Advantages of Epidural anaesthesia

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Epidural anaesthetic is less likely to have side effects than general anaesthetic. Some evidence shows that youâ€™re less likely to get a blood clot in the leg, for example.

If you decide you want or need pain relief during labour, epidural anaesthetic is often recommended. It helps to relax the pelvic muscles and encourages the cervix to dilate (get wider). This makes it easier for the baby to move down the vagina.

Recovery from epidural anaesthesia is faster than from general anaesthetic. This is useful in childbirth because you are able to see and hold your baby straightaway. You can also begin breastfeeding at an earlier stage.