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#Epidural side effects after birth full#

Once the epidural is in place, the medication can be increased or decreased throughout your labor. The pain relief from an epidural can last as long as you need it. (If you've had a c-section, sometimes the catheter is left in to administer postoperative pain medication.) After you deliver your baby: The catheter will be removed.

The amount of medication you can give yourself is limited, so there's no chance of overdose.

Adjusting your medication: You may also have the option of patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA), which means you can control when you get more medication through a pump that's connected to the catheter.

You'll receive continuous doses of medication through the catheter for the rest of your labor.

Medication takes effect: You'll start to notice the numbing effect about 10 to 20 minutes after the first dose of medication, though the nerves in your uterus will begin to go numb within a few minutes.

Your baby's heart rate is monitored continuously, and your blood pressure and heart rate are taken every five minutes or so for a while after the epidural is in to make sure it isn't causing any concerning changes in these vital signs.

#Epidural side effects after birth full#

Test dose, full dose, and monitoring: First you're given a small "test dose" of medicine to be sure the epidural was placed correctly, followed by a full dose if there are no problems.

At this point, you can lie down without disturbing the catheter, and medication can be administered through it as needed.

Catheter insertion: The anesthesiologist then passes a catheter (a small, soft tube) through the needle, withdraws the needle, and tapes the catheter in place.Injection prep: You lie curled on your side or sit on the edge of the bed while an anesthesiologist cleans the injection site, numbs the area, then carefully guides a needle into your lower back – into a small space outside your spinal cord.