@Expectant mother, please keep this guide on labor analgesia!

Labor pain is a process that every mother has to go through. In the medical pain index, labor pain ranks second only to burn pain. Due to individual differences, everyone's tolerance and perception of pain are different. The most severe pain level can reach level 10, and it is not an exaggeration to describe it as "living is worse than death." This kind of pain makes every woman who has experienced it feel scared. Almost all mothers can't forget the heart-wrenching pain when they recall childbirth.

Although labor pain is a process that every mother must go through, with the advancement of science and technology and the development of medicine, "painless" childbirth is no longer a myth. Today we are going to talk about the topic of labor analgesia.

01 What is labor analgesia?

Labor analgesia is the use of analgesia technology to reduce the pain of the mother during labor, reduce the fear during labor and postpartum fatigue, improve the safety of mother and baby, reduce the episiotomy rate, improve fetal prognosis, reduce the cesarean section rate and postpartum depression, and truly achieve painless childbirth.

02 Benefits of labor analgesia

"Labor analgesia" is a clinical anesthesia technology that has no adverse effects on the fetus. Of course, the mother has to bear certain anesthesia risks, but the anesthetic dose of "labor analgesia" is only one tenth or less of the anesthetic dose of cesarean section, so its risk is even smaller than that of cesarean section, so expectant mothers can rest assured to choose painless delivery and enjoy the happiness of being a mother.

03 Commonly used labor analgesia methods

There are currently two major types of commonly used labor analgesia. One method is non-drug, which reduces labor pain through prenatal training and guiding breathing during uterine contractions, such as music delivery, doula delivery, and acupuncture. However, non-drug labor analgesia can only relieve some labor pain to a certain extent and cannot achieve truly "painless" delivery.

Another method is pharmacological, using anesthetics or analgesics to achieve analgesia. There are many methods of pharmacological labor analgesia, including intravenous labor analgesia, inhalation labor analgesia, and spinal labor analgesia. Among the many pharmacological analgesia methods, only epidural labor analgesia is the closest to ideal labor analgesia and is also the currently recommended labor analgesia method.

04 Indications and contraindications for labor analgesia

1. Indications

1. The mother is willing;

2. Those who are suitable for vaginal delivery after evaluation by obstetricians (including those with uterine scar, gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, etc.).

2. Contraindications

1. Patients with intracranial hypertension caused by severe craniocerebral injury;

2. Patients with abnormal coagulation function;

3. Those with puncture site and systemic infection;

4. Uncorrected maternal hypovolemia;

5. The mother cannot cooperate during the puncture, which affects the puncture operation.

05 Timing of labor analgesia The pain is most obvious during the maximum acceleration period (2-3 cm cervical dilation) during the active period of the entire labor process, and it is also the best time for "labor analgesia" to show its strength. The current international standard no longer has the concept of a few centimeters. As long as the labor process starts, there are regular uterine contractions, and the mother is willing, it can be implemented. The anesthesiologist adjusts the medication regimen and dosage according to the sensitivity of different mothers to pain, in order to achieve a satisfactory analgesic effect for the mother.

In addition, it takes some time from full dilation of the cervix to delivery of the fetus. Even if the pregnant woman misses the latent period and active period, labor analgesia can still be implemented as long as the mother requests it.

06 Is labor analgesia really completely painless?

Pain is a subjective feeling that varies from person to person. From an anesthesiology perspective, labor analgesia can be completely painless, but completely painless labor may bring certain adverse reactions to some pregnant women, such as uterine atony and prolonged labor, so retaining normal uterine contractions is the most appropriate labor analgesia method.

07 Is it possible to have a normal birth even after taking labor analgesia?

The answer is no. Although labor analgesia is beneficial to mothers and babies, it does not mean that all pregnant women who receive labor analgesia can give birth vaginally. Labor analgesia only increases the probability of vaginal delivery and reduces unnecessary cesarean sections. If there are abnormal conditions that endanger the safety of mother and baby, such as uterine atony, abnormal fetal heart rate, prolonged labor, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, abnormal fetal position, etc. during the delivery process, a cesarean section may still be needed to end the labor as soon as possible to ensure the safety of mother and baby.

In short, childbirth is the process of reproduction, and "labor analgesia" is a symbol of modern civilized obstetrics and the right of every expectant mother. Mothers have the right to enjoy safe and happy delivery services, and the fetus also has the right to be protected and treated well during this process. I hope every pregnant woman can enjoy this technology and feel the comfort and pleasure brought by labor analgesia!