Patient's question:
Since last year, a painless labor delivery program has been introduced in our city hospital. This painless delivery is a local anesthetic. The doctors at the hospital said there are no side effects or after-effects. I would like to ask, does this painless delivery really have any adverse consequences?Doctor's answer:
The term "pain-free childbirth" usually refers to labor analgesia in a medical context. The purpose of labor analgesia is to reduce or even eliminate the pain during childbirth using various methods. During labor, uterine contractions compress the uterine blood vessels, leading to uterine ischemia. When the cervix dilates, the muscles thin out and the ligaments stretch, causing changes in the nerve endings of these muscles and ligaments. Additionally, the fetus exerts pressure on the mother's birth canal during delivery, all of which contribute to intense pain for the mother. Pain-free childbirth allows expectant mothers to no longer endure the torment of pain, reduces fear during labor and postpartum fatigue, and enables them to rest during the longest first stage of labor, thereby conserving energy. When the cervix is fully dilated, there will be enough strength to complete the delivery.