The purpose of this study is to determine if a lateral positioning of the pregnant woman after epidural analgesia increases the incidence of unilateral functioning epidurals.
Pregnant women requesting epidural analgesia will be randomized to either left lateral or semi-recumbent position for 30 minutes after the first epidural bolus-injection. After 30 minutes, the clinical effect of the analgesia will be evaluated by an anesthesiologist if available or by a midwife if the anesthesiologist is unavailable. The study-period is concluded thereafter and further positioning is optional. Maternal and fetal wellbeing are continuously being monitored during the study period and complications/interventions registered. APGAR and CTG results during the intervention will be registered and evaluated at a later stage.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
950
patients placed on their left side after epidural catheter insertion
University Hospital SUS
Lund, Skåne County, Sweden
University Hospital SUS
Malmo, Skåne County, Sweden
unilateral analgesic effect
clinical judgement: mothers pain-sensation and cold sensation test
Time frame: evaluation of epidural effect after 30 min
maternal comfort and safety in regards to blood pressure and/or unexpected neurological effects from epidural analgesia
clinical judgement: mothers subjective wellbeing, bloodpressure and incidence of vena cava compression, neurological deficits from epidural
Time frame: evaluation of epidural effect after 30 min
fetal/neonatal safety measured with CTG and APGAR score
cardiotocographic changes and APGAR-score evaluation
Time frame: CTG from start of study until birth, APGAR 2, 5 and 10min after birth
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