Analgesia methods during labour and delivery

The practice of obstetric anaesthesia can be highly rewarding. The clinician prepared with an understanding of maternal-fetal physiology (obstetric requirements), systemic narcotics, and regional anaesthesia can be highly effective at relieving pain and bringing about a successful delivery. While alternative techniques should always be considered, particularly those that stress childbirth education, continuous lumbar analgesia remains the most flexible and satisfactory approach. While there is new equipment (fine needles and smaller catheters) on the horizon, it remains to be demonstrated if they can match the success and safety record of present lumbar epidural practice.