Health Update: Relief from labour pains

AN EPIDURAL drug that gives complete pain relief to women during labour and childbirth, but which still allows them to move around and to feel their contractions, has been developed at a London maternity hospital.

The new drug is injected into the space surrounding the spinal cord, as a traditional epidural is administered, but instead of numbing the nerves completely, it leaves the woman with some sensation, enabling her to remain upright, to walk around and to feel the baby moving. This is thought to facilitate labour and it may reduce the risk of forceps delivery.

Dr Barbara Morgan, consultant anaesthetist at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, said that the epidural was a different combination of drugs, and was administered in different dosages than previously.