Mothers Find Relief With Walking Epidural
Technique Combines Spinal Block, Continuous Pain Medicine
UPDATED: 2:02 p.m. EST November 26, 2002
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SAN DIEGO -- A new pain relief technique called the walking epidural gives mothers control over their labor while erasing the pain.
The walking epidural combines a spinal block and a continuous infusion of pain medicine.
Wendy Babu, like most laboring mothers, was torn between pain relief and concern for her baby.
"I had concerns about drugs and how it would affect my child," Babu said.
"When a woman in labor gets to the point of wanting pain relief, she may hesitate because of concerns about the effects on anesthesia not only on her labor but on her baby's health," said Dr. Krzysztof Kuczkowski, an anesthesiologist at the Univeristy of California in San Diego.
However, Babu's concerns and pain were erased with the walking epidural.
"It also has very little effect on the baby because we are looking at only one CC of local anesthetic," Kuczkowski said.
Traditional epidurals for labor use 10 times the amount of a walking epidural, according to Kuczkowski.
He said that the walking epidural acts fast, is safe and allows laboring women to get up and move.
"I was able to get up and walk around with no pain," Babu said.
Walking epidural patient Sarah Reisman said that even in her 12th hour of labor she still was pain-free and walking even during contractions.
"I could feel the contractions, but they didn't feel painful at all," Reisman said.
Kuczkowski said because patients can move around freely, it actually helps the labor process.
Reisman said that the walking epidural allowed her to enjoy every moment of her labor without taking away from the birthing experience.
Wendy Babu, like most laboring mothers, was torn between pain relief and concern for her baby.
"I had concerns about drugs and how it would affect my child," Babu said.
"When a woman in labor gets to the point of wanting pain relief, she may hesitate because of concerns about the effects on anesthesia not only on her labor but on her baby's health," said Dr. Krzysztof Kuczkowski, an anesthesiologist at the Univeristy of California in San Diego.
However, Babu's concerns and pain were erased with the walking epidural.
"It also has very little effect on the baby because we are looking at only one CC of local anesthetic," Kuczkowski said.
Traditional epidurals for labor use 10 times the amount of a walking epidural, according to Kuczkowski.
He said that the walking epidural acts fast, is safe and allows laboring women to get up and move.
"I was able to get up and walk around with no pain," Babu said.
Walking epidural patient Sarah Reisman said that even in her 12th hour of labor she still was pain-free and walking even during contractions.
"I could feel the contractions, but they didn't feel painful at all," Reisman said.
Kuczkowski said because patients can move around freely, it actually helps the labor process.
Reisman said that the walking epidural allowed her to enjoy every moment of her labor without taking away from the birthing experience.Copyright 2002 by KITV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
