What are the different types?
There are two major epidurals. The dosages and mixing of drugs vary in Hospitals and anesthesiologists. You should ask your care providers at the hospital about their practices in this regard.
Regular Epidural
When the catheter is in place, you will be given narcotic and anesthesia via pump or periodic injections into the epidural space. Fentanyl or morphine are administered to replace some of the higher doses of anesthetics such as bupivacaine, chloroprocaine [1], or lidocaine [2]. This reduces some of the negative effects of anesthesia.
Combined Spinal-Epidural (CSE) or “Walking Epidural”
A spinal block is sometimes used with an epidural during labor to reduce pain. A spinal block, like an epidural, involves an injection in the lower back. While you sit or lie on your side in bed, a small amount of medicine is injected into the spinal fluid to numb the lower half of the body. It provides good relief from pain and starts working quickly, but it lasts only an hour or two and is usually given only once during labor.