Benefits of selected methodoEpidural anesthesia, or epidural blocks, can provide pain reliefduring labor and birth. Because a person no longer experiencespain with this method, “the release of catecholamines(epinephrine) with a beta-blocking effect from a pain response isdecreased, making this a very effective pain relief measure forlabor” (Silbert-Flagg, 2022). Epidural blocks are suitable for mostpatients and are advantageous for those with “heart disease,pulmonary disease, diabetes, and severe gestationalhypertension because they make labor virtually pain free andthereby reduce stress from the discomfort of labor” (Silbert-Flagg, 2022). Also, because the laboring patient does not feelcontractions, their physical energy is preserved. Epidural blocksare acceptable for use in preterm labor because “the drug hasscant effect on a fetus and allows for a controlled and gentlebirth with lessened trauma to an immature fetal skull” (Silbert-Flagg, 2022). Also, because the patient receives no systemicmedication, “the infant responds more quickly after birth than ifsystemic narcotic analgesics were used” (Silbert-Flagg, 2022).Lastly, “it allows for movement and, possibly, walking while theanesthesia is in effect and a catheter is left in place to allow forrepeated injections without further injection pain” (Silbert-Flagg,2022).
