As labour progresses and contractions
grow stronger women have the option to request for an
epidural. To begin administering an epidural, the patient is required to be
in an upright, sitting position. Step 1 of the procedure is to prepare the insertion site by cleaning
the patient’s back with an antiseptic solution. The anesthesiologist will then numb or freeze
the area with a local anesthetic. Step 2 is to insert the needle until the tip
enters the epidural space around the spine. Step 3 is when the catheter, a thin flexible tube, is
threaded through the needle. And once the catheter is secured in position, the needle is removed. The catheter is taped and ready for the final step to
allow for the delivery of pain-relieving medication.
.