Epidural analgesia will now be available to women who give birth at Miles Memorial Hospital. The Obstetrics Unit at Miles has long been known for giving excellent, family-centered care with a focus on natural childbirth. None of that will change, said Lynn Plumb, RN, manager of the Obstetrics Unit. “We have always been about supporting women’s choices. For some women, that means supporting a natural birth without medication, for other women that means supporting their choice to have pain relief that is as effective as possible.”

Labor epidurals diminish the pain of labor while allowing the muscles to work effectively and the woman to remain awake and aware of her surroundings. Trained anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists administer epidural analgesia by placing a tiny tube into the epidural space and injecting a numbing medication and a pain medication. The medication minimizes or eliminates the pain of labor.

Epidurals are widely used to relieve labor pain in hospitals across the United States. Maine does not report statistics on epidural use, but in New Hampshire and Vermont close to half of all women use epidural anesthesia during labor. “We are very excited to offer this service to women in our community,” Plumb said.

OB/GYN Dr. Rob Howard and Certified Nurse Midwives, Bridget Buck and Cindy Morin worked with the nursing staff and Dr. Russ Mack, Chief of Anesthesia to bring epidural service to Miles.