What we usually call “painless childbirth” is actually called “labor analgesia” in medical terms. It is the use of various methods to reduce or even eliminate pain during childbirth. There are two types of labor pain relief methods in use: one is pharmacological, which involves the application of anesthetics or analgesics to achieve pain relief, which is what we now call painless labor. The other method is non-pharmaceutical, which is to reduce labor pain through prenatal training, guidance on breathing during uterine contractions, etc.; massage of painful areas during labor or the use of acupuncture and other methods can also alleviate the pain during labor to varying degrees, which also belongs to non-pharmaceutical labor pain.
Labor analgesia knowledge.
What is labor analgesia?
Labor analgesia is to avoid or reduce the pain of labor by blocking the painful nerve transmission during labor without affecting the regular contractions of the uterus, under the principle of maintaining the safety of the mother and the fetus, through the correct use of drugs.
What are the characteristics of labor analgesia?
It allows the mother to be essentially pain-free. It takes the pain out of the mother-to-be’s experience, it reduces the fear of labor and the fatigue after delivery. It allows the mother to rest during the first stage of labor, which is the longest, so that when the opening of the uterus is fully opened and it is time to push, she will have enough strength to finish the labor because she has built up her strength. You will recover quickly after delivery, and you will be able to take care of your child in time.
What kind of labor analgesia is the best?
At present, the epidural block analgesia is considered to be the safest and the most effective analgesia internationally. It blocks the sensory nerves innervating the uterus through the epidural to reduce the pain and does not affect the motor nerves, so that the mother can still feel the presence of contractions and can cooperate with the doctor to go through the labor process easily and happily.
Generally speaking, the procedure takes about 10 minutes to complete, and it takes 10-15 minutes for the drug to be injected into the epidural cavity for the drug to take effect. The pain pump is connected and the baby is delivered.
Is labor analgesia painless?
Everyone feels pain differently and it is a subjective feeling. The pain of childbirth is minimized and can even be completely painless by precisely dosing analgesic drugs according to the characteristics of the mother. The best state for a painless delivery is to have a painless delivery with a slight sensation of uterine contractions. According to statistics, 85% of mothers have no pain at all after labor analgesia, and 12% have an appropriate degree of relief, but there is a 3% failure rate. In fact, the term “painless labor” is not exact, it should be called “labor analgesia” in medical terms.
Question 1: Does labor analgesia affect the baby?
There are very detailed studies that confirm that epidural analgesia and anesthesia are safe for the mother and the fetus. The dose of drugs used for labor analgesia is extremely low, 1/20-1/10 of that used for cesarean section, so the chance of it entering the mother’s bloodstream and passing through the placenta is minimal, and it will have no effect on the fetus. It is well documented that when the body feels severe pain, it releases a substance called catecholamine, which has a negative effect on both the mother and the fetus, and the blood and oxygen supply to the newborn may be affected. Therefore, labor analgesia can also reduce the risk of fetal hypoxia.
Question 2: Can all mothers choose analgesia?
I believe that many mothers-to-be are eager to try painless delivery after learning about it. However, although pain relief is good, it is not suitable for everyone. Mothers who have contraindications to vaginal delivery or contraindications to anesthesia should not use this method. If you have abnormal blood clotting, you should not use this method. Mothers-to-be who have heart disease complicating pregnancy, drug allergies, or a history of back trauma should consult with their doctor and let the anesthesiologist decide whether they can have a painless delivery.
Question 3: Are there any risks associated with labor analgesia?
The general complications of labor analgesia include a slight drop in blood pressure, and serious life-threatening complications are relatively rare. An obstetrician-gynecologist and anesthesiologist monitor the woman throughout the delivery. However, in general, the safety of labor analgesia for the mother and the fetus is positive.
Tip: Although labor analgesia can help relieve pain during labor, there are some pregnant mothers who cannot opt for it due to medical reasons. It is important for pregnant mothers to discuss with their doctors before choosing painless delivery.
Question 5: What is the best time to use it?
There are three stages of labor: the first stage is from regular contractions to full opening of the uterus, which is divided into latent and active stages; the second stage is from full opening of the uterus to delivery of the fetus; the third stage is from delivery of the fetus to delivery of the placenta. Usually, the pain during the latent period of the first stage of labor is not obvious, and the pain is the most intense during the active period of labor (usually when the opening of the uterus is three centimeters), which is also the period when painless labor comes into full play, and premature implementation may cause prolonged labor, so it is important to master the implementation time.
Advantages and disadvantages of common methods of labor analgesia
Intraspinal drug injection analgesia method.
It is the most effective analgesic method recognized by the medical community at home and abroad, with an analgesic efficiency of 95%. Commonly used are epidural anesthesia and combined lumbar and rigid anesthesia, in which a small catheter is inserted in the lumbar spine of the mother and the drug is slowly released through the catheter and equipped with an analgesic pump.
Advantages.
1, good analgesic effect, fast onset of action, obviously reduce the pain caused by contractions, especially suitable for women who are afraid of labor pain and fear.
2, the mother is awake, can eat and drink as usual, can actively cooperate with the whole process of delivery, and can master the analgesic pump independently.
3.No motor block, can still walk on the floor and move freely after implementation.
4.With the gradual maturity of the new drug delivery method – PCEA technology and the use of ropivacaine, which is the safest drug applied in the perinatal period today, not only improves the analgesic effect, but also has close to zero impact on the mother and baby and the labor process.
5. Satisfy the wound analgesia during and after the suturing procedure of vulvar wounds.
Disadvantages.
1.High technical content, requiring operation by anesthesiologists with specialized skills in anesthesia.
2.The intradural injection analgesia method is invasive and has certain operational and technical risks and contraindications. Before implementation, the doctor will inform the mother or family of the dangers and possible complications, and sign the consent after obtaining the consent.
3. It is forbidden to use it if the puncture site is infected, systemic infection, abnormal coagulation function and increased intracranial pressure.