Are laboring patients required to have epidurals?
No. Although routine today, successful deliveries have occurred in the past without an epidural and in fact still do. However, most women do prefer an epidural these days as they are safe and provide excellent pain relief. They also can be used immediately to provide surgical anesthesia for a c-section if needed without going to sleep or having to place a spinal at the last second. Whether you want an epidural or not, it is important to make this decision ahead of time. That is, if you decide to get an epidural towards the end of your labor, there is no guarantee that there will be enough time for it to be placed and be effective. If you know for sure you do not want an epidural, you can receive IV pain medication (narcotics) or nothing at all – it’s your choice.
