Epidurals are used as an effective form of pain relief for labour by approximately 25-30% of women during childbirth.
This i-learn module on epidural use for labour aims to develop midwives’ knowledge and understanding of the different types of epidural, the advantages and disadvantages of their use and the impact they may have on the women who choose them. This will improve midwives' confidence in safely caring for women who choose to birth using epidural analgesia.
On completion of this module you will understand:
- What types of epidural are available when each epidural type is appropriate
- The indications and contraindications for their use
- How epidural analgesia works
- The role of the midwife in caring for the labouring woman before, during and after epidural administration
- Side effects and complications, how to identify these and take appropriate actions
- The midwife’s role in the wider multidisciplinary team during epidural care
Study time approx. 1 hour
Last updated 2026