Epidural Use Compared to Alternative Techniques for Labor Pain

Abstract

Annually in the United States there are about 3.5 million recorded childbirths that occur in a hospital setting. Of those, 2.5 million mothers choose epidural anesthesia as their form of pain management (Osterman et al., 2021). Epidural analgesia is a procedure done be the anesthesiology department in which medication is injected into the spinal canal to essentially numb the mother from the waist down (American Society of Anesthesiology, n.d). Although epidurals generally provide significant pain relief for laboring mothers, other less invasive techniques for pain control have been shown to be just as effective. Epidurals are associated with certain increased risks such as prolonged labor, increased risk for cesarean section, increased chance of postpartum hemorrhage, and trauma to the baby (Birth Injury Help Center, 2023). Reasons mothers choose epidurals for pain management can vary, however there is a lack of education regarding the efficacy of alternative pain management and their ability to provide pain relief. The purpose of this evidence-based review is to examine to efficacy of epidural analgesia versus alternative pain management techniques. Nurses and healthcare providers who provide education to mothers and families about these techniques when indicated, can reduce the risk of complications of labor and the cost to both the patient and the hospital can also be reduced.