Considerable research has shown that regional anesthesia is safe for you and your baby. While your baby receives a small amount of any medication that you receive, regional anesthesia techniques minimize the amount of medication you and your baby receive. Epidural anesthesia starts working 10 to 20 minutes after the medication has been injected. Pain relief from epidural anesthesia lasts as long as your labor, since more medication can always be given through the catheter. Spinal anesthesia starts working immediately after the medication has been injected.
Pain relief lasts about two and one-half hours.
If your labor is expected to last beyond this time, an epidural catheter will be inserted to deliver medications to continue your pain relief as long as needed. Although you will feel significant pain relief, you may still be aware of mild pressure from your contractions. You may also feel pressure when your health care provider examines you. Your anesthesiologist can tailor the anesthesia to allow you to sit in a lounge chair or walk. Walking or sitting may even help your progress in labor.