<body><div>FRESNO, Calif. (KGPE) – The moments before giving birth can bring a mix of emotions especially when it comes to decisions about pain management. We spoke with an anesthesiologist to debunk some common myths about epidurals and help expectant mothers feel more informed and confident.“It’s important for us to separate fact from fiction so that expecting parents can make informed decisions,” said Anesthesiologist Dr. Kathleen Piro.Piro is an anesthesiologist at Community, and she says a lot of patients simply don’t know how epidurals work.“An epidural is a small, flexible catheter that is inserted into the epidural space; that’s why it’s called an epidural, and it’s connected to an infusion of numbing medicine that runs through that catheter to the epidural space, and that will provide pain relief, numbness usually from about the belly button down the legs to help with pain relief and labor, and can be used for C-section,” she said.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1TJ5EV_1GpYKpoM00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1TJ5EV_1GpYKpoM00" width="900" height="355" ></figure>Many women fear that epidurals could cause a level of numbness that could interfere with their ability to push during labor, but that’s not the case.“Modern low-dose epidurals provide excellent pain relief while still allowing most women to feel pressure and push. They can also change positions in bed. They just can’t stand up because their legs are weak and they’re at fall risk.”According to Piro, another common myth is that epidurals cause long-term pain issues.“High-quality studies and review show no increasing chronic back pain compared to those that labor without an epidural,” she said. “Ongoing back pain after birth is usually linked to pregnancy, labor, and physical demands of caring for a newborn.”Another common myth is that an epidural increases the likelihood of a C-section delivery.“Large studies show that epidurals did not increase the likelihood of needing a C-section delivery. Other factors such as babies’ position, size, and labor progress play a role,” Piro said.She also stresses that studies show epidurals do not harm the baby.“Research shows no meaningful increase in risk such as low Apgar scores, serious neonatal problems, or long-term issues like cerebral palsy,” she said.Epidurals are generally considered safer than many IV pain medications and can be administered throughout a larger window of time than you might think.“You can request an epidural at any stage, early, middle or even towards the end as long as an anesthesiologist is available and the baby isn’t imminently about to be delivered,” Piro added.And as far as permanent nerve damage or even paralysis, Piro says that the truth is that it’s just not common.“Temporary soreness at the injection site for a couple of days is common, like any needle puncture, but permanent nerve damage or paralysis is exceedingly rare,” she said.Despite the misinformation that often surrounds epidurals, Piro says the most important thing is to talk to your physician so you can make an informed decision that’s right for you, your baby, and your growing family.</div></body>

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FRESNO, Calif. (KGPE) – The moments before giving birth can bring a mix of emotions especially when it comes to decisions about pain management. We spoke with an anesthesiologist to debunk some common myths about epidurals and help expectant mothers feel more informed and confident. “It’s important for us...

Expert debunks common epidural myths for mothers

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