There is no doubt whatsoever, that an epidural is the most effective and consistently reliable way of relieving childbirth pain. This has been confirmed by many surveys totalling hundreds of thousands of patients from centres all over the world. An epidural is particularly effective in relieving backache and contraction pain, but is not always quite so reliable in getting rid of pain in the rectum and opening of the vagina. As a result epidurals may not provide good pain relief during the actual delivery.

Records from over four thousand women in our own unit reveal that 85% were fully satisfied with their pain relief and a further 10% were moderately satisfied. Five percent were disappointed or dissatisfied with their pain relief. In many instances, however, this was due to unlucky timing, rather than a failure of the technique itself. Some women, for instance, delivered so soon after receiving the epidural (within 20 minutes) that it did not have time to become effective. The efficacy of epidural analgesia can be measured using a pain chart.