Epidural anesthesia is commonly used during childbirth, but it can have complications. In this article, we’ll define the term “epidural anesthesia” and explain how it relates to birth injury law. 

Key Takeaways

• Epidural anesthesia is a procedure in which an anesthetic is injected into the epidural space around the spinal nerves in order to numb one region of the body
• More than half of people who give birth in a hospital receive epidural anesthesia
• There are two types of epidurals used during childbirth: epidural with catheter and combined spinal-epidural
• Complications of epidural anesthesia include infection, bleeding, fever, and more
• Because they slow down the process of vaginal childbirth, epidurals can increase the risk of birth injury 

What Is Epidural Anesthesia?

Often referred to simply by the name “epidural,” epidural anesthesia is a procedure in which an anesthetic is injected into the space around the spinal nerves known as the epidural space. It is used to provide pain relief or a complete lack of feeling in one region of the body such as the legs or stomach. One of the main applications of epidural anesthesia is to provide pain relief for childbirth. More than 50% of people who give birth at a hospital choose to receive epidural anesthesia. 

How Epidural Anesthesia Works

Epidural anesthesia works by injecting an anesthetic into the epidural space around the spine in order to stop pain signals from traveling from the spine to the brain. The epidural anesthetic temporarily numbs the spinal nerves, blocking pain signals in a certain region of the body depending on where on the spine the provider injected the epidural. 

A number of factors contribute to how much feeling is lost from an epidural including:

• The type of anesthetic drug used
• The concentration of the drug
• The dosage of the drug

Types of Epidurals for Labor and Delivery

There are two types of epidurals that can be used during childbirth:

• Epidural with a catheter - With this option, the provider administers medicine through a catheter in the lower back that they insert with an epidural injection. The catheter remains in the epidural space to provide more medication if needed later on.

• Combined spinal-epidural (CSE) - This is a combination of two injections, spinal injection and an epidural. It works faster than only an epidural and involves a lower dose of medication so the birthing parent has more feeling in their lower body, such that they can move and change positions. 

Who Shouldn’t Have Epidural Anesthesia?

People with certain medical conditions should not have epidural anesthesia. These include:

• Anesthetic drug allergies
• Infections
• Blood clotting issues
• Poorly managed diabetes 

Complications of Epidural Anesthesia

Some risks and possible complications of epidural anesthesia include:

• Low blood pressure
• Infection
• Severe headaches caused by spinal fluid leakage, which occur in fewer than 1% of cases
• Bleeding
• Hematoma
• Blood clot
• Negative reaction to the medication
• Nerve damage
• Temporary loss of control of the bladder and bowels
• Loss of feeling in the legs
• Slowing down the second stage of labor
• Difficulty pushing during birth
• Need to use assisted delivery tools
• Fever

Epidural Anesthesia and Birth Injury Law

Because they can slow down the birth process, epidurals can potentially increase the risk of birth injury. With less sensation, birthing parents have more difficulty pushing the baby out, which can prolong or delay the process of vaginal childbirth. 

As delivery is stressful for the baby, the longer it continues, the higher the risk that the baby will be physically distressed. Potential issues include oxygen deprivation and brain damage. If a doctor has to intervene in the delivery with assisted delivery devices such as forceps or vacuum extractors, it can also increase the risk of birth injury. 

If a doctor makes an error with epidural anesthesia that causes a birth injury, it may be considered medical malpractice. If you have experienced such a situation, you could be entitled to compensation. It is recommended that you speak with an experienced birth injury lawyer to review your options.