The cost of an epidural ranges from $1,000.00 to $8,000.00.
However the epidural is paid for by health insurance if you have health insurance and is included in the average cost of delivery and birth of the baby.
If you're not insured with health insurance and have to pay out of pocket for the birth or epidural then you should expect to pay at least $1,000.00 for the epidural although it can be more.
Labor and birth without an epidural is faster than labor and birth with an epidural.
However it can depend on how relaxed you are and in some cases the medications can interfere with your contractions and prolong the labor.
Most women who go into labor find the natural birth without the epidural goes much more quickly for them.
The second stage of the 3 stages of labor is likely to be the most painful stage of labor.
The second stage of labor during pregnancy is most often the most painful and toughest part of labor and can last 15 minutes to an hour.
During the transition to the second stage of labor the contractions get and come closer together and can last up to 60 to 90 seconds.
3 signs that labor is approaching are contractions, water breaking and cramping or tightening which is like period pain.
The signs that labor is near are.
The woman's waters breaking (rupture of the membranes)
The woman experiences a backache, or an upset stomach.
The woman experiences cramping or tightening, similar to period pain.
The woman has a feeling of pressure, as the baby's head moves into the pelvis.
The woman has an urge to go to the toilet caused by your baby's head pressing in your bowel.
Your hips do naturally widen some before giving birth to help with the delivery of the baby and to allow the baby to pass through more easily.
To prepare the pelvis for delivery, the hormone Relaxin is released during pregnancy to help relax the pelvic joints and ligaments as well as soften and widen the cervix.
By relaxing the pelvic joints and ligaments, they loosen and expand so baby can pass through birth canal.
The common signs that a woman is about to give birth include.
The woman's waters breaking (rupture of the membranes)
The woman experiences a backache, or an upset stomach.
The woman experiences cramping or tightening, similar to period pain.
The woman has a feeling of pressure, as the baby's head moves into the pelvis.
The woman has an urge to go to the toilet caused by your baby's head pressing in your bowel.
A woman will know that she is about to give birth when she has signs of going into labor which is contractions.
When a woman is about to give birth and go into labor she will start experiencing strong contractions.
A woman who is about to give birth and go into labor will have strong, regular contractions, and a 'show'.
During your pregnancy, a plug of mucus sits in your cervix.
A show is when that plug of mucus comes away, indicating that the cervix is starting to open.
The woman about to give birth will have several warning signs that they are about to give birth or that labor is nearing.
Weight Gain Stops. Some women lose up to 3 pounds before labor thanks to water breaking and increased urination.
Fatigue. Commonly, you will feel exhausted by the end of the third trimester.
Vaginal Discharge.
Urge to Nest.
Diarrhea.
Back Pain.
Loose Joints.
The Baby Drops.
Learning the signs of labor before your due date can help you feel ready for your baby's birth.
Signs of labor include strong and regular contractions, pain in your belly and lower back, a bloody mucus discharge and your water breaking.
If you think you're in labor, call your health care provider.
Here's what you can expect when labor is 24 to 48 hours away:
Water breaking.
Losing your mucus plug.
Weight loss.
Extreme nesting.
Low back pain.
Real contractions.
Cervical dilation.
Loosening of joints.