What are the risks of an epidural?
Epidurals are a popular method of pain control for laboring women, but what are the risks? Is the pain relief worth it? Here are some of the specific questions women often have about epidurals.
Will an epidural make my labor longer? Having an epidural may lengthen your labor. On average, an epidural adds about an extra 40–90 minutes to labor (and this tends to be seen more frequently in women having their first baby). While your labor may be a bit shorter without an epidural, it probably won’t be as comfortable.
Will I need to push longer with an epidural? Studies have shown that women with an epidural do often need to push longer, but the good news is that it only adds about 15 minutes!
Will a C-section be more likely if I have an epidural? Many studies have shown that having an epidural probably does not increase a woman’s chances of needing a C-section. This risk may increase, however, if an epidural is placed very early in labor. Because of this, the American College of Obstetricians/Gynecologists recommends trying to wait until you are 4-5 centimeters dilated before getting an epidural. They state that this is more important in women having their first baby. While this is a recommendation, it should not be a requirement—every case needs to be individualized.
Will I be at risk for back pain after an epidural? The data on this is mixed, and the bottom line is that there are not a lot of good studies looking at this issue. Many women report back pain after pregnancy regardless of whether or not they had an epidural, so it is difficult to tease out an epidural’s effect.
Does having an epidural affect breastfeeding? There are no randomized studies looking at this issue, so again, we could use more information. Some studies have shown that babies born to mothers who had epidurals took longer to latch and establish a good suck, but more recent data has shown no ill effect on the long-term duration of breastfeeding.
What are some other risks with epidurals? After an epidural is placed, occasionally a woman’s blood pressure can drop. This is usually treated easily with fluids, position changes, and medications. If it does not improve, though, sometimes a C-section is needed as the baby’s heart rate can also be affected. Not all epidurals work, and sometimes a woman will notice relief only on one side of her body or not at all. Adjustments can be made to the epidural or a new one can be placed. Lastly, women with epidurals are more likely to need a medication called Pitocin to help their contractions stay strong and frequent to help labor progress.
Reviewed by Dr. Jen Lincoln, April 2020
Takeaways
- An epidural can lengthen your labor and you may need to push longer.
- If you are already in active labor, an epidural should not increase your chances of needing a C-section.
- Breastfeeding probably isn’t affected by epidural usage.
- An epidural does not always provide complete pain relief.
Many people are shocked when I tell them I gave birth all natural…no epidural. Being that I was young and puerto rican some may find it more shocking…I always ask why? Since beginning of time women been strong enough to give birth naturally. Also after educating myself and hearing real life stories why women regret the epidural. I make it my goal not too! I took care of myself, less stress as possible and did maternity yoga, exercises and kegals…all helped …also I breathed through it and had support. Thay all helped alot.
Makes me feel a little bit better.
I have really been debating the use of an epidural or not because of the potential lengthening of labor, etc. and I just want what is best for my baby. However, after reading this article I am comforted in knowing there aren’t any significant risks. Thanks!
There is…Two people I know had permanent back injuries from epidurals and also had hard time pushing plus babies came out high from the drugs as well
A study that discussed the effects of an epidural on length of labor came out after I originally wrote this article – you can read more here about that:
http://www.bundoo.com/articles/how-epidurals-affect-labor/
I did not have throbbing back pain, but every so often I would get this weird feeling from the waste down that would make me have to sit down immediately. The sensation started in the middle of my lower back and shot down my legs. It was as if my legs were going to give way or turn to jello. I never experienced anything like this prior to having an epidural. Exercise and stretching helped a lot.
I had a lot of back pain after having my first child. I did have an epidural, but I’m not positive that’s what caused the pain. I eventually started yoga and it helped a great deal. My back was 100% better by the time my daughter turned 1. I would recommend giving yoga a try if you are experiencing back pain after pregnancy. It works wonders!