In article ,
Ericka Kammerer wrote:

Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward wrote:
How about this statistic: how many epidural births end up needing
further intervention (augmentation, induction, c-section, forceps, etc)?

Hard to say. Numbers are all over. Epidurals increase
c-section rates in some studies and not in others, but appear
to be especially likely to increase c-section rates if you get
them early in labor or if you're a first timer.

I wonder if epidurals ever help _avoid_ further interventions?

With my first, I had a "walking" epidural at 7 cm. It allowed me about
half an hour to rest, something I hadn't been able to do for two days
(and nights) beforehand. It wasn't a long rest, but it made all the
difference in the world. I was mildly insane by then, after a very
stressful (although medically dandy) labor. For me -- let me say that
again: for me -- the epidural really helped me get my energy up, and to
focus a bit, for the rest of labor and delivery.

Of course, maybe if I hadn't had an epidural I would've delivered on the
first push. We'll never know.
--
Sara
accompanied by TK, number two, due in April of 2006