Epidural information card

Epidurals in labour- what you need to know

Usually provides excellent pain relief.
Sometimes a spinal is given first for immediate effect.
The dose or type of local anaesthetic may vary, so the ability to control movement of the legs can be variable as well.
In general, epidurals do not affect your baby.
Can be topped up for caesarean section if required and usually does not require an extra procedure.

May take some time. Sometimes an anaesthetist (or trainee) is not available immediately to provide an epidural (usually it can last about 30 minutes from request).
You will need to have an intravenous cannula and maybe a drip.
While the epidural is being placed, it is important that you sit still and let the anaesthetist
know if you are having a contraction.·
Usually it takes 10-30 minutes to set up an epidural and 5-15 minutes to work.
Some epidurals do not work properly and need to be adjusted or replaced.

Repeated top-ups with stronger local anaesthetic may cause temporary leg weakness and may increase the risk of forceps or ventouse delivery.
The epidural may slow down the second stage of labour slightly.
Fever (38°C or higher) occurs in approximately 20% after an epidural. Usually it is difficult to distinguish between an infection or the epidural anesthesia itself as a cause. Epidural anesthesia does affect body temperature (without this being a major problem). Often antibiotic therapy is started, sometimes during labour, and your baby will occasionally be monitored for signs of infection, with or without antibiotic treatment.
You may develop low blood pressure or itching during the epidural.
The epidural site may be tender but usually only for a few days. Backache is NOT caused by epidurals but is common after any pregnancy.

The other side of this card shows a table with important risks of epidurals peripartum.

*The risks shown above are estimates from the literature and may vary in different hospitals, regions and countries.

If you have any questions after reading this information, feel free to contact the outpatient clinic: 043-387 45 00

General Hospital number: 0031-43-387 6543

Mailing address
PO Box 5800 6202 AZ Maastricht

Visitors Address hospital
P. Debyelaan 25 6229 HX Maastricht

Laatst bijgewerkt op 19 augustus 2025. Bekijk de meest actuele versie van deze folder op: info.mumc.nl/pub-601