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Background and Aims Epidural analgesia, commonly used to manage labor pain, requires informed consent due to potential complications. Our study investigates the effectiveness of pre-epidural explanations for informed decision-making and explores maternal preferences for information delivery.

Methods A questionnaire-based study surveyed postpartum parturients who received epidural analgesia at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. The questionnaire covered demographic details, technical birth aspects, satisfaction with explanations, familiarity with epidural procedure, and overall birth satisfaction. Responses were statistically analyzed with R to gauge information comprehension and awareness of risks.

Results Data derived from 146 questionnaires. A majority (85%) of parturients were satisfied with birthing experience and epidural effect, deemed explanations about the procedure from anesthesiologists and midwives sufficient (51.6%-86.6%), but did not receive a sufficient explanation regarding possible complications (71.7%-81.6%). Accordingly, awareness of life-threatening complications was low (<25%). Surprisingly, most parturients preferred not to receive prenatal explanations or in-depth information on complications (53-68%). Even when stratified by parity, or pain levels at signing, parturients remained averse to knowing complications or receiving prenatal explanations. However, we identified significant differences between first-epidural and return parturients, with the former reporting increased desire to receive guidance (36.7% vs. 19.6%, p=0.028).

Conclusions Maternal satisfaction with current explanations on epidural is high, and interest in additional information before birth is limited. Furthermore, women favor not delving deeply into potential complications. While these findings are hospital-specific, as it primarily involves an orthodox Jewish obstetric population, expanding the study to diverse hospital settings could offer valuable insights.