Spine injection (anaesthetic)?

Question

This is injection given to women in labour, into the spine.

1) I would just like to ask..why don't they just anesthetize the patient or numb them rather than give them this??

2) Is this injection risky? Does it damage the spine or affect someone in the future e.g. pains at the site of the injection?

Thank you.

Answer 1

There are two forms of regional anesthetic that are used for childbirth, epidural analgesia and spinal anesthesia.  Sometimes a combination of both is used.

Epidural analgesia is popular because it is usually very effective, and delivery of the drug to the mother's spinal nerves allows very little drug to reach the baby.  We never know how long any labor is going to last, so by placing a catheter into the epidural space, we can infuse medication indefinitely.

Other forms of analgesia, such as intravenous or inhalation, anesthetize the baby as well as the mom, and there is the risk of a depressed infant upon delivery.  Inhalation anesthesia is riskier in the pregnant woman because of the physiologic changes that go along with pregnancy.  For some C-sections it is necessary, but other than that, we try to avoid it.

Many women have back pain during and after pregnancy.  Hormones cause the joints in the spine to become lax, and the strain of pushing the baby out can caused pulled muscles.  The incidence of back pain after delivery is the SAME with or without an epidural.

There are risks with ANY anesthetic, and there are risks with pregnancy and delivery itself.  Overall, it is a fairly low risk to both mom and baby (and that's why we do it).

For those that think women should just suck it up and bear the pain, there are many incidences of dysfunctional or augmented labor that are significantly more painful than a normal labor.  Pain relief for labor and delivery is the choice of the woman going through it.

Answer 2

dont do it, man up and take it, it will hurt but the pain of childbirth is temporary, my mother got that spinal injection and she has in that part of her back till this day