What is epidural anesthesia?

Epidural Anesthesia is quite versatile; it can be given for labor and vaginal delivery or cesarean section. It is the preferred type of anesthesia by many pregnant women and their physicians because of the comfort it provides for you and the safety it offers for your baby.

Epidural refers to the space that lies just outside the covering of the spinal cord. Medicine (local anesthetics like Novocaine) can be put into this area via a small tube inserted through a special needle. The medicine blocks pain sensations from the uterus and cervix much like the dentist blocks pain sensations from your teeth.