Disadvantages of an epidural anaesthetic: once the epidural is in place it is very important that you do not lie flat on your back as it can cause a considerable drop in your blood pressure. You may sit up or lie on your side.
It is recommended that you lie down and rest at home for at least 2 hours immediately after the procedure. Plan to rest and relax for the first 24 hours after the injection in a reclined position.
After you get your epidural your anesthesiologist will want you to lie flat (not on either side) to allow the medication the opportunity to evenly distribute to both sides. The vast majority of the time this happens as intended.
After the tube is placed, you will be able to lie on your back, turn, walk, and do other things your doctor says you can do.
After an epidural, women can sit in an upright position with the bed's foot lowered to allow the pelvis to open. Note, this position cannot be maintained for longer than 20–30 minutes as it may decrease the effectiveness of the epidural.
Avoid heat to the injection area for 72 hours. No hot packs, saunas, or steam rooms during this time. A regular shower is OK. You may immediately restart your regular medication regimen, including pain medications, anti-inflammatory, and blood thinners.
Most of the time, you can walk within a half hour or so of your epidural injection. However, you will not necessarily be walking normally at this point. Most clinics and hospitals monitor you for 15 minutes to an hour after an epidural injection. During this time, they will likely ask how you feel.
You'll likely still feel the pressure of your contractions (which will be helpful when it's time to push) and be aware of (but not bothered by) vaginal exams during labor. And you'll still be able to feel your baby moving through the birth canal and coming out.
Once the epidural takes effect, you need to stay in bed. Your legs can become weak, and it will not be safe for you to walk around. A Foley catheter (another type of small plastic tube) may be placed in your bladder to drain urine since you won't be able to get up and go to the bathroom.
Doctors began requiring women to fast during labor after it was documented in the mid-20th century that pregnant women who were put under general anesthesia had an increased risk for aspiration. Aspiration occurs when food or liquid is inhaled into the lungs. It can cause a severe inflammatory reaction or death.
Loss of bladder control
After having an epidural, you may not be able to feel when your bladder is full because the epidural affects the surrounding nerves. A catheter may be inserted into your bladder to allow urine to drain away. Your bladder control will return to normal when the epidural wears off.
Epidural and Urinary Catheters: You Can Have One Without The Other.
What's the ring of fire in pregnancy? The ring of fire refers to the burning, stinging sensation you may feel when your baby's head presses on and stretches your vaginal opening. (You may not feel it if you have an epidural.) Though it's painful, the ring of fire lasts just a few minutes.
An epidural is a tiny tube that delivers pain medicine directly into the area in your back around your spinal cord. The effects of the epidural usually wear off within 2 hours after the epidural medicine is stopped. After the epidural wears off, you may have some cramping and vaginal pain from childbirth.
Complications from epidurals are extremely rare, and pushing with an epidural is generally not a problem because you will still be able to feel pressure (rectal pressure, that is!) despite not feeling any pain or contractions.
Doctors have to wait until the cervix is at least 4 centimeters dilated before doing an epidural. Otherwise, the epidural will slow the process down too much. However, once the cervix becomes fully dilated it is too late for an epidural to be given.
If you're both doing well, you'll usually be ready to go home somewhere between 6 and 24 hours after birth. You may need to stay a bit longer if: you've had an emergency caesarean section.
Recovering from an epidural
While the medicine wears off, you'll probably be advised to rest in a lying or sitting position until the feeling in your legs returns. This can take a couple of hours, and you may feel a slight tingling sensation in your skin. Tell the doctor or nurse if you feel any pain.
Get up and walk as soon as you can to help you feel more in control of your body. Walking around can really help change your physical and emotional feelings about your body. This also speeds recovery.
During labor -- especially if you haven't been given pain medication -- you may find yourself screaming, crying, even swearing at your husband or doctor.
What happens when I'm 3 cm dilated? Once your cervix reaches 3 cm dilation, you've probably entered the early stage of labor. During this stage, your cervix gradually dilates to about 6 cm. This is the longest part of labor and can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days, although between 8 to 12 hours is common.
For example, you have a right to refuse induction, decide whether or not to get an epidural, eat and drink during labor, and give birth in the position of your choice. You have the right to choose where to labor and give birth and leave the hospital or birth center against medical advice.
Peeing on Yourself
That's because during a vaginal delivery, the pelvic floor muscles get stretched out. Until they start to tighten up again—a process you can speed along with Kegel exercises—you might have some leaks. In addition, with an epidural, you can temporarily not be able to feel that your bladder is full.
As of 2019, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) no longer recommends laboring down for people who've had an epidural. They recommend that people should begin pushing once the second stage of labor begins, even if they don't feel a natural urge to push.