Many women consider their epidurals the saving grace during labor. Women have varying beliefs; with some believing a natural birth is the safest thing for mom and baby. Others can’t understand why anyone would ever give birth without the benefit of an epidural. As it turns out, there may be a price to pay for the comfort of little pain during labor. Having an epidural increases the likelihood of certain medical interventions in labor. Some studies show it can raise the risk of needing a c section too. Natural child birth advocates point out studies which show epidurals can increase … Continue reading →

Epidurals are used in 60 percent of births in the United States. A cathedar is inserted into the space between the vertebrae, also known as the epidural space. Medication is administered through the cathedar, numbing sensation in the lower part of the body. In most cases, the procedure works fine and there are no lasting negative effects. In a small number of cases, things do not go according to plan. Some women experience severe reactions to the epidural. About 1 in 10,000 will experience convulsions. In other cases, medical error during the procedure can lead to severe injury or even … Continue reading →

Let’s add spinal headaches to the list of reasons I am so glad I didn’t get the epidural. One of my favorite shows to watch is Bringing Home Baby on TLC. The other morning there were back to back episodes that featured women who both ended up with a spinal headache for the first week or so after giving birth. I cringed as these new moms confined themselves to bed in agony. They relied on their husbands to do most of the baby care, struggling to sit up when they needed to breastfeed, and one mom even resorted to using … Continue reading →