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Evidence Library · Pain relief
Epidural fever and what it does to your baby
The fever is usually not infection, but your baby gets treated as if it might be.
Epidurals raise maternal temperature. Fever occurred in 14.5% of first-time mothers with an epidural against 1.0% without, and the consequence fell on the newborn: sepsis evaluation in 34.0% against 9.8%, antibiotics in 15.4% against 3.8%. A fever in labor also raises the chance a cesarean is recommended.
Where this comes from
- Lieberman E, Lang JM, Frigoletto F Jr, Richardson DK, Ringer SA, Cohen A. Epidural analgesia, intrapartum fever, and neonatal sepsis evaluation. Pediatrics. 1997;99(3):415-419.
Covered in the class
4Module 4. The epidural, in detailHow it is placed, what it feels like, what goes wrong, and the complications in real numbers.Continue
Read this inside the full program, with the questions to take to your next visit and a record of what you have covered.
Obstetric Anesthesia Preparedness →More from Pain relief
What labor pain is actually likeMost American women choose an epidural, and that number is rising.
How American women manage labor painThree quarters use an epidural, and the gap by insurance is not about pain.
The other optionsNitrous oxide, opioids, water, movement, and nothing.
Nitrous oxide and intravenous opioidsBoth are options. Both relieve less pain than an epidural.
This page is educational. It supports the conversation with your own clinicians. It is not consent to any treatment, and it cannot assess you.