Can Someone Just Explain the Epidural?
So, you’re thinking about getting an epidural for your delivery and you’re wondering to yourself
“What is an epidural?”
An epidural is a pain management tool made available to those who are delivering in a hospital based setting. There are a variety of reasons why someone may choose this method of pain management.
How do you go about getting an epidural?
Step one, you decide you’d like to get one and let the staff know that you’d like to start that process.
Step two, the nurse will notify the provider and the anesthesiologist of the your request and begin to push IV fluids at a faster rate than what you may have been receiving them before.
IV fluids are given before an epidural. Salem, Oregon
Step three, informed consent!
This portion of getting an epidural is incredibly important piece for you as a patient and the staff. Providers will go over all information regarding the procedure to make sure you understand what to expect. When you are comfortable with the explanation given you consent to moving forward by filling out paperwork.
Step four, the anesthesiologist will have you sit in the middle of the bed and scoot back. Imagine tucking your pelvis up and forward while also arching your back like an angry cat. (You might even feel like an angry cat, but don’t worry relief is on the way!) This position allows the doctor to open up space in between your vertebrae for epidural placement.
Step five, the provider will feel around on your spine and prep the area for catheter placement. Before they place the catheter a general anesthetic is administered by a needle. Most people describe this part as the most scary and uncomfortable piece of getting an epidural. Imagine a very sharp bee sting if you will, and that is what it feels like to get the area numb. After this piece has been completed, the anesthesiologist will make sure you’re not mid-contraction before they place the catheter.
Step six, they place the catheter into the epidural space and tape this piece up the expanse of your back so you don’t accidentally yank on it. The catheter is flexible and quite thin.The provider then gives you a bolus of medication that will kickstart the epidural.
Step seven, now that you’ve got everything placed you can return to a comfortable position in the hospital bed and await pain relief. Most people can expect the pain intensity to become less and less with each contraction. It takes anywhere from 15-30 minutes for a numbing from belly to toes to occur.
Step eight, once you’ve got your pain relief in place we encourage you to rest! Removing the overwhelm of pain allows for this at times and we find that sleep is an incredible part of pain management. You may also experience your nurse moving you from side to side after a period of time to make sure that the medication is giving a nice even coverage across your back and abdomen. Movement is still an option for some when they get an epidural, it just looks different. This may look like laying on your side with a peanut ball between your legs, sitting in the throne position, or on your knees hanging over the back of the bed. It will all depend on how numb you might feel.
