When you go into labor, you can generally choose which type of pain relief you want administered to help relieve the pain of contractions and childbirth. You can opt to have a natural delivery without medication, narcotics to take the edge off of the pain, or an epidural. If you choose the latter, you should know that while an epidural usually provides complete pain relief, there are some side effects and risks associated with the procedure.
Side Effects During Placement
Two immediate side effects of having an epidural during labor include nausea and ringing in your ears. The nausea may be caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure -- another complication associated with having an epidural. A fluid bolus given through your IV before the epidural placement may prevent these from occurring. If you are nauseated or your blood pressure drops, you may get a push of medications through your IV to help correct the problem. MayoClinic.com notes that your baby's heart rate may decrease if your blood pressure drops. You may start shivering immediately following the catheter placement.
Side Effects During Labor
Your contractions may slow down after your epidural, especially if you had a weak labor pattern or if you were less than 4 cm dilated when the epidural was placed. You may also have trouble urinating, so your medical team may recommend that you have a catheter inserted to help drain the urine from your bladder until after the epidural wears off. In some cases, the epidural doesn't provide complete pain relief. You may be asked to switch positions in bed to help the epidural to work optimally, but you will need assistance to move. Most hospitals don't allow a woman who has had an epidural to eat or drink, so you may feel hungry or thirsty, but you won't become malnourished or dehydrated since you are still getting the IV fluids.
Side Effects During Delivery
Having an epidural may make pushing difficult. This may be due to the decreased sensation in your abdomen and pelvic regions. You may not be able to determine when you are having a contraction, but your medical team or labor coach can let you know when to push by watching the contraction monitor. If you are having trouble pushing, your medical team may decide to turn off the epidural so you begin to feel sensations again.
Side Effects After Delivery
Once the epidural catheter is removed, you may feel sore in the area where it was placed. The numbness from the medication may last a few hours and require that you have assistance to walk, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Headaches are possible after an epidural. These are sometimes caused by the needle piercing the dura during placement, which allows spinal fluid to leak. Nerve damage is possible in the area where the catheter was placed, but this is unlikely.
