You will be asked about allergies and any medications that you are taking. If an intravenous tube has not already been placed, it must be started before an epidural can be placed. No procedure is totally without risk, but the vast majority of laboring women do not suffer any complications from epidural analgesia. Occasionally, the epidural needle may cause a temporary leak of cerebrospinal fluid. Infection following an epidural is extremely rare, and if treated early with antibiotics, should recover completely.
Epidurals affect people differently.
Generally when the CSE technique is used, the epidural starts working within two minutes. With conventional epidural techniques, the pain relief begins in approximately 10-15 minutes. The initial effect lasts for approximately two hours, but most women will receive an infusion of medication via the epidural catheter to assure comfort until delivery. Occasionally, if your obstetrician believes that you are not pushing effectively, an epidural infusion will be discontinued during the final stages of labor. Once your pain has been relieved, your blood pressure can decrease and this might make you feel light headed.