| Every woman's labor is unique. The amount of pain a | | | | epidural with more or stronger medications can be |
| woman feels during labor is going to differ from that | | | | used for a c section or if a vaginal delivery requires |
| of another woman. Pain depends on size and position | | | | the help of forceps or vacuum extraction. |
| of the baby and the strength of contractions. When | | | | An epidural is given in the lower back below the spinal |
| it is time to give birth women want to know | | | | cord. During the procedure, a woman will be asked to |
| whether to have an epidural or a spinal block, both of | | | | sit or lie on her side with her back curved outward. |
| which are used to decrease labor pains. | | | | When completed, a woman may be allowed to |
| An epidural causes some loss of feeling in the lower | | | | move, but may not be allowed to walk around. |
| areas of a woman's body, yet she is awake and | | | | Because the medication needs to be absorbed into |
| alert. An epidural may be given soon after | | | | several nerves, it make take a short while for it to |
| contractions start, or later as labor progresses. An | | | | take effect. Pain relief will begin within 10-20 minutes. |