Presque Isle hospital offers epidural service
PRESQUE ISLE — Childbirth can be one of the most physically painful experiences a woman will encounter. The Aroostook Medical Center now has a way to help. Aroostook County residents will now have access to epidural analgesia which will make the childbirth process less painful.
An epidural is a type of narcotic pain medication that is delivered through a needle that is placed into the lower back in the spinal area. It reduces both pain and sensation by 50 to 80 percent for most women.
TAMC is now offering this capability for their patients, when appropriate.
“We give people the tools they need to get through the childbirth process in the best way possible. Epidurals help expecting mothers who have a long labor and may not have the endurance to handle the pain all the way to the end of the process and still feel good about it,” said Dr. Josette Hunter, OB/GYN.
The benefit of epidurals is that the pain medication is given constantly throughout the labor process, and not just once at the beginning of contractions. The infusion continues through the labor process in order to help the mother manage the pain until after delivery. The amount of pain medication can be controlled as well, allowing for changes based on the mother’s needs. This allows a mother to reserve her energy for the important pushing phase.
Expecting mothers who are considering an epidural are referred by their OB/GYN or midwife to meet with the anesthesiology team to discuss options, personal medical history and the procedure itself. At that time, the team will present all of the medical pain management options and work with the mother to develop a plan for her childbirth experience.
Epidurals have been in use since the 1940s but have gained popularity in the last 20 years.
“Of the different types of medications that we can give, this is one of the best ones, so that’s why we’re introducing it. It was not available in our area, but now we feel we can do it for our patients. We want to give the best and safest care to the mother, baby and family,” said Hunter.
Dr. Quang Nguyen, OB/GYN, agreed that the safety and care of the mother, baby and family is a priority.
“We ask expecting mothers to consider childbirth education classes, work on breathing and relaxation techniques and to get plenty of exercise during their pregnancy,” he said. “All of these tools pay off during labor and make the entire experience easier. Epidurals are just one type of pain management; some women will choose to have a natural birthing experience, and some will feel the need to change their minds part of the way through. We are equipped to handle any of these scenarios.”
“The nice part about having epidurals available is that women now have greater pain management so that they can achieve vaginal delivery instead of a cesarean section,” he added. “This means a lot to women when deciding where they want to deliver their baby. Epidurals ease pain and make the entire childbirth experience easier.”
