Dr. Lavanya Gadi

"Epidural as such the local anesthetic drugs do not cross the placenta. If they cross the placenta they also cross in very minute quantities and more so these drugs do not cause any long-term side effects on the baby. In case there is a sudden maternal hypotension or sudden low blood pressure occurring in the mother this can result in the low blood pressure and heart rate changes of the fetus. Other than that the epidural does not have any side effects on the baby"

"Epidural like any other procedure carries minor risks. Epidural given in the best expert hands and correct patient selection, gives us a best benefit like major complications only during epidural or reduction in the blood pressure in the mother or in case of any urinary incontinence. All these side effects are only temporary. There is no major side effect to epidural and in case the mothers experience any backache during the procedure or after the procedure. It is only because of the labour pains not because of the epidural. Epidural does not cause any such long-term complications.

"Laughing gas or nitrous oxide is used in early labor as a pain relief method. In this the mother is using a face mask and she's inhaling the nitrous oxide mixed with oxygen while the peak of the contraction. The mother to ride through the contraction pain and the mother feels the control of using it because she is directly using the face mask. Sometimes the contractions may become effective and nitrous oxide it doesn't work in the second half of labour or the active phase of labor. The main side effect with using a nitrous oxide is complaints of nausea or vomiting or a claustrophobic sensation by the mother using the face mask. The advantage of nitrous oxide is it doesn't linger in the woman's body or the mother's body or the baby's body and easily available, readily available and easily administered self by the mother"

"Coming to labour epidural analgesia. This is a technique which is used in labouring mothers where the epidural injection is given in a space above the spinal space where a small plastic tube called a catheter is placed and the injection is given in pulses or infusion pump. The epidural analgesia is given when the woman starts off with an active labour. That is when she's getting contractions with high intensity or when the cervical dilatation is at least more than 3 cm. In this technique the woman is made to sit with making a hunch the lower waist region of the woman is cleaned with bad so that we avoid any infection . Spot is checked near the spinal canal and numbing dose is given first and then injection is inserted and a small plastic tube or a catheter is placed in it and the dose is given wherein the woman will start having a numbness of her lower part of the waist and even the lower limbs. So this catheter is plastered over her back and the injection is given in pulses or hourly doses or a continuous infusion pump is connected. During this epidural analgesia the woman is given IV fluid so that her blood pressure is maintained and the injection can be adjusted accordingly to the contraction levels of the woman and sometimes those will be cut at the duration where the woman is almost fully dilated or the crowning of the head is happening. Side effects of epidural what everyone should know is the mother can sometimes have urinary difficulties because of numbing of the lower part. She may not be able to pass urine. So a urinary catheter is placed and the blood pressure may be lowered. So prior to giving epidural IV fluids are administered so that the blood pressure is maintained sometimes epidural anesthesia or analgesia can be incomplete. Sometimes it doesn't so that moment again the process has to be repeated and some women experience transient headache with the injection and very rarely. Some women complained of backache but this backache is also transient. Coming to the advantages what are the advantages of epidural analgesia in this the woman is being helped with the pain relief so that she doesn't know the contractions. Sometimes even walking epidurals are given wherein the mother can be ambulatory throughout the labor which helps in the progress of labor and the epidural is mainly helpful in mothers with highrisk pregnancies like complicated pregnancies with high blood pressures or high blood sugars and in these women wherein pain associated with contractions can increase the pain the epidural helps in reducing the blood pressure and as such labour itself is an anxious state for the mother. So the stress hormones and all which increase makes them more tensed while the muscles are also getting relaxed and helps in a smooth labour"

"Painless normal vaginal delivery is a new technique in which the mother receives an injectable which helps her not to know the contractions and the pain during the labor and helps her sail through a smooth vaginal delivery.There are various techniques of painless vaginal delivery. They are divided into non-pharmacological and pharmacological techniques. Non-pharmacological techniques include more so of therapies like music therapy"

"Ultrasound is a crucial medical tool that actively contributes to ensuring the well-being of both mother and baby throughout pregnancy. In this video, Dr. Lavanya Gadi discusses the importance and purposes of USG in each trimester of pregnancy"