[Introduction of labor epidural analgesia in Wakayama].

Labor epidural analgesia is unfamiliar to parturients in Wakayama Prefecture partly because of insufficient information and medical services for expectant mothers given by anesthesiologists and other medical staffs. We offered introductory approaches for providing epidural analgesia for labor and delivery in our obstetric care unit. The preliminary survey among midwives, who are crucial for gravitas, revealed their negative attitude to painless labor assisted by epidural technique, while they opted for natural childbirth. Obstetricians also responded negatively toward epidural analgesia during labor because of their concern about forceps and prolonged delivery. We spent considerable time to achieve better communication with midwives and obstetricians in order to improve our professional qualities for caring labor pain. After practical approach of labor epidural analgesia, midwives came to accept epidural analgesia as an option during childbirth.