Epidural in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What are labour pain-relief options?
Labour pain relief is the range of ways you can ease the pain while you give birth. Some are simple measures you can start yourself, and some are given by the team, up to an epidural placed by an anaesthetist. The aim is to let you choose what fits you, and to change that choice if labour turns out differently from what you expected.
There is no single method that is right for everyone. At Dar Al Kamal Hospital in Sharjah, the team talks you through what each option involves so the decision stays yours. What matters is that you understand the choices before you are in the middle of labour, when it is harder to weigh them up calmly.
Who is it for and planning ahead
Every woman in labour can think about how she wants to manage the pain, so these options are for anyone expecting to give birth here. Some women know from the start that they want an epidural. Others prefer to start with simpler measures and see how labour goes. Both approaches are fine.
The best time to think it through is during pregnancy, not on the day. You can raise it at an antenatal visit at Dar Al Kamal Hospital in Sharjah, ask what each method involves, and note your preferences. Keep that thinking flexible, because labour rarely follows a script and the option that suits you can shift as it progresses.
The options, from simpler to an epidural
The gentlest measures cost you nothing and can be started at once. Moving around, changing position, and steady breathing can help you stay on top of early labour. Where a birthing pool is available, warm water eases the ache for some women and helps them relax between contractions.
Gas and air is a mixture you breathe in through a mouthpiece when a contraction builds. It is simple, you control it yourself, and it wears off quickly, though it tends to take the edge off rather than remove the pain. Injectable pain relief given by the team is another step up and can help you rest.
An epidural gives the strongest relief. It is an injection into the lower back, placed by an anaesthetist, that numbs the pain of labour while you stay awake and aware. To give it, the anaesthetist cleans the skin, numbs a small area, and passes a fine tube into the space around the nerves of your lower spine. Pain relief is then delivered through that tube and topped up as your labour goes on, so it can be kept working for as long as you need it.
Discussing it in your birth plan
A birth plan is a good place to set out how you would like to handle the pain. Writing your preferences down and sharing them with your team means the people caring for you already know what you are hoping for when labour starts.
Treat the plan as a guide rather than a fixed rule. You are free to change your mind at any point, and asking for more relief part-way through is completely normal. Your midwife and the anaesthetic team at Dar Al Kamal Hospital in Sharjah will work with whatever you decide on the day.
During and after
While an epidural is in place, you and your baby are monitored, your blood pressure is checked, and your legs may feel heavy or numb. A small tube may be placed to help you pass urine if you cannot feel the urge. The team stays close so the relief can be adjusted as your labour moves along.
After the birth, the effect of an epidural wears off gradually and the feeling in your legs returns before you get up and walk. Some women have a mild headache or tenderness in the back for a short while.
Tell your team, or call after you go home, if you have a severe headache that is worse when you sit or stand, a fever, numbness or weakness that is not settling, or pain or redness at the site in your back. These are worth checking rather than waiting out.
Benefits and limitations
Each option is a trade-off, and being honest about that helps you choose. Breathing, movement and warm water are easy and keep you mobile, but they may not be enough once labour is strong. Gas and air is simple and in your control, though it only softens the pain and can make some women feel light-headed or a little sick.
An epidural gives the most complete relief and lets you rest during a long labour. In return, it needs closer monitoring, keeps you in bed, and is not always perfect. It can occasionally be patchy or not settle fully, and it may make pushing feel different, so the team guides you when the time comes. The right choice is personal, and it can be changed as labour progresses.
Cost and insurance
An epidural and other pain relief in labour are usually part of your delivery care rather than separate items, but the way insurers handle them varies. Many UAE plans that cover maternity include pain relief in labour, while some apply conditions or exclude certain items, so it is worth checking early. Pre-approval is commonly needed for delivery, and it is easier to sort out well before your due date than close to it. Confirm what your plan includes with our team on 06 599 7777.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I decide on pain relief during labour rather than before?
Yes. You can plan your preferences during pregnancy and still change them once labour is underway. Many women start with simpler measures and ask for more relief, including an epidural, as labour goes on, and the team at Dar Al Kamal Hospital in Sharjah works with what you decide on the day.
Does an epidural always work?
An epidural gives strong relief for most women, but it does not always settle perfectly. It can occasionally be patchy, leaving one area less numb, or need repositioning to work fully. The anaesthetist will check how it is working and adjust or resite it if needed.
Will an epidural slow down my labour?
An epidural can change how labour feels and progresses, and it sometimes affects the pushing stage, which is why you are monitored closely while it is in place. The team guides you through pushing and manages your labour so it keeps moving safely.
Can I still push with an epidural in place?
Yes. An epidural numbs the pain but you can still push, though the urge may feel different or less obvious. Your midwife will tell you when and how to push, using your contractions as a guide, so you can work with your body during the birth.
Is an epidural safe?
An epidural is a widely used way to relieve labour pain and is given by an anaesthetist who monitors you throughout. Like any procedure it carries some risks, such as a drop in blood pressure, a headache afterwards, or tenderness in the back, and these are explained to you beforehand so your consent is informed.
What is gas and air and how does it help?
Gas and air is a mixture you breathe through a mouthpiece as a contraction builds. You control it yourself, it wears off quickly, and it takes the edge off the pain rather than removing it. Some women find it enough on its own, while others use it early and move on to stronger relief later.
Can I use a birthing pool for pain relief?
Where a pool is available, warm water can ease the ache of labour and help you relax between contractions. Whether it suits you depends on how your labour and your baby are doing, and the team at Dar Al Kamal Hospital in Sharjah will let you know if it is a safe option for you.
Who gives the epidural?
An anaesthetist places the epidural. They clean and numb the skin of your lower back, pass a fine tube into the space around the nerves of the spine, and deliver pain relief through it. They also monitor you and top up the relief as your labour continues.
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