Cervical Epidural Side Effects: Risks & What to Expect

Cervical epidurals are used to treat the pain that can come with labor or birth. A numbing medication is injected into the epidural space and allows the mother to have a near-painless labor and delivery.

Leaks

• Spinal fluid or blood can escape into the epidural space if the dura is punctured by the needle. If it does not resolve on its own, your doctor can take a bit of blood from an arm or leg and inject it into the space to stop the leak.

Headache

• If a fluid leak happens, a spinal headache will likely result. You may get an excruciating headache that doesn't go away with pain reliever and you may not be able to move your neck more than a few inches back and forth.

Infection

• Now that bacteria has a way to get into this usually closed off area, an infection may result. This is a rare complication, but if it happens then you may get meningitis or an epidural abscess.

Nerve Damage

• Nerve damage is one of the rarest complications of epidurals, but it can lead to a range of things from sensory loss to death if it does happen.

Warning

• An epidural should not be used if you are not in active labor (less than 5 centimeters dilated), if you have an infection in your blood or back, if you have recently used blood thinners, or if you have low platelet counts.