Pregnancy & Baby 

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What are epidurals?

Epidurals provide pain relief during labour. Find out how they affect birth

Childbirth hurts, and over the past 20 years, the epidural has been the most widely used technique for relieving the pain. It acts by bathing the nerves in the lower spine with local anaesthetic administered via a tiny tube. This is left in place throughout the labour, so it's possible to top it up.

The epidural is extremely effective and is employed in at least 30 to 40 per cent of all births. However, there are disadvantages to the traditional epidural: labour can be prolonged as the anaesthetic numbs sensation below the waist, and the woman experiences loss of muscle control and movement. Uterine stimulating drugs may also be administered to get things going, but their use can lead to further intervention.

The use of an epidural is also associated with increased rates of instrumental vaginal delivery, as the anaesthetic dulls the pushing contractions that stimulate the woman to expel the baby. So forceps (like tongs which gently cradle the baby's head and allow the doctor to ease it out) and ventouse (rather like a sink plunger used for the same purpose) are often used to assist the delivery.

These disadvantages led to the development of the mobile (or mobilising/ambulatory/walking) epidural. This fairly new technique, which delivers excellent pain relief even faster, also leaves some sensation in the legs, allowing you to move around the delivery room.

Just how much movement is hard to predict, as it depends on the individual. Some women find that they aren't mobile at all, and others can only move from the bed to a chair. Most will be able to walk around, sit in a chair, or even go to the lavatory rather than having to use a bedpan.

There may be a warm, tingling feeling in the legs, and you usually need a bit of help to move around. Just as with the standard, traditional form, the primary aim is still to relieve pain in labour. The drugs available for this have become much more effective than those used in the past. Moving around is of secondary importance.

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