anaesthetists are available and does the hospital have a 24-hour 'on call' policy?How soon into the labour can I request an epidural?I want to be able to feel I can push - how can I make sure this happens?
MIDWIFE NIKKI SAYS:It's common to worry about how you're going to cope with pain during labour. There are various forms of pain relief available, but an epidural is one that needs to be given by an anaesthetist in hospital. There are certain
An epidural is an effective form of pain relief, doesn't affect your baby and allows you to be awake throughout the birth - no wonder more and more women are choosing to have one.But earlier this year the Royal College of Midwives hit the headlines
. Here, we unravel some old wives' tales to help remove the fear factor about labour and pain relief.Epidurals make it impossible to push = FictionThis used to be true with the extra strong doses that were given years ago, but that's not the case any more
that an epidural can lower your blood pressure even further and you'll need to be monitored closely.
EpiduralAn anaesthetic that numbs you from the waist down.Advantages:It gives you total pain relief and it can also be topped up.Disadvantages:You can't move about and you might not be able to feel when it's time to push.It helps to know
home birth, here's how to get the birth you want.HospitalAround 95% of mums have hospital births, where there's a range of Pain Relief available, such as epidurals, as well as instant access to emergency treatment. Many first-time mums feel daunted
Excited, impatient, nervous... chances are you're feeling all these things and more as you count down the days to your due date. Although every birth is different, having an idea of what might happen during the different stages of labour can help you feel more prepared. Read on f...
likely to need or want an epidural.And if you were induced first time around, there's good news too. Experts agree that you are less likely to go overdue with a second pregnancy.Do also remember that you have the right to ask to wait longer before being
Midwife Nikki says:Eating and drinking during labour used not to be recommended because of concerns that an emergency Caesarean under general anaesthetic might be needed. But as most C-sections are now done under spinal or epidural anaesthesia
