Does epidural analgesia prolong labor and increase risk of cesarean delivery? A natural experiment

Article Abstract:

Epidural anesthesia during childbirth may prolong labor but does not increase the risk of a cesarean delivery or the need for vacuum extract or oxytocin. This was the conclusion of a study of over 1,000 deliveries in a military hospital where the use of epidural anesthesia during childbirth increased from 1% of all births to 84% of all births in one year.

Causes of

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Observations on labor epidural analgesia and operative delivery rates

Article Abstract:

Allowing pregnant women in labor to choose epidural analgesia does not appear to increase cesarean section rates. Epidural analgesia involves injecting painkillers into the lower spine. Researchers compared cesarean section rates in 4,778 pregnant women on a military base before epidural analgesia was routinely offered and 4,859 pregnant women after it was offered. Overall, cesarean section rates were similar in both groups. However, women in their first pregnancy who asked for epidural analgesia were more likely to have a cesarean section or require surgical intervention during a vaginal delivery.

Evaluation

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Epidural analgesia in association with duration of labor and mode of delivery: a quantitative review

Article Abstract:

Epidural analgesia does not appear to prolong labor or increase the risk of a cesarean delivery. This was the conclusion of researchers who analyzed seven randomized clinical trials and five observational studies of epidural analgesia and duration of labor. Although the observational studies suggested that epidural analgesia increased the risk of a cesarean delivery about four times, this result was not confirmed in the clinical trials.

Labor (Obstetrics)

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