Reported 11 months ago
A recent study published in The BMJ found that receiving an epidural during labor not only reduces pain but can also significantly decrease the risk of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) during childbirth. Analyzing data from 657,216 mothers in Scotland between 2007 and 2019, the research showed that epidural use was associated with a 35% reduction in SMM incidence in all women studied, with even greater risk reduction for women with a medical indication for an epidural and those delivering prematurely. Medical experts highlighted the benefits of pain management, emphasizing that providing comprehensive education and discussing options with healthcare providers is crucial for making informed decisions regarding epidural use during labor.
Source: YAHOO