Everything else about your birth - inside the MiGynae App
Diet, exercise, coping with labour pain, and doctor-backed guidance for every stage.
The Epidural, explained
The most effective pain relief in labour, and one of the most misunderstood. Here is what it actually is, so you can decide with confidence.
A pain-relief injection given in your lower back during labour. It numbs the lower half of your body, so contractions hurt far less, while you stay fully awake and alert. A thin, soft tube is left in place so the medicine can be topped up as your labour goes on.
When can you ask? When labour pain becomes hard to manage. It is usually given once labour is well established, but the timing is decided with your doctor and anaesthetist based on how you are progressing. There is no prize for suffering, it is okay to ask.
Most women do very well. Some feel shivering, itching, or a short drop in blood pressure that the team manages quickly. A bad headache afterwards is uncommon, and serious problems are rare. A few conditions, like certain bleeding problems, some spine issues, or blood-thinning medicines, can make an epidural unsuitable, so your anaesthetist will always check first.
Ask your doctor or anaesthetist
- Am I a good candidate for an epidural?
- When can I have it, and is it ever too late?
- Will I still be able to move or push?
- What side effects should I watch for?
The rest of your birth prep is in the app
- Exercise for a normal delivery, and 3rd trimester exercise
- Foods for normal delivery, and 3rd trimester diet
- How to deal with labour pains without medicine
- What to know when labour begins
- Contraction timer and kick counter
Get doctor-backed birth and recovery guidance on the MiGynae App
Diet, exercise, labour pain relief and more, all in one place.