What is a walking epidural?
This technique involves placement of the epidural very early in your labor (less than 4 cm dilation). We have been dosing these walking epidurals with small doses of narcotic agents. Since there is some local anesthetic in the initial test dose, you must stay in bed for 20 minutes after the placement. Common side effects of the narcotic dose include itching and mild nausea which can be treated easily. When your labor advances the epidural catheter is dosed with the usual medications for a stronger block. Another form of walking epidural uses a combined spinal/epidural technique. In this approach as small dose of local anesthetic and/or narcotic is injected into the spinal fluid (intrathecal injection). An epidural catheter is also placed for use in the later stages of labor.
