By Sarah Moore

The perfect workout for pregnant women (sponsored)

By Isa Herrera, MSPT CSCS

how to be a good mother

How to Be a Good Mother: 5 Ways To Raise Children with Love & Respect

By Sarah Moore

Aligned Parents webinar

By Paul Banas

Footer

Copyright 2023 Pregnancy Magazine Group

Emails powered by Wishpond: PregnancyWishpond

Dedicated WordPress hosting: PregnancyFlywheel

WordPress Theme: PregnancyTheme

This website provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for an examination by your healthcare provider. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Please review the Terms of Use before using this site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use.

 

Recent

  • A Beginner’s Guide to Gentle Parenting: 5 Ways to Lead with Love
  • How to Be a Good Mother: 5 Ways To Raise Children with Love & Respect
  • Best Parenting Books: 28 Books That Will Change Your Life for the Better
  • Aligned Parents webinar
  • How to make sure your home is ready for the new addition to your family

Search

© Copyright 2023 Pregnancy Magazine Group · All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT