Anesthesia during childbirth
The choice of anesthesia during labor pains is one ofimportant stages of preparation for childbirth. Of course, you can decide whether to do anesthesia or not, in advance, but when the contractions last for 10 hours, or even a day, the exhausted young mother simply needs to alleviate her pain. What happens anesthesia during labor and to what consequences it can lead, the Country of Soviets will tell.
Doctors describe the birth approximately like this: at first it will be a little nice, then it hurts,then even more painfully, then you will ask for anesthesia, then you will shout: "Do something at least!" For each woman in labor, these phases differ only in duration. Sometimes, when you ask for anesthesia, doctors will not have time to prepare it, as you are already giving birth.
Anesthesia during childbirth can be medicinal and non-medicinal. Non-medicinal products include the use ofwater, anesthetic massage, psycho-preventive preparation, reflexology, special poses and breathing techniques. The use of opiates by obstetricians has been known since ancient Greece and Egypt. The room in which the birth was given was fumigated with opium, the mother gave birth to decoction from the poppy heads, because of what she often fell asleep, and the birth was inhibited.
Anesthesia in childbirth: modern methods
- Endotracheal Anesthesia is used during caesarean section. With this kind of anesthesia, the anesthetic enters the lungs through the trachea and provides a lasting effect of anesthesia.
- Inhalation (mask) anesthesia is done with the help of a mask through which the mother gives birth to nitrous oxide. This method can be needed only when the cervix is open.
- Local anesthesia deprives of sensitivity only the necessary skin areas. It is used for sewing damaged tissue. The anesthetic is injected into the place where the seams will be applied.
- Internal anesthesia used in surgical interventions. The drug is injected into the vein, after which the woman in labor falls asleep for 10-20 minutes.
- During epidural anesthesia The woman in childbirth is in clear consciousness. Introduce a local anesthetic into the space above the hard shell of the spinal cord. After this injection, the lower part of the body does not feel anything for a while. Nerves, which signal the pain in the uterus in the brain, are temporarily paralyzed.
- Narcotic anesthetics reduce feelings of pain and allow to fully relax the woman in labor between contractions. Introduced intravenously or intramuscularly.
Anesthesia in childbirth: disadvantages
To the kid, as well as his mother, also need a naturalanesthesia during childbirth. When the pain is felt, the adult's brain releases endorphins, and the newborn is not yet able to do so. His first dose of endorphins, he receives from his mother during childbirth. But, if the mother does not feel pain, then the release of endorphins will not happen, and the child will not receive its dose. Such children are worse adapted after childbirth.
In women after the use of anesthetics drowsiness is caused, she can fall asleep, which will prolong the delivery. Obstetricians noticed that children are born sleepy, sluggish. After anesthesia, women may experience headaches, dizziness. And after epidural anesthesia, in rare cases, spinal cord hernias in the place where the catheter was inserted.
In some cases anesthesia during labor is necessary to facilitate the condition of the mother and baby and is mandatory in cesarean section. But to avoid this, the expectant mother must first of all prepare emotionally to childbirth and possible pain.
Ask your obstetrician-gynecologist. He will tell you about anesthetics andwill help you choose exactly the drugs that suit you. Even if you think that anesthesia during childbirth is not for you, still pick up and prepare for stock some anesthetic. You can not take advantage of it, but you must prepare for childbirth as carefully as possible. Knowing that everything is prepared just in case, will give you more confidence, calmness and strength, which are so necessary in childbirth.
