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What Are Your Labor Pain Relief Options?
 Labor is painful, mainly because your uterus has to change shape so greatly in order to allow your baby to be born. There are several pain relief methods for labor which are available to you.
One thing you must take into account is that there are two people who will be affected by the method you choose; you, of course, and your baby. It will be to your advantage to find out about the pain relief methods during labor prior to beginning labor, and then to see how your labor progresses before making your choice.
An anaesthetic is a complete block of all pain and muscle sensation and the most popular being the Epidural Block. An analgesic is a full or partial relief of sensations. However, narcotic analgesics pass through to your baby via the placenta and can reduce the respiratory functions in a newborn baby and should not be given close to the delivery time.
Epidural Block?
The epidural block is by far one of the most popular pain relief methods during labor today. An Epidural provides pain relief of uterine contractions and delivery
and is only administered by someone who is a trained anaesthesiologist.
The Epidural is administered into your spinal cord and the actual medication is pumped in small amounts to provide a pain free labor.
An Epidural may cause your blood pressure to drop, which can affect your baby. Fortunately IV fluids can prevent this from becoming a major concern.
Complications caused by Anaesthesia
 Your baby may have a lower breathing rate or need to be resuscited as a result of drugs such as Demerol. However, there are now also drugs which can be administered to newborn's to reverse these side effects.
A general anaesthesia may cause your baby to have a slower than normal heart rate.
Epidural Side effects
Itching
Headache
Nausea
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