Is Epidural Analgesia Associated with Lower Risk for Severe Maternal Morbidity?

Some observational data suggest that epidural analgesia during labor might improve pregnancy outcomes, presumably by attenuating the maternal stress response. To address this question, researchers used Scottish population-based data from 2007 through 2019 and analyzed outcomes among >500,000 women with labor onset between 24 and 42+6 weeks' gestation. The primary outcome was severe maternal morbidity or critical care admission within 6 weeks postpartum. Severe maternal morbidity was defined by U.S. CDC criteria — i.e., the presence of ≥1 of 21 qualifying conditions, such as myocardial infarction, heart failure, sepsis, or shock.

Approximately one fifth of women had epidural analgesia during labor. The overall prevalence of severe maternal mo…