The lighter the anesthetic dose, the more flexibility the mother has to move her legs and the easier it is to change positions. Epidural analgesia is usually a safe procedure, but it may carry some risks. A woman's ability to move around or change positions may be limited. The medication in the epidural may cause an erratic heart rate for the baby. Local anesthetics rapidly cross the placenta.
Drugs can cause various degrees of maternal, fetal, and neonatal toxicity.
May Increase the possibility for using pitocin. May make it more difficult for the mother to push the baby down. May increase the likelihood of using forceps or a vacuum extractor. May cause maternal fever when used for long hours. May make it more likely that the newborn will be screened and treated for infection.