A new study has found that having an epidural during childbirth can lower the risk of maternal morbidity. Childbirth is one of the hardest things that a woman can do, and it is so serious that there are a lot of women out there who are afraid of giving birth. These fears and feelings are completely valid, and it has been described as incredibly painful. While there are some women out there who can do it without any medications for the pain, a lot of women still rely on an epidural to help them get through childbirth. Studies are always being done on epidurals and what the benefits are of this form of intervention.
According to Medical Xpress, a study was done that shows that the use of an epidural is linked with a decrease in severe maternal morbidity. This study was conducted by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and it can be read in full here.
It was based on a study that was done on vaginal births in hospitals, and not only was the use of an epidural linked to lower morbidity, it was also linked to a lower risk of hemorrhaging after birth. That is likely because hemorrhaging is the leading cause of maternal morbidity.
They also found that the risk was lowered for women of all races and ethnicities. An epidural is the most common type of pain intervention in labor, and it is used in up to 75% of all women who deliver vaginally; as of 2021, postpartum hemorrhage was the leading cause of maternal morbidity, so finding a way to prevent this can literally save the lives of women everywhere.
Jean Guglielminotti was one of the researchers on the study, and she stated that their goal was to look at the benefits of an epidural in reducing morbidity, and they found that it had a 14% reduction in cases.
While it is still a woman’s choice how she chooses to deliver her baby, this information can help a woman make an informed choice on what is best for her. It also could be useful for women who are already at high risk for hemorrhaging, or who have experienced it in previous births and did not use an epidural. The medical world is always advancing, and it is clear that what they are continuing to learn is going to continue to save the lives of new moms.
Sources: Medical Xpress, JAMA Network