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What you
are going to witness here is a website containing
several animations. This may be the first of its
kind. It is my firm belief that animations
facilitate easy understanding. Basic concepts of pain
during childbirth and pain relief are discussed with
picture animations to facilitate easy understanding. The
website is divided into several sections as shown in the 'Contents'. You can browse through from one section to the subsequent section methodically. Otherwise, you can select (double click) on the section you desire to
study. The purpose of this website is to provide
information about childbirth pain relief methods that
use medications such as the popularly known 'labor epidural anesthesia'. There are methods,
however, that do not use medications and facilitate
natural childbirth. A 'section' that provides links to
these methods is included. There is also a section on
cesarean delivery. Each section contains
animations, highlights and pertinent details.
Changes will be made to the website periodically to enhance presentation and update material.
Introduction:
The first
pain-free childbirth using regional anesthesia was
reported in July of 1900. Since then, a firm and
dedicated commitment of anesthesiologists and
professional societies such as the 'Society of Obstetric
Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) in the last century
have led to tremendous advances in regional anesthesia
to provide safe pain-free delivery to requesting
expectant mothers. New regional anesthesia techniques, variety
of newer medications and methods of
administration, and dedicated obstetric anesthesia and
nursing care teams have made pain-free childbirth with
regional anesthesia a safe option for expectant mothers
in this century. Approximately over 2 million
mothers used epidural analgesia to deliver their babies
in the year 2000. Over 70% of pregnant women at our
Institute opt for epidural analgesia for childbirth. The national average of epidural analgesia in
the year 1992 was about 51%.
It is
fortunate that in this era, pain relief during labor and
delivery is an accepted part of the childbirthing
process. The American College of Obstetric and
Gynecology, in their committee opinion # 118, summarize
pain relief during childbirth as follows: "Labor
results in severe pain for many women. There is no other
circumstance where it is considered acceptable for a
person to experience severe pain, amenable to safe
intervention, while under a physician's care. Maternal
request is a sufficient justification for pain relief
during labor." The American College of
Obstetrics and Gynecology also believes that "of
the various pharmacological methods used for pain relief
during labor and delivery, the lumbar epidural block is
the most effective and least depressant, allowing for an
alert, participating mother."
It is
reiterated that you must consult your care
providers and get your questions adequately answered
before making final planning of your childbirth.
Definitions:
Analgesia
is full or partial relief of painful sensations.
Anesthesia
is usually considered to be a more intense blockage of
all sensations including muscle movement.
Bhavani
Shankar Kodali MD
bhavani@painfreebirthing.com
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