Epidural Side Effects Discussion

Very Hard Ante/intra/postpartum And Newborn Care Labor And Delivery

A 29-year-old woman, gravida 2 para 1, arrives at the labor and delivery unit at 39 weeks of gestation. The nurse assesses that she is in active labor, with cervical dilation at 6 cm and contractions occurring every 3-5 minutes. The healthcare provider orders an epidural for pain management and starts the intravenous (IV) infusion of Ringer's lactate to maintain hydration. During the procedure, the woman expresses concerns about the potential side effects of the epidural anesthesia. Which of the following responses by the nurse is the most appropriate to address her concerns?

You may experience a headache after the epidural, which is common.

It is important to note that all medications can have side effects, but we will monitor you closely.

Don’t worry, epidurals have no side effects, and they are completely safe.

The most significant risk is a spinal cord injury, but this is extremely rare.

Hint

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