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Labour analgesia request — DRCOG MCQ

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HardLabourLabour analgesia requestDRCOG

A 22-year-old in established labour requests the most effective pharmacological pain relief. She has normal observations, no coagulopathy and no infection at the insertion site. What should be offered after anaesthetic assessment?

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Correct answer: E — Epidural analgesia after discussing benefits, limitations and monitoring

The best answer is “Epidural analgesia after discussing benefits, limitations and monitoring”. Epidural analgesia provides the most effective pain relief in labour and is appropriate when requested after counselling and anaesthetic assessment. Opioids and nitrous oxide remain legitimate alternatives but provide less complete analgesia. General anaesthesia is not an analgesic choice for routine labour and carries materially greater maternal airway and aspiration risk. Antenatal decisions combine gestation, maternal stability, fetal risk and whether care can safely remain in the community. Screening, diagnostic testing and urgent assessment are not interchangeable. The UK pathway should be followed with clear safety-netting whenever symptoms may evolve before the next routine appointment.

Reference: NICE NG235: Intrapartum care: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng235/chapter/Recommendations