Anesthesia during childbirth: consequences. Video
Until the second half of the XNUMXth century, pain during childbirth was almost inevitable. However, the achievements of doctors and scientists have made it possible to change this situation. Today, the process of the birth of a new person has become less painful: anesthesia has begun to be actively used during childbirth.
Anesthesia during childbirth: consequences
Anesthesia – pros and cons
Pain relief during childbirth turned out to be a much more difficult task for doctors than anesthesia in the case of abdominal surgery, because a woman must be conscious and actively participate in the birth process. However, a solution was found. They became epidural anesthesia, which allows you to remove pain only in the lower part of the body, and also in some cases allows a woman to move during childbirth. But it must be borne in mind that this kind of anesthesia, like many other types of medical procedures, has its disadvantages and contraindications.
Epidural anesthesia is used not only in vaginal delivery and caesarean section, but also in a number of operations to avoid additional risks of anesthesia
The first of the contraindications is an anesthetic allergy. A negative reaction to the drug may be limited to itching and rash, but more serious reactions occur. If a woman in labor is allergic to any medications, you should take this risk especially carefully. A woman should inform her pregnancy gynecologist and anesthetist about her sensitivity to certain medications. This information is entered into the medical record.
In some cases, a woman with allergies can still be given anesthesia by choosing a drug
Another group of complications can be associated with the administration of an anesthetic drug. Contrary to popular belief, an injection of anesthetic is not given directly into the spinal cord, but the drug is injected into the nerves associated with it. However, in case of unsuccessful manipulation, a hematoma may appear, as well as unpleasant symptoms such as trembling in the hands or prolonged headaches. This risk remains quite rare, but it does exist.
You also need to be prepared for the fact that the effect of anesthesia is not guaranteed. In rare cases, only half of the body is anesthetized during childbirth. Even so, it will be easier for a woman who is sensitive to pain to get over labor.
The most subtle moment is psychological. Some researchers argue that anesthesia during childbirth interferes with the naturalness of this process and interferes with the establishment of contact between mother and child. In this case, it can be noted that much depends on the mood of the mother herself. The birth of children with the help of a cesarean section also cannot be attributed to natural, however, teachers and pediatricians do not provide any reliable statistics about any specific problems in the relationship between a mother and a child born through a cesarean section or with anesthesia.
In some cases, epidural anesthesia may be indispensable
For example, it helps naturally give birth to women with heart disease or severe visual impairment. Pain relief during contractions and attempts in these cases gives the mother the opportunity not to overexert herself. Also, local anesthesia is convenient if childbirth is complicated and a caesarean section may be needed. In this case, the anesthesiologist will be able to increase the dose of the medication and not expose the woman to an even greater risk of anesthesia.
After the onset of contractions, the woman enters the hospital, where she will have to make the final choice whether to agree or refuse epidural anesthesia. In this case, its condition is taken into account: pressure, temperature. Doctors also check the condition of the fetus. Only then can the anesthesiologist administer pain relief. It happens in the following way. The doctor inserts a needle into the area of the patient’s spine and then inserts a catheter through which the medication is constantly supplied to the nerves leading to the spinal cord. Doctors adjust the amount of medication so that pain relief is as effective as possible.
Depending on the specifics of anesthesia, a woman can either completely lose sensitivity of the lower body or retain the ability to move.
But you should tune in to the fact that in any case, epidural anesthesia will affect behavior during childbirth and dramatically reduce the ability to move freely.
After anesthesia, a woman ceases to feel pain during the longest period of labor – during labor. However, doctors can monitor their presence and intensity using a monitor connected to the woman in labor. If labor is weakened, the woman may be given oxytocin or another medication to speed up the labor process.
Women who decide to give birth with pain relief should not give up prenatal classes. Correct breathing skills will help with pushing.
For the duration of the attempts, anesthesia is reduced or stopped so that the woman can control the process, which allows, with the help of obstetricians, to minimize the possibility of ruptures or other injuries. But in some situations, this rule is deviated, for example, if a woman has a high risk of retinal detachment. In this case, efforts with attempts are contraindicated for her, and doctors can maintain full anesthesia until the end of labor. Also, anesthesia is maintained in case of complications when doctors need to perform an emergency caesarean section.
After childbirth, the woman may be given an additional dose of the drug to stitch up the injuries to the perineum. After that, the catheter will be removed from the back, and after a few hours, the mother will return to sensitivity and ability to walk. In this way, local anesthesia compares favorably with anesthesia, the exit from which takes longer.
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