The injection sites and areas that are numbed differ for each type of block. For example, a pudendal block is given just before delivery of the baby. It relieves pain around the vagina and rectum as the baby comes down the birth canal. It is also helpful just before an episiotomy. The medication is injected inside the vagina.
Pudendal blocks are one of the safest forms of pain medication.
Epidural blocks are usually used instead of spinal, saddle, or paracervical blocks. Because narcotics and sedatives affect all of a mother's body, both the mother and the baby may have side effects from these medications. The mother may feel drowsy or dizzy. She may have trouble concentrating and it may be harder for her to push during delivery. More serious possible side effects are a slowing of the mother's breathing or heart rate or a slowing of the baby's reflexes and breathing at birth.