Epidural good option for painless delivery: Docs

Lucknow: A nearly painless normal delivery is possible through a procedure called epidural anaesthesia, though presently, the facility is available only in a few corporate hospitals and in select cases in govt set-ups.Experts at a meeting at King George’s Medical University on Tuesday called for increasing awareness and infrastructure for better pain control during delivery.Dr Tanmay Tiwari said many women learn about epidural anaesthesia only during labour. "Epidural anaesthesia is given through an injection in the lower back during labour. It reduces pain while the mother stays awake and the natural process continues,” he said.He said counselling should begin during antenatal visits. "When information is shared late, women and families refuse due to myths like fear of paralysis or long-term back pain. These fears are not supported by routine medical evidence when epidural is given under standard protocols by trained professionals," he added.Dr Divya Srivastava of Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences said epidural anaesthesia requires continuous monitoring of mother and baby, trained staff and timely dose adjustments.

"Smaller hospitals often lack round-the-clock anaesthesiologists and emergency back-up. This is why it is not widely available. Early awareness can push systems to improve," she said.Cost is another issue. In private hospitals, epidural can cost several thousand rupees, while in govt hospitals it is not always available on demand. “Epidural provides safe pain relief and helps conserve a mother’s energy,” said Dr Apurva Agarwal of GSVM Medical College.Experts said standard protocols and trained teams are needed. “Every anaesthesia technique should focus on patient safety and recovery,” said Dr Tanmay Tiwari. Dr Sandeep Sahu added that uniform protocols are important for safe outcomes.