Epidural anesthesia is a common form of medicinal pain relief. Knowing what there is to know about epidural basics as well as the policy of your hospital and practitioners is an important part of making your epidural a pleasant experience.

Using an epidural does increase the necessity of certain interventions like the IV, fetal monitoring and others. You may also be at a higher risk for the need for an augmentation of labor (speeding labor up), internal fetal monitoring and potentially a cesarean section.

• Choosing an Epidural
• Epidural Anesthesia (Step-by-step)
• 7 Reasons You Can't Have an Epidural
• After an Epidural - Postpartum Recovery
• Epidurals & Childbirth Classes
• Epidural Birth Stories

_{Photo © ADAM}