(1) Can a painless delivery harm the baby?
The concentration and dosage of the drugs used are much lower than those used in cesarean section, and the amount of drugs that pass through the placenta is minimal, so there is no adverse effect on the fetus.
(2) Will the spinal nerve be injured during a painless delivery?
No. Painless delivery is operated by experienced anesthesiologists; the puncture method is exactly the same as that for cesarean section; and the indications for labor analgesia are strictly selected, so the incidence of neurological injury is extremely low.
(3) Is painless delivery really completely painless?
Nowadays, the painless delivery technique of intraductal block can achieve complete painlessness; however, the best result is that the slight pain sensation should be preserved and the force can be exerted at any time when needed; therefore, preserving the slight uterine contraction sensation is the best painless delivery method.
(4) Is it possible to change to cesarean section in a painless delivery?
The need for cesarean section is not necessarily related to painless delivery; it depends on obstetric factors such as the proportionality of the fetal head and pelvis, intrauterine distress, etc. If cesarean section is performed under anesthesia, the process of re-puncture is eliminated and time is bought for the operation.
(5) What is the difference between labor analgesia and cesarean anesthesia?
Labor analgesia technique is only analgesia, not anesthesia; the dose of labor analgesia is 1/10 of the dose of anesthesia for cesarean section or less, and it has no effect on the fetus; labor analgesia only blocks pain sensation, and has no blocking effect on motor behaviors (such as walking on the ground, contraction, breath-holding, and excretion); while during anesthesia for cesarean section, both lower limbs cannot be lifted at all.
(6) Does a painless delivery prolong the labor time?
In the past, the concentration of local anesthetics used in painless delivery was high and did prolong the labor, but in recent years, very low concentrations of anesthetics have been used in obstetric anesthesia and the chance of prolonging the labor due to anesthetic factors has been significantly reduced.
(7) Does painless delivery affect the labor force?
In the past, when the concentration of drugs was higher, it had some influence, but now the dose of drugs is reduced and the drug is stopped when the opening of the uterus is full, so the influence is very small. However, if the fetus is as big as 4000 grams, even if it is painless, it may affect the labor and prolong the labor.
(8) Why is painless delivery only available now?
Painless delivery technology is still in its initial stage in China, and most hospitals have not yet implemented it routinely for various reasons. There are also traditional concepts at play, which do not care enough about pregnant women and think that childbirth should be painful. Now, as the standard of living improves, people demand a better quality of life, which gives us doctors and hospitals higher requirements, that is, the strong market demand is the motivation to carry out painless delivery. Painless delivery technology is becoming more and more mature in China, our hospital has accumulated more than 20 years of experience, and has successfully implemented painless delivery for 8,000 mothers, and achieved 24-hour service, very few side effects, all mothers and babies are safe, obviously reducing the rate of cesarean section, about 30% to 45% of mothers did painless delivery, the mothers and their families are satisfied. At present, painless delivery technology is being promoted and applied nationwide.
(9) What is the cost of painless delivery?
In most of the public hospitals in Beijing, the technical cost of labor analgesia plus the cost of disposable puncture needles and analgesic pumps and analgesic drugs is about 800 yuan in total.
(10) Is it true that if I have a painless delivery, I can have a natural birth instead of a C-section?
No. Painless delivery can relieve the pain during labor and reduce the rate of cesarean section, but it is impossible to avoid it completely. In case of abnormalities such as fetal distress, cloudy amniotic fluid or abnormal bleeding before delivery, an emergency cesarean section is necessary. However, it is no longer necessary to perform a back puncture, but only to inject directly through the epidural catheter the anesthetic drugs and doses required for the operation, which shortens the anesthesia time and facilitates the resuscitation of mother and baby. Postoperative analgesia is also available after the surgery.
(11) Does painless delivery affect postpartum urination?
It was originally reported in the literature that it has some effect, and urinary retention is likely to occur after delivery. At present, after the drug concentration is reduced, the effect is very little. The problem of postpartum urination is not only a problem of anesthesia. During labor, women are encouraged to urinate more often to avoid bladder congestion and edema caused by fetal head pressure on the bladder, and after delivery, women are encouraged to go down to the floor and urinate early.