Epidurals and Babies

Separating Facts from Fears

It is understandable that many parents are anxious about the potential effects of pain relief in labour, particularly epidurals. Over the past decade, social media has amplified a wide range of claims about how epidurals might influence newborns, from being “too sleepy” at birth to having long-term developmental differences. These statements are often made with conviction, but conviction alone does not equal evidence.

Epidural analgesia has been used safely for many years and remains one of the most effective and widely available methods of pain relief in labour. Seventy-five percent of first-time mothers avail of one. The technique involves placing a small catheter into the epidural space in the lower back, through which a local anaesthetic and a small dose of opioid are administered. The goal is to block the transmission of pain signals from the uterus and birth canal to the brain, while keeping the mother awake and alert. Only a very small amount of the medication, if any, reaches the baby.