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Simulator to help overweight mothers give birth

(The Scotsman 21/09/2009)

EXPERTS are creating a simulator to make it safer to give epidurals to obese women in labour, it was announced today. The equipment helps anaesthetists work out where to position the needle, thereby cutting failure rates and reducing the risk of causing injury. Research has shown that epidurals are more likely to fail in obese women, not offering adequate pain relief. A 3D computer image is created for each woman based on her body mass index (BMI) and an ultrasound scan.

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Pregnant women denied epidurals 'to boost traditional births'

(Daily Mail 01/03/2009)

Pregnant women are being denied epidurals during labour it has emerged.The strong anaesthetic which is injected directly into the spine, is a popular choice with mothers-to-be to help them cope with the extreme pain of childbirth. And up to 60% of first-time mums opt for an epidural in some regions. But now new guidelines have categorised the procedure as unnatural in a bid to boost the number of women having traditional births. The aim is to reduce the number of women having epidurals or caesareans by up to 40%.

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Epidural risk lower than thought

(BBC 12/01/2009)

The risk of epidurals and spinal anaesthetics to expectant mothers and patients undergoing surgery may be being overstated, a study suggests. Researchers at Bath's Royal United Hospital analysed the complications from the 700,000 pain-killing injections given each year. They found the risk of harm was at least as low as one in 23,000 - 10 times less than tends to be estimated.

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